New Hampshire: Proximity, Partnerships, Possibilities

During a brief, but informative, visit to New Hampshire this week, more than 30 Canadian entrepreneurs representing 20 companies that are part of a business accelerator program in Sherbrooke, Que., learned about research, partnerships and the business advantages to considering expansion into the US.

New Hampshire: Proximity, Partnerships, Possibilities was the theme of the Concord event, as Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell moderated panel discussions focusing on academic partnerships for research and collaboration, as well as workforce, business climate, access to capital and the experiences of two Quebec-based businesses that expanded to New Hampshire.

The businesses are part of ACET Banque Nationale at the University of Sherbrooke, a business accelerator, which, since 2011, has seen 300 jobs created by 85 companies. Their stop in Concord was part of a two day swing through Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine to meet with economic development officials and business leaders to foster cross-border relationships.

Sherbrook is located about three hours from Concord.

The event was sponsored by BEA, in partnership with Bernstein Shur. Participating panelists included Plymouth State University President Donald Birx; Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth Director Jamie Coughlin; Varitron Vice President Jon Saunders; Integrim CFO Marc Voyer; Bernstein Shur Attorney Ovide Lamontagne and Community College System of New Hampshire Chancellor Ross Gittell.