Manchester’s historic Mill Yard district has landed another significant technology employer, with Boston-based cybersecurity firm CipherShield announcing plans to open a 200-person office in the renovated Amoskeag Mill complex this fall.
The company, which specializes in threat detection software for financial institutions, chose Manchester over several other New England locations, citing the city’s growing tech ecosystem, competitive costs, and proximity to both Boston and the state’s quality of life advantages.
“New Hampshire offers something that’s hard to find — a lower cost of doing business combined with a highly educated workforce and no state income tax,” said CipherShield CEO Priya Sharma. “Manchester’s Mill Yard has an energy and a community that our team immediately connected with.”
The Mill Yard, a collection of massive 19th-century textile mills along the Merrimack River, has been transformed over the past two decades into one of New England’s most distinctive mixed-use innovation districts. The complex now houses more than 250 businesses, from tech startups to marketing agencies to craft breweries, along with residential lofts and restaurants.
CipherShield will occupy 35,000 square feet on the third floor of Mill Building No. 5, with lease terms that include an option to expand. The company plans to begin hiring locally in the summer, with positions ranging from software engineers to customer support specialists.
Mayor Jay Ruais called the announcement a validation of the city’s economic development strategy. “Every company that chooses Manchester makes the next decision easier for the company after them. We’re building critical mass.”
The New Hampshire Business Finance Authority provided a $500,000 tax credit incentive to support the deal, which the state estimates will generate more than $20 million in annual economic impact once the office is fully staffed.
The Mill Yard’s transformation has been a national model for adaptive reuse of industrial heritage buildings. A $12 million renovation of a connected mill building is currently underway, adding coworking space and a food hall expected to open in 2027.
