6.5.2026 Economic Development Commission

The City of Portsmouth Economic Development Commission held a meeting on June 5, 2026, focusing on updates related to tourism, economic development initiatives, and upcoming projects. Key procurement-related discussions included the partnership with a local advertising firm, RC Creative, to revamp the tourism website with new video content, AI chatbot integration, and enhanced reservation capabilities. The commission also discussed engaging a third-party vendor to provide aggregated visitor data using cell phone tracking technology to better understand tourism patterns and economic impact. Additionally, there was mention of a $1 million donation to Coast to support a new facility, which could enable increased service frequency. The commission considered future agenda topics for a Portsmouth Development Authority (PDA) visit, including commercial airline updates, FAA housing policy, and cruise line activity. Budget considerations were noted, particularly regarding the need to increase funding for tourism efforts to support new technology and services. Other discussions touched on infrastructure projects, such as construction delays on Congress Street, and potential economic impacts from data centers and military-related activities. No formal votes on contracts or budget allocations were recorded during the meeting.