Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV named the Hannah Grimes Center as their first 2013 Champion in Action^® in the category of strengthening communities! As a Champion in Action, the Hannah Grimes Center has received a $35,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support.

Since 1997, Hannah Grimes has grown from a retail marketplace for local products to a multifaceted organization offering an array of programs that foster small business growth.

“The Hannah Grimes Center is a true Champion in Action for offering programs that support the development and growth of local entrepreneurs,” said Joe Carelli, President of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, New Hampshire. “By providing small businesses with the resources they need to thrive and prosper, Hannah Grimes is contributing to their success and the health of the local economy.”

The Hannah Grimes Center offers a Business Incubator Program that provides supported office space allowing new and emerging businesses the opportunity to grow and thrive. Hannah Grimes’ Entrepreneurship Program is a six month intensive program that focuses on raising current businesses to the next level of operation. Graduates of the program report an average sales increase of 68 percent in one year.

The original Hannah Grimes Marketplace continues to grow and now supports more than 270 local artisans, cooks and farmers. The Center recently established a partnership to strengthen and support the area’s growing regional food system, which will help improve farm income, create jobs in the food production industry, and stimulate economic productivity and food self-sufficiency in the region.

“We recognize that the competitive edge of our rural economy hinges on the skills of our local entrepreneurs,” said Mary Ann Kristiansen, Executive Director of the Hannah Grimes Center.  “Our programs are designed to increase the success rate of start-ups, spur growth of new companies and enhance the productivity of existing companies.”

See WMUR’s Media Coverage

Hannah Grimes Awarded Champion in Action Grant

Hannah Grimes Public Service Announcement

Hannah Grimes Center Helping Local Business Owners

Hannah Grimes Marketplace Helps Up and Coming Entrepreneurs

Hannah Grimes Helps Local Businesses Thrive

About Champions in Action

Launched in 2002, Champions in Action is a joint initiative of Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV to recognize and support nonprofit organizations for their contributions to New Hampshire communities. To date, the program has awarded 47 local nonprofits with nearly $1 million in grants and promotional support in New Hampshire.

“Sharing in this initiative with Citizens Bank continues to be a source of great pride,” said Jeff Bartlett, General Manager of WMUR-TV. “We are pleased to shine a light on organizations that make such a huge difference in the lives of residents across the state. It is our privilege to share their stories.”

About Citizens Bank

Citizens Bank is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A., operating its seven-state branch network in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. It has 80 branches and 203 ATMs in New Hampshire.

RBS Citizens, N.A., is a subsidiary of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $132 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and through its subsidiaries has more than 1,400 branches, approximately 3,600 ATMs and approximately 18,950 colleagues. Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. RBSCFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in more than 30 states. RBSCFG is owned by RBS (the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.

About WMUR-TV

WMUR-TV (Ch. 9) is an ABC-TV affiliate headquartered in Manchester, N.H., and is owned and managed by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., one of the nation’s largest television station groups. Founded in 1954, WMUR-TV is New Hampshire’s largest commercial TV station, reaching more than a million people. The station’s news, feature and sports coverage has won numerous awards for professional and journalistic excellence. WMUR-TV is considered the broadcast news source of record for New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary election. WMUR-TV provides online news and information at www.WMUR.com.