NH Business Review May 08, 2020

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MAY 8 - 21, 2020 VOL. 42 • NO. 9 • $1.75

ONLINE @ NHBR.COM

FEATURED INTERVIEW

Growing pains

Q&A: GOFERR Director Jerry Little PAGE 30

Should state business tax triggers be repealed? A debate PAGE 12

For many small farmers, there’s a silver lining in Covid-19 cloud, but larger suppliers face a dire future

Why the background on your Zoom call makes a difference PAGE 10

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Nicole and Jeremiah Vernon and their daughters Magnolia, Indigo and Pingree of Vernon Family Farms in Newfields. Courtesy photo

Startups learn to adapt under Covid Firms rework plans as investors regroup BY LIISA RAJALA

Although most of its customers are still operating, Datanomix, a Nashua-based developer of manufacturing efficiency software founded in 2016, has had to delay scheduled installations since no outsiders are allowed in manufacturing plants. “We had a very good first quarter,” said cofounder and chief technology officer Greg McHale, who noted the company is still conducting virtual demonstrations to potential

customers. “We had over a dozen new installations since that time period and looking like we were going to be able to double or triple that number quarterly based on what’s in the pipeline, and then we got hit with the coronavirus.” Likewise, stay-at-home orders combined with hospitals postponing elective services including clinical trials has halted Lebanonbased Avitide’s work purifying and manufacSTARTUPS, PAGE 20 ‘The smallest businesses are struggling the most, and they are calling about help,’ says Hollis McGuire of the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center.

Under Covid, paid leave becomes a reality in NH Federal, state programs put focus on long-debated policy BY BOB SANDERS

For Nikki Curran of Windham, it didn’t seem she had much of a choice. Her employer for the last 11 years, Autism Bridges, a private company headquartered in Bedford, had closed its four therapy centers in three states in response to Covid-19. Instead, the firm sent its staffers into clients’ homes. But Curran was afraid to go. The Windham schools had sent their students home, and Curran’s 12-year-old son has chronic breathing issues, putting him at high risk should he get the virus. “We are very careful and very scared,” said Curran. At first, she and her husband — who teaches middle school in Derry and was soon working remotely — juggled their schedule. But on April 1, Autism Bridges gave Curran roughly halftime office work and some telemedicine jobs and provided her with paid family leave for the rest. “To be still doing our jobs and keeping our family safe is a huge relief,” she said. “I’m so, so grateful.” Autism Bridges was glad to FAMILY LEAVE, PAGE 18


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