Manchester Summit Targets NH Housing Crisis for Tech Boom

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The ReGen Valley Tech Hub, a federally designated innovation ecosystem led by the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, is rallying regional leaders to combat New Hampshire's acute affordable housing shortage. Partnering with New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the group will host "Building Solutions for ReGen Valley Tech Hub: A Regional Housing Summit" on May 12 at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester, 88 Commercial St. The event aims to unite government, industry and community stakeholders to address how housing barriers impede workforce expansion and economic development in the Manchester-Nashua metropolitan statistical area.

New Hampshire faces a pressing housing crisis that endangers its burgeoning biofabrication sector, centered in southern New Hampshire's ReGen Valley. The tech hub, focused on biofabrication to produce cost-effective therapies for chronic diseases and organ failure, requires a skilled, diverse workforce — but escalating costs and limited supply are repelling talent. Summit organizers emphasize that housing at all price points is essential to sustain industry growth, with leaders from municipalities and businesses convening to explore attainable solutions amid statewide shortages limiting New Hampshire's competitiveness.

Contacted for the event, ReGen Valley representatives including Julie Lenzer and media lead Jennifer MacDonald highlight the summit's role in linking housing strategies to tech ecosystem needs. Registration is available through the Greater Manchester Chamber, underscoring the collaborative push to bolster New Hampshire's ability to attract and retain innovators in this critical field.