Down to Business: An Update from the City of Dover's Office of Business Development

Behind the Desk

by James Burdin

Business Development Coordinator

Last week, I discussed Economic Revitalization Zones in Dover, the state program that provides a tax credit to businesses that make capital investments in their business and create new jobs in the same calendar year.

Last week, the governor also announced another business incentive: the U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved 25 U.S. Census tracts in New Hampshire as federally designated Opportunity Zone 2.0, which includes Dover. 

Congress created the Opportunity Zone program in 2017 to encourage private investment in communities that have seen less of it. The idea was to put more than $3 trillion in private investments to work by making it easier to invest that money in things that make our communities stronger — businesses, real estate, and housing. Investors who profit from selling things like stocks can receive tax benefits if they reinvest those gains into projects that are located within designated Opportunity Zones. The first zones, which also included Dover, were designated in 2018.

In 2025, Congress made the program permanent as “Opportunity Zone 2.0,” with zones redesignated every ten years. Communities across New Hampshire applied, and Treasury approved 25 of the 53 eligible tracts statewide. Census Tract 814 is Dover's, which renews the designation the tract already held. The new designation takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and runs through Dec. 31, 2036.

What does that mean in practice? First, this is a tax incentive for investors, not a grant. The city won’t receive any funding directly, and there isn’t an application form for projects. Second, it doesn’t guarantee investment. The program works by making eligible projects more attractive to private investors, and it may work alongside other programs like the ERZ credit I wrote about last week. Finally, it doesn’t change zoning or shortcut any approvals; projects go through the same review as anywhere else. 

If you own property in the tract or are considering a project there, talk with a tax professional about whether the program fits, or reach out to our office with more information. Maps and additional information are forthcoming on the state’s Opportunity Zone page.

A Little Sweetness on Cushing Street

By Reid Bickley

Business Development Specialist

Some interviews feel less like work and more like spending an afternoon with someone you are delighted to have met. My visit with Katie Gillis, owner and creator of Dover Dollhouse, was one of those. We sat on the wrap-around porch of Dover’s beloved pink turret house, perched on a small hill overlooking Cushing Street. Throughout our conversation, neighbors waved, passersby stopped to say hello, and customers climbed the steps to choose something from her front porch farm stand. Between the beautiful setting, Katie’s warmth, and the steady arrival of people happy to be there, it was easy to see why this little porch means so much to her.

Katie grew up in New Hampshire, attended Plymouth State University, and spent several years in Boston before moving to Deerfield. After becoming a parent, she wanted a community with sidewalks, nearby services, and places her family could reach on foot. Dover’s historic homes, train access, and walkable downtown felt right.

“Community, space, historic home, walkability,” she told me. Those were the things that mattered.

The pink house was not what she initially pictured. Katie loved old colonials, and her realtor had to persuade her to take a look at 35 Cushing St. Once she did, she fell in love. Her family purchased it in October 2019, completed necessary electrical work, and settled in shortly before the pandemic interrupted their plans to meet their new neighbors.

Her professional background was in social media marketing, with experience ranging from large companies to small businesses. But over time, a demanding job left little room for the creativity she enjoyed. She found outlets in gardening, making things, and her Strolling Stickery sticker machine.

Then came the corn.

Katie grew glass gem corn, with kernels in colors so beautiful they hardly seemed real. Looking at her harvest, she thought other people ought to enjoy it, too. When a layoff gave her time to reconsider what came next, that small idea became an opportunity.

“I have that rainbow corn growing,” she remembered thinking. “What’s stopping me?”

Baking, something she had always enjoyed at home, became part of the stand. Sourdough followed, inspired partly by a neighbor who had shared her homemade bread. Once Katie began making it herself, she understood the care behind those gifts. With hours devoted to feeding the starter, mixing, stretching and folding, allowing the dough to rise, and finally baking, each loaf takes patience and planning. That bread her neighbor casually handed over represented a considerable labor of love.

“I told my neighbor, ‘I didn’t know you loved me so much,’” she said.

Today, her offerings reflect both the season and her imagination: sourdough breads, pumpkin coffee cake, chocolate chip cookies, brown butter blondies, and sourdough granola. Depending on the day, visitors may also find eggs from her chickens, dog treats, stickers, bath salts, or shower steamers. Katie’s approach centers on simple ingredients, natural materials, and making thoughtful use of what she grows and creates. Each sourdough loaf is hand-scored, leaving room for the creative details she loves. Behind those pretty loaves are early mornings, late nights, and the challenges of baking in an old house. She is preparing a separate kitchen space with larger ovens to help keep up with demand while preserving the home’s historic features.

The community’s response has moved her deeply. Customers sometimes speak into her doorbell camera to leave a thank-you while she is busy inside.

“It doesn’t feel real sometimes because the people thank me for having this,” she said. Her response is just as heartfelt: “No, thank you. Thank you for coming!”

That gratitude extends beyond the porch. Katie serves as Board Chair of the Friends of the Dover Public Library, leads a Girl Scout troop, and donates unsold baked goods to a local children’s home. All of these things are a huge testament to her caring nature and character, as well as her commitment to being a part of the Dover community.

The porch stand is seasonal, with colder weather eventually bringing it indoors, but Katie offers online preorders for pickup. What stayed with me was how naturally her business fits the neighborhood: a familiar house, something lovingly made, and a reason to stop and say hello. Katie came to Dover looking for community. On her front porch and throughout our city, she is helping create it.

Service Standards that Stand Out: Getting Back to the Basics

Great customer service doesn’t require a complicated strategy. Often, it comes down to the basics businesses have relied on for generations: greet people when they walk through the door, make eye contact, listen carefully, know your products, say thank you, and treat every customer with respect. These small interactions matter, especially for small businesses. Customers may be able to find a similar product or service somewhere else, but they remember how they were treated. A warm welcome, an employee who takes the time to answer a question, or simply acknowledging someone who is waiting can turn an ordinary transaction into a reason to return.

Business owners also set the standard. Employees notice how you interact with customers, handle complaints, answer the phone, and respond when things get busy. If excellent service is expected, it needs to be demonstrated consistently from the top down. Don't assume employees automatically know what “great customer service” means for your business. Define it, demonstrate it, and reinforce it.

Try This: Choose three customer-service standards you want every employee to follow, for example: greet every customer, acknowledge anyone waiting, and always end an interaction with a genuine “thank you.” Share them with your team this week and, most importantly, model them yourself.

Question of the Week



The Office of Business Development seeks public feedback on topics related to our local business community, utilizing the city's polling platform, Polco.

This week's question:

What's the biggest reason you'd choose a locally-owned business over a national chain for the same product or service?

Let us know

Responses are anonymous, but poll respondents must create an account with Polco to submit answers. Only an email and password is required to make an account.

Rocktober Recap: Toters, the CIP, and a Community Memorial

In the latest episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Mike Gillis about the local government news from October.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Business Event Happenings 

Trivia Night, OTTO Pizza, Nov. 4, 7 to 9 p.m.

431 Central Ave. Put your knowledge to the test during Trivia Night at OTTO Pizza! Gather your friends for an evening of friendly competition, laughs, and delicious pizza. Enjoy your favorite food and drinks while competing in a fun, all-ages trivia challenge.

Dover After Dark: A Downtown Mystery, Nov. 5, 5 to 8 p.m.

Downtown Dover. The mystery continues in downtown Dover! Visit participating businesses, search for hidden characters, and collect clues in your Detective Log as you work to uncover the culprit. Keep your log for the December finale, when completed entries can be submitted for a chance to win prizes and gift cards from local businesses. Free to participate.

Live Music, Auspicious Brew, Nov. 7, 8 to 11 p.m. 

1 Washington St. Suite 1103. Enjoy an evening of live music at Auspicious Brew featuring the Worst, Cold Signal Fires, and Von Jerryt. Catch three bands in one night at this all-ages show welcoming music fans of all kinds. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the show.

Complete Calendar Listings

Looking for something in Dover? The Office of Business Development continues to update the community calendar to cover all the amazing Dover business events. And if you have events, submit them for inclusion.

Launch or Expand Your Business in Dover, NH!

Contact the Office of Business Development for assistance finding the perfect site for your business. Our team can assist you in site selection and provide access to business resources for business growth and expansion. Email us for more information about how to locate or relocate your business with us!

Let us know about your business

Do you have a question, story, or upcoming event related to businesses in Dover? Please get in touch at Dover-BusinessDevelopment@dover.nh.gov to see it featured here!