October, 2014 - New Hampshire Business Matters

Archive for October, 2014

Comcast Opens Hudson Call Center to Answer Customers Calling

Monday, October 20th, 2014

Dignitaries cut the ribbon at Comcast’s new call center in Hudson.

A great big red ribbon was cut Friday morning in Hudson for the ceremonial opening of Comcast Cable’s brand new, state-of-the-art call center. Already, 122 people are employed here; another 65 are in training. Eventually, 600 people will be hired, providing support to 1.6 million customers in New Hampshire, Maine and eastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands.

With the new positions, Comcast will have more than 1,700 employees across the state, and more than 5,000 across its reach from Greater Boston. The call center joins 12 offices in the Granite State and last year, its total employee investment, including payroll, payroll taxes, benefits, healthcare, training and tuition reimbursement, totaled more than $150 million. Comcast also contributed nearly $2 million in community investment across the Granite State.

“The opening of Comcast’s new facility is exciting for the Hudson community and the State of New Hampshire, creating hundreds of good jobs and representing why New Hampshire is as well positioned as any state to lead the country in innovative economic growth,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan.

Since Comcast announced its plans last May to develop the call center, the transformation of the 127,000-square-foot building has been dramatic. Light, bright and open, the center features the latest tools and technologies at the fingertips of its employees.

Company officials say locating the center in New Hampshire puts in the middle of an outstanding pool of talent.

“In addition to being a center for superior customer care, all employees in Hudson will be afforded continuous professional growth opportunities and we’ll add hundreds of new team members in the near future,” said Matthew Cohen, vice president of Customer Care Comcast’s Greater Boston Region. “This is an ideal location with a strong and talented labor market and we’re grateful to once again be growing in the Granite State.”

Congratulations Comcast!

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development

Tags: call center, Comcast, Hudson NH, New Hampshire Department of Resources & Economic Development, New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, talent pool
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Seeing the Light and Shining It in Hillsboro

Friday, October 10th, 2014

When it’s employee appreciation day and the company, one of the few remaining automotive light source manufacturers in the US, has a new partnership with Ford (as in the automaker), how do you celebrate?

At OSRAM SYLVANIA in Hillsboro, you donate a 2015 Ford F-150 with LED headlamps made at the plant to the local fire department.

Because the fire department depends on volunteer firefighters, many of whom work at the plant.

According to OSRAM, the Hillsboro Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to a community that covers about 42 square miles, with a population of about 6,000. Last year, it responded to around 1,000 calls.

The new F-150 is equipped with a full LED forward lighting system, a technology made possible by OSRAM, Tier 1 supplier Flex-N-Gate and DBM Reflex. No other light-duty pickup truck on the road today has LED headlamps.

Cheryl Blackwood and Hillsboro firefighters

“Hillsboro counts on the dedicated men and women of our fire department to protect us from harm’s way,” said Cheryl Blackwood, Hillsboro plant manager, “and now they can count on our innovative lighting system to help keep them safe on the roads. We hope Hillsboro residents will be proud to see their local heroes driving around town in the all-new F-150 with the beautiful LED headlight system designed and assembled right here.”

Officials say the new partnership with Ford has enabled OSRAM to make significant investments in the New Hampshire plant and to hire and train new employees.

Great story, OSRAM … thanks for sharing.

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
Division of Economic Development

Tags: Ford, Hillsboro fire department, Hillsboro NH, New Hampshire Department of Resources & Economic Development, New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, OSRAM SYLVANIA
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What a Week for New Hampshire Manufacturing!

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

We’re halfway through New Hampshire Manufacturing Week today and wow … it’s been fantastic. The measure is this: Over 42 manufacturers across the state, joined by our community colleges, opened their doors this week to over 1,000 visitors. Most of these visitors were high school students, who got to see advanced manufacturing up close and hear about the opportunities waiting for them when they graduate.

This is the second year of the initiative and this year is another success, with participation from companies in the North Country, right out to the Seacoast. Thanks to all you manufacturers who took time out to introduce yourselves to the next generation of innovators.