Archive for July, 2016
Wednesday, July 27th, 2016
A series of energy efficiency initiatives now underway at Cannon Mountain is expected to reduce energy consumption at the ski area by about 30 percent, while significantly increasing snowmaking capabilities.
The State of New Hampshire signed a $5.1 million contract with the energy service firm Ameresco for the project.
“This is part of the state’s effort to reduce its energy consumption 50 percent by 2030,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Rose of the Department of Resources and Economic Development, which oversees operation of Cannon Mountain. “Even as this important project is anticipated to cut energy consumption, it will provide critical upgrades to important infrastructure at the ski area.”
 Cannon Mountain ~ Franconia Notch The conservation measures include replacement of Cannon’s main-trunk power line and upgrading the transformer; construction of a mid-mountain snowmaking booster pump house; installation of 388 high efficiency tower snowmaking guns, and lighting and weatherization upgrades.
The ski area’s aging primary power line will be replaced and select primary and secondary transformers will be upgraded, increasing power reliability and energy efficiency.
The pump house will move 50 percent more water to reach snowmaking trails on the upper mountain, increasing snowmaking capabilities on the upper slopes. The snowmaking tower guns replace older, less efficient equipment, providing the greatest energy savings and operational efficiency on the mountain.
The project is funded through the state’s energy performance contract. Savings from the reduction in energy will be used to pay off the bond within 16 years.
Cannon Mountain, located in Franconia Notch State Park, is owned and operated by the State of New Hampshire, Division of Parks and Recreation. The ski area has 95 trails and glades including the Mittersill slopes, plus 11 lifts. For more information call 603-823-8800, email: info@cannonmt.com; log onto www.cannonmt.com or visit its Facebook page.
Tags: Cannon Mountain, Commissioner Jeffrey Rose, Energy efficiency, NH Division of Parks and Recreation
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on More White for Less Green: Energy Efficiency Initiative Underway at Cannon Mountain Expected to Cut Consumption 30 Percent
Friday, July 22nd, 2016
Rachel Adams is our international trade officer in charge of organizing timely and helpful seminars, webinars and other means of telling New Hampshire businesses why they need to start exporting. -Ed
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 Rachel Adams About 2,600 businesses export their goods and services each year to markets abroad and it’s more than likely someone overseas would very much like to buy what you make here in New Hampshire.
- You get to listen in on top industry experts who provide more expertise and knowledge to expand your international business.
- Exporters have helped create 20,000 jobs in New Hampshire and at least 85% of those exported goods are from small-to-medium-sized businesses.
- These sessions save you money compared to expensive training.
- Webinars are scheduled at a convenient time (lunchtime hour) and bonus! You get access to the presenter and the presentation.
- It’s a good reason to connect with the Office of International Commerce, which can help you with all your exporting needs.
- There are two webinars scheduled in August. Click here for more info or contact Rachel Adams.
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on Seven Reasons Why *You* Should Sign Up for an Export Webinar
Tuesday, July 19th, 2016
Business Development Manager Michael Bergeron takes a look at an emerging trend in southern New Hampshire. – Ed.
 Michael Bergeron When you think of New Hampshire, you may think of the First-in-the-Nation primary, or the time you went hiking in the White Mountains, or our bold state motto – Live Free or Die.
Logistics may not a first thought, but given the trends we’re seeing, it will be.
For those who have a warehouse requirement for the Boston metro market, finding high bay space between 500,000 and 1 million square feet is difficult. Like most New England states, New Hampshire doesn’t have a lot of inventory in this category, so there is significant investment in new construction to meet the increasing demand for it in southern New Hampshire.
Recent New Hampshire Projects
Logistic companies are focusing on southern New Hampshire because it’s close to the Manchester/Boston Regional Airport and only 45 minutes from downtown Boston by way of Interstates 93, 95, 495; US Route 3 and Massachusetts Route 128. New construction projects have developed about 2.5 million square feet of logistics space including: Milton Cat, FedEx, UPS/Pratt & Whitney, FW Webb, New Hampshire liquor warehouse, US Foods and Gourmet Gift Baskets.
 Three companies with logistics facilities on Pettengill Road in Londonderry. Who’s moving into this space? U.S. Foods, which relocated from Peabody, Mass, to Seabrook, where it invested $40 million in 500,000 square feet. Gourmet Gift Baskets plans to occupy 106,000 square feet in Exeter in early next year. In Londonderry, 800 acres next to the Manchester/ Boston Regional Airport now supports about 2.1 million square feet of logistics space along Pettengill Road. When FW Webb moves to Pettengill Road in 2018, it will occupy approximately 1 million square feet.
How High Can It Go?
As new facilities are built, the question of ceiling height, cube utilization, and local zoning become important factors. The trend in the logistics industry require at least 40 feet clear, although many companies are submitting designs for up to 50 feet. This likely requires a special exception from local zoning boards of adjustment for that height request. The path of least resistance for companies in need of this kind of space is to look at options that are shovel ready.
Robotics
Companies are looking for ways to use robots to pick product at four or five levels from high bay racking, spiral down to pack stations, and convey to the shipping with little or no human help. Robotic operations can be easily modified, making it easier for managers to switch from one product to another reducing set up times.
About 10 years ago I worked with Ikea, at the time the company was looking for a home for its planned 500,000 square-foot warehouse and assembly operation with only 70 employees. Its raw materials would be stored in rail cars, rolled into the plant when the orders were received, robots would assemble the product and it would be shipped out by truck.
UPS/Pratt & Whitney in Londonderry employs only about 100 employees in 610,000 square feet, using the latest technology to assemble and ship.
Logistics Land Sites
So where are these additional sites in southern New Hampshire? There are 43 acres along Route 3 in Merrimack at the Audley gravel site; 39 acres east along Route 101 at Granite Meadows in Raymond, and 75 acres in Seabrook, along Interstate 95 at the former race track.
Michael Bergeron
Business Development Manager
Division of Economic Development
Tags: Logistics, Londonderry Trends, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Michael Bergeron, Pettengill Road, southern New Hampshire, trends
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on New Hampshire’s Location Makes it a Logical Place for Logistics
Friday, July 15th, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JEQJ7aXqt4
This week’s ribbon in Dover had all the flavor of a homecoming, which it was for Rand-Whitney. The company, which produces corrugated paperboard, opened in Dover in 1972. It has moved a couple of times since around 2002, but about two years ago, the company began looking for a home of its own. The Division of Economic Development worked with Rand Whitney to locate a property, ending up in Dover because of its business friendly environment.
The new 118,600 square-foot is state-of-the-art – substantially larger than its previous locations – and this means higher production volumes.
Rand-Whitney is owned by the Kraft Group, which also owns the New England Patriots. Joining Gov. Maggie Hassan and Dover Mayor Karen Weston for the event was company CEO Robert Kraft, who spoke with fondness about why he came to the city to cut the ribbon.
The first time I branched out and had an operation on my own was the decision in 1972 to come to the Dover Industrial Park. I always came up here with great pride and I felt a sense of commitment … New Hampshire, that ‘Live Free or Die,’ they live free and they do things a certain way and that’s the spirit of our family and our company. We try to be loyal and remember tradition. So when I was out on the West Coast, I said, ‘I want to come back and be part of this.’
Congratulations to Rand-Whitney and the City of Dover for reuniting. As Kraft said, “It’s here for eternity.”
Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
Division of Economic Development
Tags: business expansion, City of Dover, Kraft Group, Rand-Whitney, Robert Kraft
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on Rand-Whitney Returns to Dover ‘for Eternity,’ Says Robert Kraft
Wednesday, July 13th, 2016
 New Hampshire’s manufacturers working together on the sector partnership initiative. The first of four Sector Partnership Initiatives, which are business-led projects to create new pipelines of workers in key industries throughout New Hampshire, was launched Tuesday at Hitchiner Manufacturing in Milford. Led by chairman Val Zanchuck of Graphicast in Jaffrey, with over 25 manufacturers meeting to discuss their top priorities for education, training and recruitment of workers.
Gov. Maggie Hassan and Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner Jeffrey Rose also spoke about the importance of the state’s manufacturers – who propel the New Hampshire economy – identifying their challenges and working together to develop a solution.
Following the Manufacturing Sector Partnership launch, the team will now target manufacturers that have immediate needs, including those producing optics and those who need access to non-destructive testing. A lab is under construction at the Great Bay Advanced Technology Academic Center in Rochester that will enable students to learn various non-destructive testing methods.
Laser optics and micro-electronics manufacturers in New Hampshire produce products for medical devices and defense applications, so there is an ongoing need to have training for employees, which enable these companies to keep up with demand.
The morning event, which drew a standing room only crowd, illustrated New Hampshire’s take charge attitude and its ability to work together to find creative solutions. Three other sector partnership launches – in IT, hospitality and health care – will roll out later this year.
Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
Division of Economic Development
Tags: manufacturing, sector partnerships initiative, workforce
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on Manufacturing Sector Partnership Initiative Launched in Milford
Friday, July 8th, 2016
 Become one of our Digital Ambassadors! The New Hampshire Division of Economic Development launched a new marketing program this week and I invite you to join us as we spread the word about our state and what it offers, particularly for decision makers around the country and the world.
As a New Hampshire Digital Ambassador, you will be among social media-savvy people passionate about the Granite State, sharing news on digital channels about why our state is a great place to live, work, raise and family and do business.
Here’s how it works:
- We will send you interesting content via email an average of one to three times per month;
- After viewing each email, you have the option to share ready-made content on your Twitter, Facebook and/or LinkedIn pages with a simple click of a ‘share now’ button;
- Content will only be posted if you click the ‘share now’ button – it will never be posted without your approval.
Please click here to sign up. Being a New Hampshire Digital Ambassador won’t take much of your time, but it will have a significant impact on how the outside world views our state.
Carmen Lorentz
Director
NH Division of Economic Development
PS – For links to our social media pages, head over to this link and follow us.
Tags: Carmen Lorentz, NH Digital Ambassadors, social media
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on NH Economy Needs You! Join Our Digital Ambassadors Corps.
Friday, July 1st, 2016
 Happy July 4th from your friends at NHEconomy.com Fueled by favorable gas prices and weather forecasts, about 950,000 people are expected to visit New Hampshire over the Fourth of July weekend, spending about $145 million; last year, about 900,000 were in the state to celebrate Independence Day.
The July 4th holiday, which officially kicks off the summer season, is the busiest travel period in New Hampshire, with most coming from around New England and the mid-Atlantic states. Lodging facilities and campgrounds will likely see a sizable increase in occupancy rates over last year.
Outdoor recreation, visiting attractions, patriotic events and visiting friends and relatives are popular activities during the Fourth of July Holiday period.
VisitNH.gov, the website of our sister agency, the Division of Travel and Tourism Development, is a great resource for finding events and adventures in New Hampshire. Stay connected with New Hampshire tourism on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube and follow the #livefreenh to see what others are doing this summer in New Hampshire.
Tags: Division of Travel and Tourism Development, July 4, Summer travel, visitnh.gov
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on Here They Come! Record Number Expected in New Hampshire for the 4th of July Holiday Weekend
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