Infrastructure Supporting Economic Development

Infrastructure refers to those basic facilities, equipment, installations and improvements that provide the foundation for community growth and economic expansion. In this report, infrastructure refers to the existing and future conditions relating to transportation, water and sewer service, three phase electric power, telephone and telecommunications, including on-line and Internet services.

Transportation The six town study area is well served by NH Routes 16, 25, 41, 113 and 153. NH Route 16 is the State's major north-to-south highway on the eastern side of the State connecting Portsmouth and the Seacoast to the White Mountains and northwestern Maine. In 1994, the adjusted average daily vehicle count for NH Route 16 at a point two (2) miles north of NH Rt. 28 was 10,016. The adjusted average daily vehicle count for NH Rt. 25 in South Tamworth village was 4,615 in 1994. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT)'s ten year highway plan calls for systematic improvements and upgrades to highways with the greatest need. One of the largest and most significant State highway projects is the proposed three prong improvement to Rt. 16 in the Conway-North Conway area including a by-pass. NH DOT's 10 year Highway Plan includes improvements to Rt. 16 near its intersection with NH Rt. 28, bridge improvements to NH Rt. 25 in Effingham-Freedom and Tamworth and other assorted improvements.

In 1988, the State constructed a 3 mile improvement to NH Rt. 25 which by-passed Whittier Village near South Tamworth and, in 1992, a 2.5 mile mini by-pass around Effingham Falls village was constructed. On-going bridge improvements and resurfacing work has also been completed. The majority of visitors and business people use NH Route 16 to reach the Ossipee area.

Both tourist and residents have expressed concern over the proliferation of new commercial establishments along Route 16 and the overall deterioration of the scenic integrity of the highway. In a recent survey, visitors expressed concern regarding the safety conditions of Route 16, especially the Rt. 16/Rt. 25 intersection in West Ossipee. NH DOT, in cooperation with the four affected regional planning commissions, is conducting a Route 16 Corridor Protection Study. The goal of the study is: "To demonstrate an innovative approach to developing a long-range solution to the problem of providing an efficient transportation system which promotes economic vitality and a high quality of life for residents of communities and visitors to the regions served by the Route 16 corridor." The NH DOT has not made substantial improvements to Route 16 in the Ossipee area since the 1960s.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of local planning and restrictions on highway curb cuts, many commercial land uses have sprung up along Route 16 which results in a reduction of speed and produces negative impacts on safety and the scenic quality of the area. The recommendations for the Route 16 study will be completed in late 1998. Therefore, due to the long lead time for planning, design and land acquisition, physical improvements to NH Route 16 in the Ossipee/ Tamworth area will not be seen for some time in the future. However, the town governments and the business community should become actively involved in the Rt. 16 Corridor Protection Study. Redesign and safety improvements to the NH 16/25 intersection in West Ossipee should be a high priority.

Re-establishment of commercial rail service could divert some heavy truck traffic from NH Route 16 and preserve the corridor for light commercial, service and passenger vehicles. The NH DOT is negotiating to acquire the rail line currently owned by Gilford Transportation north of the NH North Coast rail line to the Conway Scenic Railroad line in Conway village. The 20 mile stretch of rail line is in very poor condition and will require a substantial investment.

Because of the increased demand nationally for eastern white pine, the International Paper (IP) company facility in Madison, a producer of that product for western US consumption, is supportive of rail service and a potential customer. In some cases, the company's product is transported by truck to Chicago and then shipped by rail to California for delivery within thirty-six hours. The NH DOT, in cooperation with potential shippers, should explore the feasibility of a truck/rail docking facility at either the former East Coast Lumber site or the Ossipee Oil site near NH Rt. 28.

Water Supply and Sewer Service The following areas are served by either a municipal or private water supply system:

Freedom Village;

Madison -Village of Eidelweiss

Ossipee - Center Ossipee, Lower Ossipee Village, Indian Mound

Sandwich - Center Sandwich

Tamworth -Tamworth Village and White Lake Estates

The Center Ossipee and Center Sandwich areas are the only locations in the six Town area to be served by a municipal wastewater treatment facility. The Center Sandwich system cannot accept industrial wastewater.

Even though the Ossipee water systems and municipal wastewater treatment systems are restricted to the village areas, the area is well known for the quality and quantity of its groundwater supply. Soil types are conducive for water supply and on-site septic disposal. The limitations of existing water and sewer conditions should not preclude a small to medium size firm (under 50 employees) from locating to, or expanding in the area. Table 2 summarizes the availability of water supply and sewer services in the study area.

Table 17: Availability of Water Supply and Sewer Service

Town	Service Area	Comments
Effingham	No service
Freedom	Freedom Village	Freedom Water Precinct
Madison	Village of Eidelweiss	Water Village Precinct
Ossipee	Center Ossipee	Town Sewer/Water Department
Indian Mound		Private water company
Lower Ossipee Village		Private water company
Sandwich	Center Sandwich	Town water/Town sewer
Tamworth	Tamworth Village	Private water company
White Lake Estates		Private water company

Three Phase Electric Power Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) is the major provider of electric service in the area except segments of the Towns of Sandwich and Tamworth which are served by the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Inc. Three phase electric service is normally found in areas adjacent to, or near the State highways and major Town roads. PSNH is willing to upgrade service to Three Phase status with the understanding that the customer will pay for the installation cost over a sixty (60) month period. The locations of three phase power are summarized

Table 18: Location of Three Phase Power Service by Town

Town	Locations of Three Phase Electric Power Service
Effingham	---
Freedom	Ossipee Lake Road
Madison	NH Rt. 113; Ossipee Lake Road
Ossipee	NH Rt. 25 and Route 16; Huckins Road; Old NH Rt. 16; Moultonville Road
Sandwich	---
Tamworth	NH Rt. 16 and Rt. 113; Ossipee Lake Road

PSNH has submitted an Economic Development and Business Retention rate filing to the NH Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for its review. However, the NH PUC is carefully scrutinizing the entire issue of "special contracting" and not presently inclined to continue the practice of special rate reductions.

Telephone, Telecommunications and On-Line Services NYNEX serves the greater Ossipee area with a modern digital switch telephone system with a distribution system of both copper and fiber optic cables. This system is constantly upgraded to meet the growing demands of increasingly sophisticated telecommunications users.

Traditionally, telephone service is provided over copper lines, which are capable of handling service requirements for the vast majority of customers. More recently, fiber optic technology has been utilized for a small number of customers who require advanced telecommunications services such as high speed data transmission and other broadband services. However, fiber optic service connections are available only in the larger village centers.

Regarding the local Internet service, a potential local Internet service provider to the greater Ossipee area has contacted NYNEX regarding service requirements. The provider is interested in providing technical assistance to users to help them access the World Wide Web and develop Home Pages. The local Internet service would be a pay service arrangement whereby local subscribers could receive some or all of the following services:

• Unlimited access to the Internet and World Wide Web
• 5MB storage for development of personal Home Pages
• One e-mail address and e-mail customer support
• One hour of free telephone support per month.

Currently, local subscribers to on-line services such as America On Line and Prodigy must call "servers" located outside the local exchange area. This means a long distance call is required to access these companies but as other Internet access providers come on line, local calling access will become a reality. As on-line services such as CompuServe and Prodigy gain popularity, the NYNEX network offers connection to these services through copper or fiber optic facilities. For further details, prospective businesses should contact the NYNEX Marketing Department at 1-800-474-9999. The Internet provides a unique avenue to market the Ossipee area to prospective businesses and tourists.

Potential Commercial and Industrial Buildings and Sites

If a community or group of communities is serious about attracting new private investment designed to increase employment and add to the tax base, it needs to have an organized approach to presenting its "product" to prospective companies. The communities' "product" consists of the available labor force, the infrastructure, the tax system, available buildings and sites, community attitudes and the overall quality of life.

There has been discussions among local officials and in the Ossipee Master Plan regarding the desirability of establishing a well planned industrial park served by municipal water and sewer. Presently, there appears to be very little interest on the part of the Town government or the business community in establishing an industrial park. To date, the unofficial policy, due to a default, has been to rely on the existing identified buildings and sites in Town. In some instances, these properties have been listed with the New Hampshire Economic Development Data System (NEDDS) at the NH Office of Business and Industrial Development (OBID). Pitfalls exist when a community relies solely on the existing privately owned buildings and sites as part of its product's marketing mix. For example, properties can be removed from the market; prices can rise; portions of the site can be sold for incompatible land uses and property owners can change their intentions.

Table 19: Commercial/Industrial Sites in the Study Area

Building/Site	Size	Cost	Description
Mountainside Park	21,400 SF	$650,000	3 R & D buildings on 12.7 acre site on Route 28
Chick/Rt. 16 at 25	13,600 SF	$408,000	Manufacturing building on 3.5 acres on Route 16
Village Square	4,155 SF	$147,000	Manufacturing, Wholesale or Distribution, R & D building on 0.16 acres in Village
	122 AC	$475,000	R & D or Light Industrial on 122 acre site on Route 16
Wyatt/Barnhill	15,000 SF	$3.00/ 3 net	Manufacturing, Wholesale or Distribution, R & D building on 6.6 acre site at Stonehouse
Watson/Rt. 16	6,935 SF	$359,000	Manufacturing, Wholesale or Distribution on 3.1 acre site on Route 16
DiPrizio	11,000 SF	$189,000	Manufacturing, Wholesale or Distribution on 2.16 acre site on Route 16

While utilization of existing privately owned buildings and sites is not always the most effective approach for economic development, it is the one Ossipee has elected to follow. The following is a summary of the identified buildings and sites available for commercial and industrial uses; except when noted, they are located within the Town of Ossipee.

In conclusion, the limited number of buildings and sites along with the lack of a planned and dedicated industrial park limits the "product" that the greater Ossipee can present to prospective companies. Of all the locations in the six town study area, only the Center Ossipee Village area offers municipal water, municipal sewer, three phase electric power, fiber optic telecommunications and a major state highway.