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April 22. 2012 10:47PM
Franconia company wins business award
LINCOLN — Garnet Hill, a Franconia-based catalog business, was presented with the Grafton County Economic Development Council's 2012 Business of the Year award on April 19 at the organization's annual celebration at the Loon Mountain Club.
The homegrown company sells clothing and home decor through its catalog and website, focusing on original designs and outstanding service. The company has more than 250 employees and stresses giving back to the community.
The company, founded in 1976 by the late Grant Dowse and Pegge Kirschner, has given more than $1 million in cash donations, goods and services to efforts to improve the lives members of the community, both locally and nationally. Besides supporting nonprofits such as K.I.D.S., Kids in Distressed Situations, St. Jude's Thanks and Giving, the company employees have participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and have pitched in to help with routine maintenance during Garnet Hill's Annual Community Service Day as Copper Cannon Camp gets ready to open for the season.
The Community Charity Fund of Garnet Hill, created 20 years ago by Garnet employees, supports the efforts of local individuals and nonprofit organizations to help those in need.
In presenting the award to company representatives, Curt Jacques of West Lebanon Feed and Supply, GCDEC's 2009 business of the year, said Garnet Hill has demonstrated a high standard of excellence. GCDEC executive director Mark Scarano said the company and its employees have shown a deep commitment to the community.
The company has also partnered with GCDEC, offering student internships through the North Country Workplace Education Program. Funded partly through a federal Workforce Investment Act contract with the GCDEC, the program offers real world learning opportunities and high school credit for students.
Garnet Hill high school interns work in several of its departments, including merchandising/buying, the photography studio, the creative department, and as in market analysis.
The program has 48 business partners, with 40 students participating this spring. Almost one-third of those, Scarano said, are pursuing a college degree in the field in which they are interning.
The homegrown company sells clothing and home decor through its catalog and website, focusing on original designs and outstanding service. The company has more than 250 employees and stresses giving back to the community.
The company, founded in 1976 by the late Grant Dowse and Pegge Kirschner, has given more than $1 million in cash donations, goods and services to efforts to improve the lives members of the community, both locally and nationally. Besides supporting nonprofits such as K.I.D.S., Kids in Distressed Situations, St. Jude's Thanks and Giving, the company employees have participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and have pitched in to help with routine maintenance during Garnet Hill's Annual Community Service Day as Copper Cannon Camp gets ready to open for the season.
The Community Charity Fund of Garnet Hill, created 20 years ago by Garnet employees, supports the efforts of local individuals and nonprofit organizations to help those in need.
In presenting the award to company representatives, Curt Jacques of West Lebanon Feed and Supply, GCDEC's 2009 business of the year, said Garnet Hill has demonstrated a high standard of excellence. GCDEC executive director Mark Scarano said the company and its employees have shown a deep commitment to the community.
The company has also partnered with GCDEC, offering student internships through the North Country Workplace Education Program. Funded partly through a federal Workforce Investment Act contract with the GCDEC, the program offers real world learning opportunities and high school credit for students.
Garnet Hill high school interns work in several of its departments, including merchandising/buying, the photography studio, the creative department, and as in market analysis.
The program has 48 business partners, with 40 students participating this spring. Almost one-third of those, Scarano said, are pursuing a college degree in the field in which they are interning.