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Posts Tagged ‘New Hampshire Department of Resources & Economic Development’

What’s App? NH Emergency Alert App Now Available

Tuesday, January 6th, 2015

We first talked about it last month, when we sat down with Perry Plummer, director of  New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management, on the monthly New Hampshire Business Matters segment on WTPL-FM107. He and our director, Carmen Lorentz, spoke about the resources available to business owners in the event of an emergency or disaster.

NHAlert

The NH Alerts app

The latest (and free) tool is now available, with the launch this week of the NH Alerts mobile app, which notifies users of hazards in the area based upon cellphone location.

“The NH Alerts app takes emergency notification to the next level,” Director Perry Plummer said. “Those with the NH Alerts app on their phone will know about safety issues in their area, from accidents and road closures, to hazardous
weather and active shooters. We can now send messages directly to those people who are in the path of danger. I strongly encourage everyone to download this app.”

The NH Alerts app provides warnings via an audible tone and the types of alerts received can be customized to enable users to determine the frequency with which warnings are received. It works with iPhone and Android cellphones and is available via links on ReadyNH.gov.

If you are a New Hampshire resident and you do not have a smartphone or want warnings sent to your traditional phone, sign up to receive emergency information by landline or other non-smartphone methods. Encourage friends, family members and colleagues who live in New Hampshire to enroll with their information.

If you need help with the NH Alerts mobile application, call toll-free at 866-533-6935 or send an email via the support section.

The NH Alerts app is free to all, whether you live here or are visiting from another state.

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development

Spotlight on Government Contracting: NH’s $2B Industry

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

New Hampshire Public Radio took an extensive look at government contracting on Monday, after spending a morning recently at a training seminar in Littleton with David Pease, program manager for the New Hampshire Procurement Technical Assistance Program.

NHPTAPNH PTAP (for short) is one of the free services we offer here at the Division of Economic Development and its mission is to assist small businesses in navigating the waters (and currents) of government contracting. It’s not exactly easy, but patience and persistance can pay off.

Chris Jensen, North Country correspondent for NHPR, produced this segment and if you are a small business, it’s well worth the  four-minute listen.* And then visit our NH PTAP website.

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development

* Some examples of the kinds of services and products for which the government is contracting with New Hampshire businesses include: Bags and sacks; bakery products; ball and roller bearings; battery and power systems; biological studies; body armor; building rental; buoys; packaging materials; paint; paper shredders; paving; plaques; plumbing, heating, HVAC; precast concrete; property management … and that’s only part of the list!

The Value of the Ex-Im Bank to NH Businesses

Friday, December 12th, 2014

Nathaniel Nelson is an international trade officer for the Office of International Commerce, which welcomed him aboard this fall. He takes a look at the discussion about the Export-Import Bank and how it works for New Hampshire businesses. -Ed.

With its charter set to expire sometime next spring, there is much discussion about the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) and its value to American businesses.

Recently, New Hampshire’s Office of International Commerce joined in the conversation by attending a roundtable discussion with US Sen. Kelly Ayotte and the Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President, Fred Hochberg. The roundtable discussion, hosted at Seaboard International Forest Products in Nashua, focused on the impact the Ex-Im Bank has had on helping New Hampshire businesses pursue and finance export opportunities.

The discussion highlighted the importance of reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank’s charter and how Granite State businesses can make that happen.

The Ex-Im Bank is the export credit agency of the United States, providing export financing when there are gaps in what private lenders can provide or situations where lenders are unable, or unwilling, to accept credit risk. Businesses are able to obtain Ex-Im Bank products, such as working capital guarantees and export-credit insurance. Exporting is important to New Hampshire businesses. International trade helps them to reach new markets, increase sales and create jobs.

The long history of the Ex-Im Bank speaks to its value and importance. Over the last five years, Ex-Im Bank resources have supported 1.2 million American jobs, generated $2 billion in surplus for U.S. taxpayers and financed exports with a value exceeding $188 million.

Here in New Hampshire, the Ex-Im Bank has been a tremendous resource to our businesses; its authorizations translate into $375 million of total export value.

In the debate about the reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank, there has been great debate. Both sides have valid points.

At the recent roundtable, the consensus was that the Ex-Im Bank provides a great service, especially to small businesses.

For example, international sales at Boyle Energy Services and Technology in Concord have grown about 75 percent in the past few years, according to CEO Mike Boyle, in part because Ex-Im Bank had resources that made it possible.

Another business representative noted that his company’s access to Ex-Im Bank resources reached down the supply chain, helping to finance companies with which it works.

Sen. Ayotte called for the Ex-Im Bank to be reauthorized for a longer period and encouraged businesses and residents to let Congress know of its value.

The global market place is growing, evidenced by the United Nations’ projections that the global economy will grow more than 3 percent by 2017.

Now is the time for New Hampshire businesses to take advantage of the resources, like the Ex-Im Bank, that will launch them into global markets.

Nate

 

 

 

 Nathaniel Nelson
International Trade Officer
Office of International Commerce

What Do the Patriots, the Bruins and New Hampshire Have in Common? Andover Healthcare

Friday, December 5th, 2014
Michael Bergeron, senior business development manager with the NH Division of Economic Development, left, joins Bill Bauld, CFO of Andover Healthcare and retail lead Mayra Lemus at the company’s new facility at the Pease International Tradeport.

Michael Bergeron, senior business development manager with the NH Division of Economic Development, left, joins Bill Bauld, CFO of Andover Healthcare and retail lead Mayra Lemus at the company’s new facility at the Pease International Tradeport.

Andover Healthcare Inc., a leading manufacturer of cohesive bandages and tapes for the healthcare, animal health and sports medicine industries, has purchased space at the Pease International Tradeport and will relocate its corporate headquarters from Salisbury, Mass. in 2015.

The company has hired six new employees and anticipates hiring 20 more, as well as relocating its corporate staff next year.

“‘Live Free and Prosper’ rings true for us,” said Andover Healthcare President Tom Murphy, who lives in New Hampshire. “We are thrilled to open a facility in New Hampshire.”

Murphy founded the company in the 1976, providing athletic tape to the Boston Bruins. A few years later, the New England Patriots’ trainers began using the tape and by the mid-1990s, Andover Health had grown as an industry leader in bandages for healthcare and animal care.

Two years ago the company expanded into the retail market with customers such as Walgreens and CVS.

“We recently received a large contract with Wal-Mart,” said Murphy, “and we needed to be in production quickly – the facility in Portsmouth is the perfect fit.”

The 52,000-square-foot Pease facility will produce elastic bandages for 3,500 Wal-Mart stores across the U.S.

“We are investing $700,000 in new equipment and we will also relocate our corporate offices to New Hampshire in 2015,” said CFO Bill Bauld. “Michael Bergeron of the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development was helpful to us in coordinating tax credits, financing options and job training programs.”

“On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I am honored to welcome Andover Healthcare to the Granite State,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan. “Andover Healthcare’s relocation reinforces that our low-tax environment, responsive state government and high quality of life make New Hampshire as attractive a state for business as any in the country. Andover Healthcare’s presence in our state will help expand middle class opportunity and will keep our economy moving in the right direction.”

For more information on job openings, visit www.andoverhealthcare.com.

For information on expanding or relocating a business to New Hampshire, contact Michael Bergeron, senior business development manager for the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, at 603-271-2591.

Welcome to New Hampshire!

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development

Comcast Opens Hudson Call Center to Answer Customers Calling

Monday, October 20th, 2014
Dignitaries cut the ribbon at Comcast's new call center in Hudson.

Dignitaries cut the ribbon at Comcast’s new call center in Hudson.

 

A great big red ribbon was cut Friday morning in Hudson for the ceremonial opening of Comcast Cable’s brand new, state-of-the-art call center. Already, 122 people are employed here; another 65 are in training. Eventually, 600 people will be hired, providing support to 1.6 million customers in New Hampshire, Maine and eastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands.

With the new positions, Comcast will have more than 1,700 employees across the state, and more than 5,000 across its reach from Greater Boston.  The call center joins 12 offices in the Granite State and last year, its total employee investment, including payroll, payroll taxes, benefits, healthcare, training and tuition reimbursement, totaled more than $150 million. Comcast also contributed nearly $2 million in community investment across the Granite State.

“The opening of Comcast’s new facility is exciting for the Hudson community and the State of New Hampshire, creating hundreds of good jobs and representing why New Hampshire is as well positioned as any state to lead the country in innovative economic growth,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan.

Since Comcast announced its plans last May to develop the call center, the transformation of the 127,000-square-foot building has been dramatic. Light, bright and open, the center features the latest tools and technologies at the fingertips of its employees.

Company officials say locating the center in New Hampshire puts in the middle of an outstanding pool of talent.

“In addition to being a center for superior customer care, all employees in Hudson will be afforded continuous professional growth opportunities and we’ll add hundreds of new team members in the near future,” said Matthew Cohen, vice president of Customer Care Comcast’s Greater Boston Region. “This is an ideal location with a strong and talented labor market and we’re grateful to once again be growing in the Granite State.”

Congratulations Comcast!

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development

 

Seeing the Light and Shining It in Hillsboro

Friday, October 10th, 2014

When it’s employee appreciation day and the company, one of the few remaining automotive light source manufacturers in the US, has a new partnership with Ford (as in the automaker), how do you celebrate?

At OSRAM SYLVANIA in Hillsboro, you donate a 2015 Ford F-150 with LED headlamps made at the plant to the local fire department.

Because the fire department depends on volunteer firefighters, many of whom work at the plant.

According to OSRAM, the Hillsboro Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to a community that covers about 42 square miles, with a population of about 6,000. Last year, it responded to around 1,000 calls.

The new F-150 is equipped with a full LED forward lighting system, a technology made possible by OSRAM, Tier 1 supplier Flex-N-Gate and DBM Reflex. No other light-duty pickup truck on the road today has LED headlamps.

Cheryl Blackwood and Hillsboro firefighters

Cheryl Blackwood and Hillsboro firefighters

“Hillsboro counts on the dedicated men and women of our fire department to protect us from harm’s way,” said Cheryl Blackwood, Hillsboro plant manager, “and now they can count on our innovative lighting system to help keep them safe on the roads. We hope Hillsboro residents will be proud to see their local heroes driving around town in the all-new F-150 with the beautiful LED headlight system designed and assembled right here.”

Officials say the new partnership with Ford has enabled OSRAM to make significant investments in the New Hampshire plant and to hire and train new employees.

Great story, OSRAM … thanks for sharing.

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
Division of Economic Development

What a Week for New Hampshire Manufacturing!

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

We’re halfway through New Hampshire Manufacturing Week today and wow … it’s been fantastic. The measure is this: Over 42 manufacturers across the state, joined by our community colleges, opened their doors this week to over 1,000 visitors. Most of these visitors were high school students, who got to see advanced manufacturing up close and hear about the opportunities waiting for them when they graduate.

This is the second year of the initiative and this year is another success, with participation from companies in the North Country, right out to the Seacoast. Thanks to all you manufacturers who took time out to introduce yourselves to the next generation of innovators.

 

HitchinerMilford

New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Director Carmen Lorentz at Hitchiner Manufacturing, Milford

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Littleton Students Visit New England Wire Technologies, Lisbon

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Manchester Central student flexes his strength at Velcro USA/Velcro Americas, Manchester

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Students visiting at Velcro USA/Velcro Americas

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Vishay mfg week 4

Nute High School Students at Vishay, Dover

Vishay mfg week 3

Lorna Colquhoun

Communications Director

NH Division of Economic Development

 

Annual Manufacturing/High Tech Summit Theme: Manufacturing Matters

Friday, September 12th, 2014
MarkGodfreyPaper

Mark Godfrey ~ Chairman ~ NH Manufacturing Extension Partnership

For over 10 years, there has been a day every October that brings together hundreds of manufacturers from around the state for a day of discussions and education about trends, best practices and the climate of New Hampshire’s top industry.

The 12th annual Governor’s Advanced Manufacturing and High Technology Summit will be held from 8 am – 2 pm, Oct. 2, at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. Registration is open and as this is typically a sell-out event, take a moment to sign up today. The conference is presented by the Business and Industry Association; the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the New Hampshire High Technology Council and the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development.

Dr. Charles Wessner, who teaches global innovation policy at Georgetown University, delivers the keynote address – US Strengths and Challenges in Innovation – and will also discuss state regional innovation initiatives, focusing on state leading those initiatives.

Widely recognized his expertise on innovation policy, such as public-private partnerships, entrepreneurship, early-stage financing for new firms, 21st century manufacturing, cyber security, and the special needs and benefits of high-technology industry, Wessner’s address will be timely for the New Hampshire audience.

Pinkerton Academy students visited Wirebelt in Londonderry during last year's Manufacturing Week.

Pinkerton Academy students visited Wirebelt in Londonderry during last year’s Manufacturing Week.

Workshops this year include topics on implementing Lean initiatives; how advanced manufacturing industries are collaborating with community colleges and universities; building a workforce for the future and growth strategies.

The manufacturing summit falls during New Hampshire Manufacturing Week. Now in its second year, the event is an opportunity for manufacturers to host visits from high school students and their parents so they can see where things come from and how stuff is made and the career opportunities waiting for them to graduate … right here in the Granite State. Scores of manufacturers and hundreds of students are already signed up.

More information is available on the registration page. Take a minute and register and we’ll see you Oct. 2.

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
Division of Economic Development

Madbury Commons Transforming Downtown Durham, Technology

Monday, August 11th, 2014

Carol Miller is the director of broadband technology here at the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development. She reports on the groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 6, signifying the start of one of the state’s largest developments getting underway. Ed.

 

Education and investment are alive and well in Durham, as the development of Madbury Commons gets underway in the downtown.

Jeff Rubin, Golden Goose Capital, developing Madbury Commons.

This is a large multi-use project by Durham-based Golden Goose Capital. It will feature 126 apartments housing 525 students and 45,000 square feet of commercial space. The anchor tenant in this $30 million development will be the University of New Hampshire’s InterOperability Lab. UNH officials signed a 20-year lease earlier this year.

The development is one of the largest in motion in New Hampshire and hits the right themes in terms of the state’s economy. As the home to hundreds of college students and the IOL, Madbury Commons is going to be a boon on many fronts. From this, we can expect to see about 1,500 visitors annually, from all over the world.

The IOL is a technology company wholly-owned by UNH, which is dedicated to the testing of wireless products for companies such as Samsung, Google and Apple. The UNH-IOL is dedicated to fostering cooperation within the data communications industry, while providing hands-on experience to future engineers.

This development will require large capacity gigabit broadband to serve the needs of students, the IOL and other commercial tenants

Madbury Commons is the remarkable result of vision, investment and education and I look forward to the ribbon cutting ceremony in about a year’s time, which will signify the opening of this development.

 

Carol Miller

Director, Broadband Technology

NH Division of Economic Development

 

Commissioner Rose: Exporting a Vital Part of NH Economy

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

The recent article exploring New Hampshire’s exports, while interesting, drew conclusions that diminishes our role in a record-setting year for US exports.

In 2013, the United States set an all-time record – $2.3 trillion – for the value of goods exported around the world. New Hampshire was a part of that success, with strategic growth in some of our higher paying sectors, such as electronics, optics and military/defense components.

The US Department of Commerce uses a complex methodology to measure exports and their growth – methodology that has been in place for decades and which determines the value of each state’s activity in the global marketplace. The data provided is the accepted measure of exports by state and federal agencies, as well as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund.

By using the Origin of Movement (OM) series, the Department of Commerce determines the breakdown of over $2 trillion in exports. The OM can be the location of where the item was produced or the location of a distributor, warehouse or cargo processing facility. New Hampshire export statistics credit the movement of oil into the state, just as another state receives credit for millions of dollars’ worth of components produced in New Hampshire.

The results can, indeed, be curious; such as how much oil the Granite State is credited with exporting or how much gold leaves Massachusetts or how many diamonds from New York. It is important to recognize that New Hampshire is by no means the only state that exports goods not usually associated with its leading industries.

OM is not a perfect system, largely because it was never designed to measure production. But it is the accepted way to calculate the worth of the nation’s exports. Under the definitions and regulations in place, oil is a New Hampshire export.

It is also important to note that there is more to exporting than the merchandise goods the OM series covers. Services, like consulting and financial services, as well as tourism and education, two important sectors in our economy, are considered exports, but they are not calculated in data compiled by the federal agency.

Exporting is a vital part of the state’s economy and every year, more of our companies are tapping into markets around the world with great success. Our record makes our state attractive to foreign investors, companies looking to expand in the US and international students seeking a quality education.

To simply extract the value of oil that flows through New Hampshire and proclaim the total to be credible data is overly simplistic and gives no credit to thousands of companies in New Hampshire contributing to the nation’s exporting success.

 

Jeffrey Rose

Commissioner

NH  Department of Resources and Economic Development