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Archive for January, 2018

Help Wanted: Granite Staters Invited to be a Part of New Hampshire’s Red-Hot Economy

Tuesday, January 30th, 2018

Commissioner Taylor Caswell Business and Economic Affairs

On the front page of this week’s New Year, New Job, a special edition of the New Hampshire Union Leader, Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell invited Granite Staters to stay in, or return to, the state and become a part of our vibrant economy.

In case you haven’t noticed, New Hampshire’s economy is red-hot. Like powder hounds headed north on I-93 to ski after a snow storm, we’re outpacing the rest of New England and creating phenomenal opportunities – the kind of opportunities not seen in a generation.


Live in the North Country, work at a law firm or a hospital, and go skiing on a Wednesday afternoon. 


If you left after high school or college five or 10 years ago, now’s a good time to come back. If you’re graduating from high school or college this spring and unsure where you want life to take you, think about staying here and joining one of our many growing companies who really want you.

New Hampshire is an employee market. There are thousands of good, high-paying jobs spread out across a state that is routinely ranked near, or at the top, for quality of life.

Live on our Seacoast, work at an international biotech company, and after work go for a kayak on Great Bay. Live in the North Country, work at a law firm or a hospital, and go skiing on a Wednesday afternoon.

Today, national publications are talking about Manchester’s Silicon Millyard, our hotbed of technology and innovation. This is the spot where a whole new biofabrication industry, with over $300 million in funding, is turning science fiction into actual medical science.

New entrepreneurs statewide are taking advantage of our economy, our low business taxes, and zero income and sales tax and settling into our unique communities to grow their dreams, from craft breweries, coffee shops and niche businesses on Main Street to creating and expanding our $8 billion outdoor recreation economy.

These are exciting times to be in New Hampshire; consider joining us and help write the next chapter of the long and successful history of our great state.

Taylor Caswell
Commissioner
Business and Economic Affairs

 

Braid in New Hampshire: Tilton Rug Company Wins Federal Contract

Monday, January 29th, 2018

 

The National Park Service pulled out the rug from under the display in the dining room of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial late last year and replaced it with one replicated by a New Hampshire rug company.

The Country Braid House in Tilton has been in business for close to half a century creating custom braided rugs found all over the country and featured in magazines, from Architectural Digest to Country Living and the New York Times magazine.

There have been a variety of customers over the years, said Jan Jurta, but never the federal government.

“I never in my wildest dreams imagined they would contract for a braided rug,” she said.

When the National Park Service decided to replace the 21.5-foot braided rug that had been in the Nancy Hanks Memorial Hall in Lincoln City, Indiana since 1943, Jurta knew this was a project for the Country Braid House.

She also knew she was going to need some help in preparing the detailed bid, so she connected with the New Hampshire Government Contracting Assistance Center.

“The U.S. government is one of the largest buyers of goods and services in the world,” said Jane Brezosky, who worked with Jurta on the successful bid. “It’s easy to think of it as only needing items related to defense, electronics and medical supplies, but federal and state governments have the same needs as any customer.”

While the contract for the braided rug was very specialized, Country Braid House’s experience illustrates the kind of opportunities there are in government contracting for New Hampshire businesses, from firewood for campgrounds and road repairs in the White Mountain National Forest to flooring and furniture for military bases and government agencies.

NH GovCon’s services are offered to New Hampshire businesses at no cost. Once you sign up as a client, you will receive notifications of bid opportunities and our staff will work with you to guide you through the process. In addition to this specialized assistance, we offer training seminars throughout the state.

Government contracting is a $2.5 billion business in New Hampshire. If you think your business doesn’t have a product the government needs, you probably do.

Just ask the Country Braid House.

Arvelo Sworn in as New Hampshire’s Economic Development Director

Friday, January 19th, 2018

Gov. Sununu, Director Arvelo

Wildolfo (Will) Arvelo was sworn in Jan. 18 as director of the Division of Economic Development by Gov. Chris Sununu.

Arvelo joined the agency earlier this month, following 11 years as president of Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth.

During that time, he oversaw the college’s move from Stratham to the Pease International Tradeport; development of the Advanced Technology and Academic Center in Rochester and a catalyst for creating programs meeting the needs of Seacoast employers and industries.

Taylor Caswell, commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, said Arvelo’s experience is a great fit for the division, at a time when New Hampshire is growing.

“Our economy demands that we be able to meet the workforce demands of our employer community, and Will’s experience fits perfectly into those strategies,” Caswell said.

In his new role, Arvelo will oversee the division charged with business retention; business recruitment; international commerce; government contracting; workforce development, and marketing.

“I am honored and overjoyed to be joining Governor Sununu, Commissioner Caswell, and the Business and Economic Affairs team as we focus on building the economic landscape and workforce that will carry New Hampshire into the future and make it a top destination for new companies, workers and visitors,” he said. “I’m excited about, and looking forward to, working with entities and the many talented people across the state interested in collaborating as we explore new directions for how we think about and implement economic and workforce development strategies and initiatives.”