Mold Remediation in Manchester, NH

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

A New Hampshire worker who was seriously injured during a super move woke up Friday from a two-and-a-half-week medically induced coma.

Mike Papagno, 33, was an electrician working to move a large piece of equipment last month when he accidentally came into contact with a power line.

"He remembers everything right up until he was put to sleep. So we were kind of hoping he would forget," said Mike Papagno's brother, Matt Papagno.

Mike Papagno is recovering from third-degree burns on more than half his body.

"It's so overwhelming to wake up, you know, you kind of lay down a healthy 33-year-old man and wake up in this position," Matt Papagno said.

Despite his injuries, Mike Papagno is said to be in good spirits.

"He's a really funny person, just a really big spirit, big personality. And despite all these challenges, after being with him today, that has for sure not changed," Matt Papagno said.

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On Sunday, Matt Papagno said his brother had a good day, making jokes and staying positive.

"Mostly today it was joking about how he wants to do more and eat and drink, and he can't do that just yet. So he's trying to bribe nurses to get Coca-Cola or Corona," Matt Papagno said.

Mike Papagno's positive attitude is in large part due to the outpouring of support from people all over.

"He just didn't think that many people in the world would think of him in that situation. And so, I think it's all been really positive for him the last couple days," Matt Papagno said.

The Papagno family has also received support online through a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised $185,000 so far.

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

It’s a busy time of year in New Hampshire, with holiday-themed events being held in many communities.

Here’s a sampling of a few of them happening this week. For more, visit our community calendar.

WINTER CELEBRATION IN LEBANON

The city of Lebanon is celebrating the holiday season with a tree-lighting ceremony. The first event starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Head to Colburn Park for horse-drawn carriage rides, live music, crafts, food and even in-person visits with characters from Disney’s “Frozen.”

At the end of the night, watch the park light up with a big lights display.

HOLIDAY LIGHT NIGHT IN MANCHESTER

Stop by Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester for its “Holiday Light Night.”

There will be live entertainment, nativity animals you can interact with, winter carnival games, a lighted story walk and a whole lot more.

For complete details, visit brooksidecc.org.

HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR IN ENFIELD

If you are still looking for gifts, head to the holiday gift fair at the Enfield Shaker Museum.

The free event runs until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

You can check out handcrafted gifts by more than 20 Upper Valley artisans.

There are also multiple food options, including a Shaker-inspired pop-up cafe.

MAGICAL EVENING IN THE PARK

A magical starry weekend is back in Hopkinton and Contoocook.

Among the highlights is "A Magical Evening in the Park."

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there for pictures.

There will also be a tree lighting, cookie walk and other festivities.

PHOTOS WITH SANTA IN NASHUA

On Sunday, head to Nashua to take free professional photos with Santa.

The event supports Operation Delta Dog. A small donation to the nonprofit organization is appreciated.

Photos will be taken from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Keller Williams Gateway Realty.

You can register online.

These were just some of the many events happening in New Hampshire this weekend. See the community calendar for more.

MANCHESTER, NH – There will plenty of activities this weekend to get you in the holiday spirit!

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Check out our searchable comprehensive Community Calendar. Know of an upcoming event? Add it – it’s free!

More of an indoorsy music and theatre type? Our Weekly Entertainment Report is full of inspiration.

December 6

Midnight Merriment, Concord NH – Midnight Merriment is back in downtown Concord this Friday night from 5 until midnight. Experience the wonder of Concord with shopping, lights, music, hot chocolate and more!

December 7

Boston Holiday Market, Boston MA – The Boston Holiday Market in the Seaport features 120+ vendors food, cocktail bars, decor, live music and more! The Holiday Market will be open every day from now until December 29th. Check here for more information, including hours.

Manchester Holiday Parade, Manchester NH – The Manchester Holiday Parade will be happening this Saturday at 4PM, right after the Santa Shuffle! Experience Elm Street with all its holiday magic, dancers, parade floats and music!

Port City Makerspace Winter Market, Portsmouth NH – The Port City Makerspace and their collaborative are hosting their first Winter Market from noon until 5PM. There will be a variety of handmade goods for purchase while you’re in the swing of your holiday shopping!

Craft Fair and Holiday Lights, Manchester NH – Brookside Church is hosting their annual craft fair starting at 10AM. This is a great opportunity to support local artisans right before the Holiday Parade. After the Parade, make your way back to Brookside for the annual Holiday Light Night with a variety of celebrations.

Festival of Tabletop Trees, Wreaths and Centerpieces, Nashua NH – Nashua Senior Activity Center will be hosting a Festival of Tabletop Trees, Wreaths and Centerpieces this Saturday starting at 8AM until 10:30AM. Take the time to enjoy the amazing creations from local individuals and organizations with attendees being able to vote for trees in a variety of categories. The amazing creations will all be raffled off, raffle tickets will be available for purchase with 10 tickets for $5.

December 20: 5th Annual Winter Solstice Glowstick Hike, Epping NH

January 24-24: Winter Fest, Concord NH

CONCORD, NH – ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce training program of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH), hosted 250 apprentices, employers and community partners at the second annual ApprenticeshipNH Summit, an event dedicated to celebrating apprenticeship programs as a successful workforce expansion solution in New Hampshire. The November 22 event focused on strengthening the Granite State’s workforce and culminated National Apprenticeship Week. Held at NHTI – Concord’s Community College, the event included networking opportunities, Champion Award recognitions highlighting seven prominent businesses and individuals, interactive workshops and expert insights from industry leaders.

“Over the past decade or so apprenticeships have seen a resurgence in this country,” said Dr. Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH chancellor. “It’s through the energy, intellect and aptitude of our apprentices that this form of education is taking hold again, both here and across the country. As 2024 draws to a close, we are rapidly approaching 700,000 registered apprenticeships nationwide. In doing so, we are blending experiential learning and related instruction in ways that meet the needs of more students, including adult learners who need an “earn while you learn” model, and those students—of any age—for whom hands-on learning is the mode of instructional engagement that serves them best.”

ApprenticeshipNH offers technical assistance to employers in creating apprenticeship programs. The program works to provide financial support to apprentices, pre-apprentices, and employers as well as technical assistance to develop and manage programs.

“Since its inception in 2017, ApprenticeshipNH has been working diligently to develop Registered Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships programs across New Hampshire,” said Anne Banks, CCSNH apprenticeship programs manager. “Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with the Federal Office of Apprenticeship, hundreds of employers and career seekers, community organizations, state agencies, high school educators and leaders, post-secondary institutions, professors, tradespeople and unions. Together, we have created over 110 programs and supported more than 1,200 apprentices on their career journeys.”

Registered Apprenticeships Programs combine on-the-job training and classroom education to increase an apprentice’s skills and meet employer needs. They have proven to be an effective way for businesses to attract and retain employees and provide an opportunity for job seekers to earn immediate employment with steadily increasing wages as they develop new skills in high-demand fields.

“The State of New Hampshire recognizes that Registered Apprenticeship, a proven and industry-driven model, is a key strategy to improving job quality, and creating access to good-paying, family-sustaining jobs for all,” stated NH Governor Chris Sununu in a proclamation declaring November 17-23 National Apprenticeship Week in NH.

After the proclamation was read, seven Champion Awards were given out to recognize organizations and individuals within the apprenticeship community. They include:

ApprenticeshipNH, in partnership with the Federal Office of Apprenticeship in Concord, addresses workforce needs throughout the state by helping employers create a pipeline of skilled workers through combined classroom instruction and on-the-job training in an “earn-while-you-learn” model. With funding from federal grants, ApprenticeshipNH develops partnerships between NH’s seven community colleges and local employers within key sectors of the state’s economy while also providing support recruiting apprentices for high-demand career opportunities.

The total funding of the ApprenticeshipNH initiative is $9.57 million with 99% funded through the following US Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration Grants at the dollar amounts indicated: State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) Grants-$3.77 million and Apprenticeship Building America Grant (ABA) – $5.8 million. Visit ApprenticeshipNH.com for more information.

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Dive into the region’s growing biotech sector and how it’s helping treat health issues.

Cool things are happening throughout Manchester, NH. Built on innovation, this city is seeing entrepreneurs turn novel concepts into successful businesses, new multipurpose developments adding to the area’s quality of life, and an ever-growing arts scene fostering togetherness and social change. Perhaps most notable, though, is the emergence of Manchester, NH, as a biotech hub, particularly in the biofabrication sector. This cutting-edge industry manufactures cells, tissues and organs to cure chronic disease and treat traumatic injuries.

“Biofabrication has the potential to revolutionize health care, including how we treat people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, macular degeneration and heart disease,” says Jodie Nazaka, director of economic development for the City of Manchester.

Ahead, learn more about the biotech industry in Manchester, NH, with these five cool facts about the sector.

In This Article

1. The region’s biotech sector is part of a larger industry that continues to grow.

While biotech is experiencing a boom in Manchester and the state overall, it’s part of a well-established ecosystem, life sciences. According to a 2023 report from the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA), there are more than 600 life sciences businesses in the state.

In fact, the report found that the life sciences cluster generates $2.8 billion in gross regional product, making up 3% of the state’s economy.

In Manchester, organizations work with local government and business leaders to ensure continued growth in this industry.Julie Lenzer knows all about this. She serves as both chief innovation officer at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), a nonprofit organization that works to advance the bioeconomy of the U.S., and regional innovation officer of the ReGen Valley Tech Hub, which is led by ARMI and works to make New Hampshire a global leader in biofabrication.

“We’re very focused on providing pipelines for the residents of Manchester to benefit from this growing industry right in their backyard,” Lenzer says.

2. More biotech jobs are coming to Manchester, NH.

“We anticipate nearly 9,000 new biotech jobs in the next 10 years,” Lenzer says. “They’re not just going to be a bunch of Ph.D.s. When you look at manufacturing technology, we’re going to need everything, from people with certificates in manufacturing, biomanufacturing or biofabrication.”

And the best news? Programs are in place to help prepare people for these jobs. One example is the Biofabrication Technician Apprenticeship Program. Operated by ARMI and its BioFabUSA program for tissue and organ manufacturing that’s funded by the Department of Defense, the apprenticeship program provides two months of practical education in laboratory and manufacturing skills and one year of paid on-the-job training.

“We’ve had folks everywhere, from high school graduates who don’t see college as an option for them to folks who are looking to re-skill, change careers and get into a different field,” Lenzer says. “It’s an alternate pathway for engaging community members.”

3. Manchester, NH, offers high-paying careers in the biotech sector.

Over the years, Manchester has seen an influx of tech jobs, which has helped increase the area’s median household income from $66,000 in 2022 to $78,000 in 2024. This jump created opportunities for all Manchester residents, but for those in the biotech industry, salaries remain higher to compete for top talent.

“New Hampshire’s tech and life sciences industry boasts an average salary of over $130,000, reflecting the high-value opportunities attracting talent to the region,” Nazaka says.

4. Manchester, NH, has seen significant investment in its biotech industry.

In recent years, the city has boosted its biotech sector with the help of awards and grants. In 2022, for example, the city received $44 million for its biofabrication cluster from the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which worked to help communities nationwide with their post-pandemic recovery efforts. In 2023, the ReGen Valley’s consortium of more than 40 organizations was designated a tech hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. And in 2024, the ReGen Valley Tech Hub gained another $44 million in federal funding. Additionally, the University of New Hampshire at Manchester received $10 million from the Commerce Department for workforce development initiatives in collaboration with the ReGen Valley Tech Hub.

“Groundbreaking work is happening right here in Manchester, and the nation is taking notice,” Nazaka says. “In addition to hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, the Manchester-Nashua Metropolitan Statistical Area, known as the ReGen Valley Tech Hub, was named by the U.S. Department of Commerce as one of 31 U.S. tech hubs to advance innovation and American competitiveness.”

Education, Careers & Opportunity

5 Manchester, NH, Companies Leading the Way in Biotechnology

5. The Queen City creates opportunities that make a difference.

The biotech sector in Manchester, NH, works to create novel therapies beyond traditional pharmaceuticals and other treatments. And, according to Lenzer, this has the potential to make a massive difference in people’s lives.

“We are driven – and haunted – by the fact that chronic disease is an epidemic,” she says. “The end stage for most chronic diseases is an organ transplant. Somebody has to die for somebody else to live.”

ARMI has worked on projects to restore some levels of sight in patients suffering from macular degeneration. It also helped Breakthrough T1D, a Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, manufacture insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells to work toward a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Also making a difference are companies like EpiBone, which is growing bones from patients’ cells to treat cancer or traumatic injuries, PRO Therapeutics, which focuses on soft tissue repair that enables regeneration of tendons, ligaments and muscles, and Safi Biotherapeutics, which manufactures red blood cells tailored to patients’ needs.

“We’re not talking about a new Band-Aid,” Lenzer says. “We’re talking about real therapies that are going to change lives.”

This article was sponsored by the Manchester Economic Development Office.