Representatives of two workforce initiatives are hitting the road this spring to connect employers across the state with resources to help retain and attract the talent they need to grow their businesses.
The Sector Partnerships Initiative and ApprenticeshipNH are driving the Connecting Workforce Resources Spring Tour, with stops at Keene State College, April 26; White Mountain Community College in Berlin, May 1; Plymouth State College, May 10 and Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth in early June.
“The Connecting Workforce Resources Spring Tour is a great opportunity for businesses to learn about a range of resources available to them in New Hampshire,” said Phil Przybyszewski, workforce solutions project director for the Sector Partnerships Initiative. “We have created this tour to bring a complete menu of resources into five communities for company representatives to learn and see what might align best with their workforce development plans.”
Each event during the tour offers speed networking, when company representatives can get an overview of the workforce resource programs available. Attendees can then meet with program representatives for further information.
“With New Hampshire’s low unemployment rate and a number of open positions in high growth industries, it can be difficult for businesses to attract and retain talent,” said Anne Banks, workforce development administrator for the Community College System of New Hampshire and ApprenticeshipNH.
The Sector Partnerships Initiative is a new industry-driven state-wide effort to help New Hampshire businesses in targeted industries address workforce needs. Focusing on five core industries – construction, health care, hospitality, manufacturing and technology – SPI assists companies in finding funding and training resources that provide employees with improved skills and career advancement opportunities. SPI also helps companies create a network to convene and collaborate with other companies on a regular basis to identify shared hiring, training and retention needs.
The ApprenticeshipNH program, housed at the Community College System of New Hampshire, is a unique effort that prepares workers as Registered Apprentices to better compete in the modern workforce. Focusing on the advanced manufacturing; healthcare, and information technology sectors, the ApprenticeshipNH program provides workers with invaluable opportunities to pursue highly-skilled, high-paying jobs, and opportunities for employers seeking to build a qualified workforce in NH. The program is funded through a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Gov. Chris Sununu, before a packed audience last week that included recovery advocates, business leaders and state officials, announced the nationwide launch of his Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative and an invitation to fellow governors to join in the movement.
“Recovery Friendly Workplaces are an opportunity for the governors across the country to help change the culture around addiction in their states by engaging employers in being a proactive part of the conversation,” Sununu said. “We can provide tools and resources to open access to treatment. Importantly, businesses increase productivity and profitability by promoting evidence based practices that reduce the health and safety consequences associated with unaddressed substance use in the workplace.”
In calling on other states to join New Hampshire in this groundbreaking effort, interested states will have website domains, logos, and regulatory framework guidance provided to them. Rhode Island is the first state to join New Hampshire in creating a Recovery Friendly Workplace structure.
From the original launch on March 1, the list of early adopters has more than doubled in New Hampshire. Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare and the New Hampshire Hospital Association are a part of 16 additional companies who have signed on as early adopters, joining the 12 original organizations like the State of New Hampshire, Walmart and Turbocam. With these 28 early adopters, the total number of employees who work for a Recovery Friendly Workplace is about 26,000 people.
Foreign direct investment is present in all 10 New Hampshire counties, with more than 450 subsidiaries owned by 186 companies from 24 countries, according to research presented today by Plymouth State University.
The New Hampshire Foreign Direct Investment Report, the first of its kind analysis, was conducted by PSU professors Chen Wu, Ph.D., and Roxana Wright, DBA, with a goal to provide a complete picture of foreign business presence in New Hampshire, and analysis of the countries of origin of foreign subsidiaries represented across the state’s counties and industries.
Dr. Wu and Dr. Wright created innovative indices to help state policy-makers strategically allocate resources to attract FDI from various countries, and to estimate the New Hampshire jobs that could potentially be created by companies headquartered in other countries.
View the New Hampshire Foreign Direct Investment Report here.
“Plymouth State University’s comprehensive analysis of foreign direct investment in New Hampshire is substantial and important,” said Taylor Caswell, Commissioner, Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “This work will be highly useful as part of our department’s growing concentration on key geographic areas and sector emphasis as we refocus New Hampshire’s international commerce activities. The relationship between BEA and our state’s innovative academic centers is crucial to the advancement of our economy. The work that went into this report and the action that it will inevitably lead to is an excellent example of New Hampshire’s competitive edge.”
According to Dr. Wu and Dr. Wright, East Asia (Japan, Korea, and China), Australia and the Middle East show the possibility of strong FDI growth for New Hampshire. However, the Report’s FDI Origin Index shows that European and Canadian companies lead all others in current and potential FDI in New Hampshire. European countries such as Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and the Netherlands show strong desire to invest here.
“Today’s report is a shining example of why public universities exist and is at the heart of our commitment to this region, all New Hampshire residents and the entire state of New Hampshire,” said Donald L. Birx, Ph.D., President, Plymouth State University. “This report highlights the kind of work our faculty and students do every day, important, cutting-edge research that provides businesses, residents and government entities insight into challenges and opportunities that can increase business, job opportunities and spur economic growth.”
For the second year in a row, a team from the Londonderry Middle School won the annual What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? video contest and the $1,000 top prize.
The contest, coordinated by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership, pairs middle school students with local manufacturers for a look into the manufacturing process. Sponsors are BAE Systems and Hitchiner Manufacturing.
Gov. Chris Sununu announced the winning teams via video on Thursday morning.
“Advanced manufacturing is an important driver of our economy and it’s important for students to know what 21st century manufacturing looks like in New Hampshire,” Sununu said. “Over the past four years, the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? video contest has introduced scores of middle school students around the state to the opportunities there are right here.”
The Londonderry team worked with BirdsEyeView Aerobotics of Andover to produce its video. Second place South Meadow School in Peterborough worked with Vicuña Chocolate; Winnisquam Regional Middle School in Tilton paired with Freudenberg NOK for its video and Kingswood Regional Middle School in Wolfeboro partnered with Crystal Geyser.
“New Hampshire’s economy is booming and advanced manufacturing contributes greatly to that,” said Commissioner Taylor Caswell of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “As the growth of this industry continues, we need to be sure students know that manufacturing offers them a rewarding career path.”
Gov. Sununu’s announcement and the winning videos can be seen on the Division of Economic Development’s 2018 What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? video contest YouTube channel.
Talk to just about any business across New Hampshire and we hear about workforce challenges.
On the latest edition of our monthly radio show, New Hampshire Business Matters, Division of Economic Development Director Will Arvelo talks with Todd Fahey, state director of AARP New Hampshire about older workers and what they bring to today’s workforce.
Tune into NH Business Matters at 2:05 pm on the third Wednesday of the month on WTPL – 107.7FM
The trend, he says, is that people are living longer, working longer, retiring later and still have a lot to offer to companies.
“The Connecting Workforce Resources Spring Tour is a great opportunity for businesses to learn about a range of resources available to them in New Hampshire,” said Phil Przybyszewski, workforce solutions project director for the Sector Partnerships Initiative. “We have created this tour to bring a complete menu of resources into five communities for company representatives to learn and see what might align best with their workforce development plans.”
