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Archive for September, 2019

Upcoming Summit Looks at Foreign Direct Investment in New Hampshire

Monday, September 23rd, 2019

There’s a world of opportunity out there for businesses and New Hampshire is great example of that, to wit, foreign direct investment, or FDI.

FDI is present in all 10 New Hampshire counties, with more than 450 subsidiaries owned by 186 companies from 24 countries, according to research last year by Plymouth State University, and there is potential for more.

Click here to register for the FDI Summit Oct. 11.

That’s the topic of this month’s New Hampshire Business Matters on WTPL-FM 107.7, as well as a summit next month, hosted by PSU and the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs.

Christopher Way, deputy director of the Division of Economic Development, and PSU’s Dr. Chen Wu talked about the importance of FDI, and the upcoming seminar, The Future of Foreign Direct Investment in New Hampshire, set for Oct. 11 at PSU.

The program is geared toward municipal and economic development professionals, with an informative program planned to inform them about benefits of FDI and ways to attract it.

Click here for more information about FDI in the state and the FDI Summit next month.


A Day Worth Celebrating: National PTAC Day Sept. 18

Friday, September 13th, 2019
NH PTAC Team: Jane Brezosky; Dave Pease; Danielle Bishop

Sept. 18 is National PTAC Day, so this is a great time to put the spotlight on our team at the New Hampshire Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Program manager Dave Pease, Danielle Bishop and Jane Brezosky work with hundreds of New Hampshire businesses each year to help them bid on – and win – contracts with local, state and federal agencies. These are great clients to have, but unlike regular B2B, contracting with the government involves complex processes and procedures, to ensure transparency and fairness.


If you think you don’t, you probably do have a product the government wants to buy. Just ask the Country Braid House of Tilton. See its story here.


Is it worth it? It sure is to our economy. Last year, New Hampshire businesses scored $2.7 billion in federal contracts.

When you think about government contracting, you may think about aerospace and defense – that’s what the government is interested in, right?

Wrong! Government needs what any business needs, so if your business provides goods and services, there could be a market for it.

For instance, the NH PTAC team has worked with these businesses to secure government contracts:

  • Stacey Thomson of Orford is contracted for tree clearing and planting at the New Boston Air Station and Saint Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish.
  • Granite Commercial Real Estate of Nashua provides warehousing for Hanscomb Air Force Base, and classroom space rental in Washington, DC  for the US Department of Treasury.
  • Normandeau Trucking, Inc. of Groveton has a contract with the US Fish and Wildlife Service for dumpster hauling.
  • O’Connor Legal, Medical and Media Services in Manchester provides federal grand jury transcription services.
  • Radiation Safety & Control Services in Seabrook conducts radiation safety audits for the US Food and Drug Administration
  • Prenax, Inc. in Concord provides annual newspaper subscriptions to inmates at the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, Colo.

Ready to see if your business is ready for government contracting? Check out the NH PTAC website; call 603-271-7581 or via email.

Happy National PTAC Day!




Location, Live Free Spirit, Workforce Behind Company Relocation

Friday, September 13th, 2019

Cirrus Systems Inc, a startup electronics manufacturer of outdoor LED video screens, has relocated to from Saco, Maine to Portsmouth.

Cirrus LED is leasing 32,000 square feet at 200 West Rd. and will employ 50 people in the next year.

“We source electronic components and assemble them into large high resolution outdoor screens used by business owners to promote their message,” said CEO S. David Rycyna III.  “ I chose Portsmouth because it attracts young talent; we found the perfect building; and I love New Hampshire’s business friendly, live free attitude.”

The company’s products allow companies with brick and mortar locations to use LED screens, such as sophisticated websites that not only display images, but provides real time analytic data 24 hours a day on customer behavior, ranging from movement of cars to in-store foot traffic and demographics.

Cirrus Systems CEO David Rycyna III and Michael Bergeron, business development manager, New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs

“Technology companies like David’s are gravitating to smaller cities that offer a nearby ocean, mountains, lakes, universities, and hip fun things to do – and Portsmouth fits this profile,” said Michael Bergeron, business development manager with the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, who assisted in the company’s relocation.

Cirrus LED plans to hire a number of positions including manufacturing technicians, software developers, customer support representatives and others. 

For more information, visit the company’s website.

Export Boot Camp Helps Businesses Shape Up to Ship Out to International Markets

Tuesday, September 10th, 2019

Did you know New Hampshire exports had their second record breaking year in 2018? Businesses sent $5.2 billion worth of parts, equipment, components and other items to global market last year – 2.68 percent higher than 2017.

If your export program has been on the sidelines, it may be time to get it back in the game by enrolling in the third annual Export Boot Camp this fall, covering the most important aspects of doing business in international market.

For more information and to register, visit our website.

Export Administration Regulations (EAR), CFIUS Regulations and Tariff Updates
Wednesday, Oct. 2
9am – 3 pm
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord
Presented by: Evolutions in Business

International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR)
Wednesday, Oct. 16
9am – 3 pm
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord
Presented by: Department of Homeland Security – Manchester Field Office; Mohawk Global Trade Advisors; LK Trade Consulting

Export Logistics and Financing
Wednesday, Oct. 30
9am – 3 pm
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord
Presented by: Highland ForwardingU.S. Small Business Association – NH District Office; The Provident Bank

International Marketing and Intellectual Property Protection
Wednesday, Nov. 20
9am – 3 pm
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord
Presented by: Savoir Fair Marketing Communications; Rapport International; McLane Middleton

Questions? Contact Rachel Adams.

*Seminars are supported through the STEP grant. You may be eligible to attend these sessions free of charge.  Click here to check your eligibility.*

Fall is just around the Corner and Visitors will Follow, according to Fall Season Forecast

Friday, September 6th, 2019

As summer winds down, New Hampshire tourism officials say they expect a robust fall travel season, with more than 3 million out-of-state, overnight visitors projected, who will spend more than $1.5 billion.

During an event this week at Hazelton Orchards in Chester, the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development unveiled its fall marketing campaign, which highlights activities such as  hiking, leaf peeping, agritourism, dining and shopping.

“New Hampshire is the premier travel destination in the northeast all year round, but the vibrant colors of our tremendous foliage truly sets us apart during the fall travel season, drawing millions of people to all corners of the Granite State,” said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “The fall travel season is an incredible economic driver for our state and we are constantly working to maximize and expand visitation for the benefit of our partners and the people of New Hampshire.”

Gov. Chris Sununu, joined by Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell, left, and Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food Commissioner Shawn Jasper, kicked off what is expected to be a busy fall tourism season by picking the ceremonial first apple of autumn at Hazelton Orchards in Chester.

Representing about 25 percent total annual visitation, fall is New Hampshire’s second-largest travel season, behind summer.

Foliage, scenic drives and pick-your-own options dominate the fall season but historically fall is also popular for visiting attractions, college homecomings, fairs and festivals, shopping, and visiting friends and relatives. In addition, fall tends to draw the largest percentage of visitors from outside New England.

Visitors to New Hampshire this fall can experience fall activities and events  including:

Stay connected with New Hampshire tourism on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube, and be sure to follow the #livefreeNH tag to see what other people are saying about fall in New Hampshire.