(Commissioner Jeffrey Rose returns today from Turkey, following a week-long trade mission to that country, led by Gov. Hassan. Also accompanying the governor were representatives of seven New Hampshire businesses – Comptus of Thornton; Conductive Compounds of Hudson; Demers & Blaisdell of Concord; Hinkley Allen of Concord; Mae Consulting of Deerfield; Rokon of Rochester and Ulysses Advisory Group of East Kingston.)
Gov. Hassan delivered the keynote speech to the Kaza Women and Business Association.
Our trade mission to Turkey has been an extraordinary experience. Our companies had over 100 business-to-business meetings and are returning home with dozens of high quality leads. Gov. Hassan went non-stop over the past week, meeting with many of the most senior business people in the country and receiving high praise from the more than 200 businesses she directly connected with during the mission. Some of the most gratifying moments of the trade mission came in her meetings with women business leaders and how inspired they were by her.
Financing being a key factor in international trade and economic development, we met with Garanti Bank, the leading private bank in Turkey. The U.S., through the Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC), has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Turkey, with a particular emphasis on women-owned businesses.
Garanti Bank’s contributions have made a positive impact here and since nearly 20 percent of OPIC’s investments have been projects in Turkey (our long-standing NATO partner), this underscores its importance to the U.S.
During the trade mission, I met with numerous senior level executives representing companies eyeing expansion into the U.S. market – a receptive audience for outlining the benefits of expanding to New Hampshire and to map out potential options for their consideration.
Of note is a fast growing international company seeking a potential warehouse/distribution center here in the Northeast. Its overseas investment director was very interested in our lower cost of doing business, compared to rest of the region. Another company that stood out is a leading forest-products company in Turkey, interested in our timber and mill capacity. The company is very successful in Turkey and looking to grow in markets around the globe.
Thursday was another busy day for Gov. Hassan, the seven New Hampshire businesses taking part in this trade mission, and our team from DRED. Starting with breakfast, joined by a diverse group of Parliament members, it was followed by a robust discussion about government processes in Turkey and U.S, as well as how important international trade is in providing opportunities and benefits for both countries.
The opportunity to talk about New Hampshire’s growing aerospace and defense sectors came in a meeting I, and members of the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Export Consortium, had with leaders of the OSTIM Defense and Aviation Custer of Turkey. We had a spirited discussion about the important role the sector plays in both our economies and the collective efforts to organize and promote emerging clusters in both countries. It was an opportunity to highlight two New Hampshire companies on the trade mission – Rokon of Rochester and Conductive Compounds of Hudson – and develop networking opportunities for them to engage with the Turkish industry. We also discussed best practices and picked up some dynamic ideas to bring back to our growing NHADEC organization.
To talk more about the opportunities for New Hampshire businesses to make strategic investments into Turkey, I met with Ahmet Erdem, head of Investor Services Department with the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT). We discussed the emerging sectors within the rapidly growing Turkish economy and incentive programs there to help spur international investment. The country’s investment system targets geographic locations, strategic sectors, R&D, and duty/tax reductions. With its growing purchasing power and its location at the cross roads of Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe, Turkey is attracting lots of foreign investment.
I enjoyed the opportunity to meet with Metin Deger, head of the Ministry of Economy for the Republic of Turkey, and speak about the benefits of Turkish companies investing in New Hampshire. He is responsible for counseling Turkish companies on overseas investments and helps identify markets for companies. He was impressed with what the Granite State offers foreign investors, particularly our strategic geographic location, skilled workforce and low tax structure. It was a great discussion and once we provide some more information, he will promote New Hampshire to a variety of industries, associations and business groups.
I need to again thank our hosts – the Turkish Cultural Center and TUSKON – for their efforts in making our trade mission with Turkey so successful. Those efforts, which included months of planning and highly coordinated logistics, were extraordinary.
I am confident this is just the beginning of a long term relationship that will continue to yield fruits for both countries as we seeking opportunities to grow trade between New Hampshire and Turkey.
Jeffrey Rose
Commissioner
New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development
We love business success stories and New Hampshire celebrates another one today, as Nanocomp Technologies in Merrimack celebrates its 10th anniversary with the announcement that it will triple its manufacturing capacity, creating at least 70 jobs.
Peter Antoinette and Gov. Hassan at Nanocomp Technologies celebration
We often say that New Hampshire is home to manufacturers who make a product that is made no where else in the country, if not the planet.
Nanocomp Technologies is one of those companies. It is the only commercial producer of carbon nanotube-based sheets, tapes and yarns. It has been working closely with the Department of Defense to reduce the weight of body armor for our troops, while maintaining the level of performance for soldiers and law enforcement.
In fact, this ambitious expansion is made possible by an $18.5 million contract from DoD. By year’s end, Nanocomp will triple its manufacturing capabilities and adding 70 new jobs.
“This is a great day for our company,” said Nanocomp CEO and president Peter Antoinette. “Ten years ago, we had two employees; today we have 76, with plans to more than double that over the next year.”
More than 100 people attended the festivities at the company’s plant in Merrimack, including US Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte and Gov. Maggie Hassan.
“Nanocomp’s expansion reinforces that our tax-friendly enviroment, responsive state government, highly skilled workforce and quality of life make New Hampshire as attractive state for business as any in the country,” Hassan said.
Dignitaries from New Hampshire and France took part in this morning’s ribbon cutting at Safran’s new manufacturing plant in Rochester.
This afternoon’s ribbon cutting in Rochester was so much more than the opening of a new manufacturing plant, where Safran and Albany International Corp. have co-located to produce composite parts for the US and French governments.
“This is a significant milestone, not only for our two companies, but for our customers and partners in the aerospace industry and for the city of Rochester and the state of New Hampshire,” said Joseph Morone, president and CEO of Albany International. “We are opening an identical sister plant in Commercy, France and this is a first of its kind in the aerospace industry. The manufacturing technology and the product being produced with that technology are new to the world …”
New to the world … right here in New Hampshire.
“What a great day for Rochester and New Hampshire,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan. “This is a shining example of the kind of innovative business that has New Hampshire as well-positioned as any state to lead the country in economic growth.”
Rochester Mayor TJ Jean called the grand opening of the plant a celebration “of the power of partnerships,” between the two companies, between the local, state and federal officials who made sure the resources would be available, and “the community college system, which will help train our workforce.”
As manufacturing ramps up in this new plant, hundreds of more jobs will be added to 130 already in place. They will work to produce 3D woven composite parts using RTM technology for aircraft engines parts.”Our presence in Rochester reflects our commitment to this state and the US,” said Jean-Paul Herteman, chairman and CEO of Safran. “Our aim is to continue to expand our position and to contribute to the development of the aerospace and security markets as an American company, to ensure optimum service for our civil and military customers here.”
More than an opening of a new manufacturing plant, today’s event clears New Hampshire’s aerospace and defense industries for take-off.
“This is new-to-the-world high impact technology,” Morone said.
Gov. Maggie Hassan this week appointed 26 people to the Economic Development Advisory Council. The membership represents all the cogs in the wheels that drive our economy – business, education, tourism, manufacturing, telecommunications, biotechnology, forest-based products, retail and more.
Established by a 2008 act of the Legislature sponsored by Hassan during her time in the state Senate, the council is charged with assisting the Division of Economic Development by providing advice on the trends and the needs across all sectors of industry and government to aid in the strategic planning efforts of the division.
In announcing the appointment, Hassan said the council will help to continue her efforts to help businesses grow and create good jobs that can support a thriving middle class.
“Through its work to assist and advise New Hampshire’s Division of Economic Development, the Economic Development Advisory Council is critical to our efforts to support innovative economic growth and help businesses create good jobs,” she said. “These appointees have a diverse track record of success in a variety of sectors across our economy, and I am confident that their service will help build a stronger, more innovative New Hampshire.”
The members of the council serve three-year terms and hail from all all corners of the state. The first meeting will be held at 10 am, March 21, here in Concord.
“With these appointments, the Economic Development Advisory Council will have broad representation of industries from every corner of the state,” said Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner Jeffery Rose. “This is very important as we seek their counsel in developing our economic strategy and I appreciate their time and commitment to serving on this board.”
The Governor’s appointees are:
Zenagui Brahim, director of the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership, representing manufacturing;
Kendall Buck, vice president of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association, representing residential building;
Dean Christon, director of New Hampshire Finance Authority, representing state/local housing authority;
Patrick Clark, president/CEO of BurstPoint Networks, representing information technology/software;
Jaime Coughlin, director of New Ventures and incubator programs, member-at-large;
Eric Crainich, president of Design Standards Corp., representing biotechnology;
Katharine Eneguess, president of White MountainsCommunity College, representing higher education;
Phil Ferneau, founder/director of Borealis Ventures, representing venture capital formation;
Jeffrey Hayes, director of the Lakes Region Planning Commission, member-at-large;
State Senator Jeanie Forrester;
Judy Gove, director of the New Hampshire Electric Coop, representing electric/energy;
Stephen Heavener, director of the Capitol Regional Development Council, representing regional/municipal development;
Gale Hennessy, director of Southern New Hampshire Services, representing workforce development;
Chris Hodgdon, director of government affairs for Comcast, representing telecommunications;
State Representative Naida Kaen;
Carmen Lorentz, director of the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development;
Daniel Lee, associate professor of economics at PlymouthStateUniversity;
Patrick McDermott, director of external affairs for Hinkley Allen & Snyder, member-at-large;
Mark McKenzie, president of New Hampshire AFL-CIO, representing organized labor;
David Mullen, director of Pease Development Authority, representing real estate/commercial real estate development;
Jayne O’Connor, president of White Mountains Attractions, representing travel and tourism;
Eric Proulx, general manager of Tanger Outlet Center, representing retail;
Kathleen Reardon, vice president of Citizens Bank, representing insurance/banking/financial services;
Tim Sink, president of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, representing chambers of commerce;
Sarah Smith, extension professor at the University of New Hampshire, representing forest-based products;
Philip Suter, director of the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Keene State College.
It may be a Monday morning, but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about beer. Especially when it comes to our economy.
Good things are brewing in the beer economy and last week, we joined Gov. Hassan, Commissioner Rose and a host of brewmasters to toast our state’s breweries. We saw the launch of a new trade organization, Brew New Hampshire, and the unveiling of the new brewery map and itineraries now available online at our sister agency, VisitNH.gov. Brew NH is a partnership between distributors, brewers and the Department of Resources and Economic Development that will work to promote the state’s beer industry.
New Hampshire is gaining a reputation of creating some really great beers and people from all over are coming here to check it out. How much of a demand is there for beer tourism? The brewery map is the number 1 download on the VisitNH.gov website and, said Peter Egelston, who hosted the party last week at his Smuttynose Brewery (which will open soon at its new digs in Hampton), “You can plan an entire vacation visiting breweries and, not surprisingly, more and more people are.”
By the numbers, our microbreweries have over 3,100 employees, earning an average wage of $34,500, with an economic impact of over $362 million.
But more than numbers, they give us something intangible. Our local breweries give us the local flavor of the places we get to call home. Microbrewers have done much to revitalize their communities, embracing their identities and all that makes them special and it gives us a place to go, meet friends, raise a glass and make us glad we live here.
So cheers to Brew New Hampshire and to all you microbrewers across the Granite State.
The tourism industry is the second largest here in the Granite State, employing about 60,000 people who tend to the needs of nearly 35 million visitors who come here each year and spend $4 billion.
“As our second largest industry, our travel and tourism industry is integral to the New Hampshire economy and will continue to play an important role as we work to build a more innovative economic future,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan.
Lori Harnois, director of the NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development, left, and Gov. Maggie Hassan
In this day and age of instant communication and everyone being on-the-go, it’s a challenge to reach them, but our tourism folks continue to find ways to do just that. In the past year, they introduced a fall foliage app for mobile phones, taken a bigger aim at the group tour market and are tapping into new market – Japan.
And tying it all together is that evocative Live Free and … that invitation to pause and make a wish or dream about possibilities that can happen here in New Hampshire – hiking, skiing, relaxing, fishing, zip-lining and even starting a business.
The travel and tourism division will launch its summer marketing campaign on May 8, with print, online and television advertising in Boston and New York.
It’s a sunny Monday afternoon … a good time to Live Free and … (fill in the blank).
Commissioner Rose speaks after he is sworn in by Gov. Maggie Hassan.
Moments after Jeffrey Rose was sworn in as commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development, he said this is a fitting day for a new beginning.
Not only is it his first day on the job, but it’s opening day for the Boston Red Sox.
“For those who know me well, they know I am a huge fan of baseball,” Commissioner Rose said following his swearing-in ceremony. “The optimism, the hope, the renewal and all that lies before you is what opening day is all about and it is with that enthusiasm that I approach today, with this new job and new role.”
“There’s a lot of work to do,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan. “I think Jeff already knows, but he will discover, that the people of New Hampshire are the best resources we have.”
Rose comes to DRED from BAE Systems in Nashua. He grew up in Merrimack, spends time at the family’s getaway in Campton and brings to his new job a passion for New Hampshire and all the things that make it a wonderful place.
“I’m truly excited about this opportunity and all that is ahead,” he said. “As someone who has grown up and spent virtually his entire life here, I can’t think of more exciting opportunity and I look forward to doing wonderful things on behalf of the state of New Hampshire.”
The Radio-Canada film crew at the Le Rendevous Bakery in Colebrook.
A film crew from Canada’s largest network is back at its studio in Montreal this week, after spending two intensive days last week delving into New Hampshire’s tax structure.
Beginning in Concord last Monday, the Radio-Canada team talked with Gov. Hassan and our Beno Lamontagne, business resource specialist for northern New Hampshire. No sales tax? No income tax? How does the state operate?
Then it was back on the road, north to Colebrook, where the group spent the day talking with two businesses with roots in France and Quebec, about doing business here. National reporter Maxime Bertrand conducted the interviews in French and the questions were not softball.
Marie-Josee Vaillant, president of Kheops International, speaks with Radio-Canada reporter Maxime Bertrand, center, and producer Francine Doyon.
The morning was spent filming at Kheops International, a wholesaler of New Age items from the 15,000 square-foot building it opened in 2004. Marie-Josee Vaillant, the company president, spoke at length about the reasons why she, her mother and sister located in Colebrook.
In the afternoon, the crew went downtown to the Le Rendevous Bakery and spoke with owner Verlaine Daeron and her partner, Marc Ounis. On a search through northern New England some years ago, the couple from Paris found their way to Colebrook and never left, setting up their bakery in the old First Colebrook Bank.
In addition to the business questions, there were exchanges about the many things in common New Hampshire has with Canada, especially Quebec, which shares our northern border at Pittsburg. The first immigrants to the Granite State, who came down to work the textile mills in Manchester and in the woods north of Berlin and the mills there that made paper for well over a century left a lasting legacy across the state.
“Between our geography and our culture, there is a real connection,” said Lamontagne.
The exact date when the segment on the Late News isn’t set, but the producer said it will be in late April, coinciding with Quebec’s tax day.
“This interest is a direct result of the Aero-Montreal summit,” said Lamontagne, who was part of the New Hampshire delegation, led by then-Gov. John Lynch, the only governor who attended the event.
Lamontagne and business recruiter Michael Bergeron have made about half a dozen trips to Canada over the past year, which included a dinner for 80 people in Sherbrooke last June to tell them about the benefits of expanding their business to New Hampshire, especially the North Country. In a province that is highly taxed, once business owners get over being incredulous, they are very interested in talking further about opportunities here.
Getting the word out about the business climate here isn’t easy, largely because unlike New York, Vermont and Maine, New Hampshire doesn’t have a television signal that goes over the border, so residents don’t hear a lot about the things that make us unique, very business friendly and eager to welcome our neighbors to north who want to get established in the US markets.
Down on Elm Street in Manchester this morning, there was a pause in the bustle for a celebration of new beginnings.
The abi Hub marked the opening of its new downtown location, right in the heart of New Hampshire’s largest city.
In its past incarnation, this space was the former McQuade’s Department Store, so it has wonderfully wide windows – windows with a view of the street busy with trade and traffic, but, more importantly, a window for people to look into as they pass by.
The view, says Jamie Coughlin, abi Hub’s CEO, is a look at New Hampshire’s newest ecosystem.
“This is a vision for a new New Hampshire, in the heart of New Hampshire’s largest city,” Coughlin said this morning at the open house, “a vibrant ecosystem of innovator and do-ers.”
The abi Hub is a business accelerator that has created an environment for innovation, entrepreneurship and experience. The dreams, ideas and hard work that are hatched here become tomorrow’s company that offers Granite Staters good jobs and generous pay, creating a ripple in the overall ecosystem that benefits the entire state.
“We are well positioned to lead the country through innovation,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan, who attended the celebration. “We have great potential here and I am pleased that abi is working with innovators throughout the state.”
“We’re speaking more and more of the state as a destination for entrepreneurs and start-ups,” he said. “A place where those with innovative ideas can begin their journey and progress to the result: Well-paying jobs.”
This kind of environment, or ecosystem, doesn’t just happen, Way said, and Coughlin has done well in reaching out across the state to spread the message that innovators and entrepreneurs will find resources, mentors and experience to help them with their start-ups.
“Today we are in the business of accelerated serendipity,” Coughlin said. “abi and New Hampshire represent the Live Free and Start capitol of the world.”
Keep an eye on that window in downtown Manchester. From there, and reaching out across New Hampshire, great things will happen.
Gov. Maggie Hassan tours Freudenberg-NOK in Manchester on Jan. 4.
Maggie Hassan spent her first day as governor meeting with officials from Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, a company with deep roots in the Granite State and plans for investment, expansion and creation of new jobs.
Hassan used the visit to highlight New Hampshire’s Research and Development tax credit, which she said will help to encourage more innovative businesses to come to New Hampshire, while helping companies already here to prosper.
“My Innovate NH plan calls for doubling the R&D tax credit, a measure that has bipartisan support, so we can help businesses like Freudenberg-NOK and others across the state to innovate, grow and succeed,” she said.
Freudenberg-NOK is a leading manufacturer of materials and products for the automotive, energy and aerospace industries. Last summer, company officials said they anticipate hiring up to 100 new employees and investing millions of dollars in capital expenditure over the next two years to maintain its robust commitment in the Granite State.
“The Research and Development tax credit is very popular among our manufacturing companies,” said Christopher Way, interim director of the Division of Economic Development. “Doubling the tax credit is a great first step for this new administration.”
In a statement, Leesa Smith, Freudenberg North America President and Regional Representative, called the R&D credit a meaningful investment in New Hampshire.
“It acts as an incentive for companies like Freudenberg to make investments in innovation and new technologies, which could ultimately result in the creation of new jobs.”
Hassan toured the Manchester facility on Friday afternoon, which employs about 420 people, meeting a number of workers. Freudenberg operates three companies, seven industrial facilities and employs a total of 1,300 people in the state; it began its US operations in the Granite State 60 years ago.
