The Story Behind Hannah Grimes

Inspired by the legacy of an 18th-century woman named Hannah Grimes, Mary Ann Kristiansen founded a movement rooted in local trade, community, and innovation.

1991

The Inspiration

Mary Ann Moves to Roxbury, NH

In 1991, Mary Ann moved into an 18th-century home in Roxbury, New Hampshire, once owned by Hannah Grimes. Hannah, born in 1776, lived a self-sufficient life, making and trading goods locally. Mary Ann was inspired by her story and way of life, which had been nearly forgotten in the Keene area at the time.

Early 1990s

A Maker’s Challenge

Soap Business Sparks a Realization

On the farm, Mary Ann gardened, raised animals, and started a home-based soap-making business. She soon realized there were few places for local makers to sell their goods. Big box stores dominated, handmade products were undervalued, and many artisans lacked the business skills to succeed.

1994

The First Venture

The Traditional Craft & Industry Fair

Mary Ann hosted the Traditional Craft & Industry Fair at her home. Conceived as an event where buyers and sellers could connect, it attracted more than 400 people and demonstrated that the community was interested in supporting the local economy.

1997

Hannah Grimes Marketplace Is Born

A Space for Local Makers

Mary Ann launched the Hannah Grimes Marketplace, a hub where local entrepreneurs could sell their goods, gain business skills, and connect with a like-minded community. Located on Main Street, it offered artisans a rare opportunity to grow their businesses with support from a team that understood their journey.

1998

Hannah Grimes Marketplace Moves to Main Street

A Permanent Home

Due to construction delays, their retail store opened in November 1997 in a temporary space. It later opened permanently at 42 Main Street in June 1998.

2001

Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship

Expansion into Business Support

In 2001, Hannah Grimes created two separate legal entities: a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship (HGC), and a for-profit business, the Hannah Grimes Marketplace, which HGC wholly owns. The Hannah Grimes Center would grow to offer a co-working space, office and conference room rentals, a full slate of entrepreneur programming, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs grow from ideas to scale.

2004

The First Cohort Program

The Entrepreneur Project

In 2004, Hannah Grimes received a USDA grant to run a one-year program, The Entrepreneur Project, which brought together a cohort of businesses for monthly meetings facilitated by a business coach to offer a next level of business support to some of the more ambitious Marketplace members. This program has been restructured and renamed over the years, first as Startup Lab, and then Business Lab, a signature program that the Center still offers today.

2005

Hannah Grimes Center Moves to Roxbury St.

The Physical Incubator

When MEDC’s nearby business incubator struggled, they invited Hannah Grimes to take it over. The opportunity provided two significant benefits: space for offices and meeting rooms, and a chance to expand programming from the Entrepreneur Project to serve more vendors and entrepreneurs beyond the Marketplace.

2006

CONNECT Networking Event

Celebrating HGC Alumni

The Center hosted its first CONNECT networking event to bring together the growing alumni network from multiple Entrepreneur Project cohorts. In just a couple of years, this event was opened to all in the Hannah Grimes community, later evolving into something even bigger.

2007-2015

Growth & Success

Program Expansion

With the Marketplace and Center thriving, Hannah Grimes entered a decade of growth. Programming expanded to serve entrepreneurs at every stage. If an entrepreneur needed it, the Center found a way to offer it, adding cohort-based courses, volunteer specialty coaches, and pitch events to connect local businesses with local investment.

2016

Hannah Grimes CONNECTS with The Keene Sentinel

From Dinner to a Movement

In 2016, Hannah Grimes partnered with the Keene Sentinel (the local newspaper) to transform the event from a Hannah Grimes gathering into a high-energy, themed event for the entire local community. It nearly tripled the attendance from 150 to 420.

2018

Radically Rural Summit

From Local to National

CONNECT grew into Radically Rural, a national summit that celebrated innovation, entrepreneurship, and community in rural areas. It became a platform for sharing resources and fostering rural vitality.

2024

New Leadership

The Next Generation of Hannah Grimes

Mary Ann stepped away from the organization, paving the way for Radically Rural Director and Deputy Executive Director Julianna Dodson to assume leadership as Executive Director.

Today

A Thriving Ecosystem

Celebrating Ideas in All Forms

Whether it’s a business, nonprofit, or passion project, Hannah Grimes continues to provide space, tools, and connections to turn ideas into action, honoring the legacy of its namesake and the mission of community empowerment.