We like our morning coffee with a side of newsprint and we especially liked it this morning because of the announcement of this year’s 40 Under 40 class in the New Hampshire Union Leader.
nhEconomy.com is well-represented this year
Two members work right here in the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and we are very proud of them and their accomplishments and we hope you are, too.
Chris Wellington is one of our business resource specialists and on most days, you can find him out in western New Hampshire, assisting businesses and manufacturers, whether through a visit to understand what they do or providing expertise and resources to help them grow and thrive in the Granite State. Chris is very passionate about his home state, especially about the opportunities in advanced manufacturing and for his peers to realize that it is possible to find and follow their dreams right here, right now.
Carmen Lorentz is already having a great day today, as she begins her brand new job as director of the Division of Economic Development. She, too, is New Hampshire born and bred and comes to us from the Belknap County Economic Development Council.
So today is a good day all the way around as we offer our heartiest congratulations to our team members.
Carmen Lorentz sworn in as director of the Division of Economic Development
The Division of Economic Development gets down to business Monday morning with a new director at the helm, following the swearing-in of Carmen Lorentz on Thursday afternoon. Her husband, Jonathan, and son, Julius, stood by her and, in fact, 5-year-old Julius also raised his hand to take the oath.
Lorentz, who grew up in the Lakes Region, most recently the executive director of the Belknap Economic Development Council, brings her experience to the state level, overseeing a staff of 20 that works with thousands of businesses each year in the areas of business retention, recruitment, international trade, government procurement and broadband development.
“I’m excited to join the outstanding team at the Division,” she said, “and I look forward to working with everyone to address the needs of New Hampshire’s business community.”
These are exciting times for New Hampshire, especially as we learn this morning that Politico Magazine ranks us as the strongest state in the Union. There are great opportunities for our businesses, companies and manufacturers to thrive and prosper in 2014.
So we are excited, too, Carmen, and we’ll see you Monday.
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 New Year is here and it is sparkling with opportunity, especially if you’ve decided that 2014 is the year you’ll finally do it – open your own business here in New Hampshire. It’s a great time for this particular resolution, as the economy here in the Granite State has a skip in its step as spending – and optimism – increases.
Is it time for you to open for business?
As with any dream, it’s one thing imagining yourself turning the ‘open’ sign to face the world every morning, but if trying to figure out how to get to that point is an obstacle, we have a solution.
It can be found on our website, www.nhEconomy.com, where the Starting a Business in New Hampshire page is, month after month, one of the most popular destinations. From creating a business plan and finding financing to obtaining necessary permits and hiring employees, this web page is hugely valuable in turning your dream into reality.
There is – and frankly, always has been – a great air of entrepreneurship and innovation in New Hampshire. From its earliest days of statehood, through the Industrial Revolution and into the 21st century, generations of Granite Staters followed their dream of making things better for their neighbors today and tomorrow and beyond.
If you are looking to join them, your journey begins by clicking over here.
This year’s State of Women-owned Businesses report by American Express finds that women-owned firms account for 27 percent of business in the Granite State, employing 6 percent of the workforce and 6 percent of total revenue.
New Hampshire leads New England in terms of its women’s entrepreneurial economic clout, so … hear us roar.
The annual Women & Money Forum is a must-attend for women (and, yes, men are invited, too) looking to chart a prosperous course for their businesses. Hosted by the Center for Women’s Business Advancement at Southern New Hampshire University, this day-long event is worth learning more about it, so executive director MaryAnn Manoogian takes it from here.
We hope to see you Jan. 9.
Cultivating Prosperity
Does the thought of applying for a loan, buying a car, negotiating a contract, or investing your money make you wince? Do you absolutely love the creative side of your business but can’t find time to determine why you are not making enough money to get ahead? When someone asks you about your ‘break-even,’ ‘margins’ or ‘forecasts’ and ‘projections’ for growth, do you cringe?
If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions, than join us on Jan. 9 for the 2nd annual Women & Money Forum at the Center for Women’s Business Advancement at Southern New Hampshire University (CWBA), Southern New Hampshire University’s Robert Frost Hall, 8:30 am – 4 pm.
Workshop topics will be directed to new and seasoned business owners, as well as how to manage your personal finances. We want to make sure New Hampshire small businesses have the tools necessary to succeed. Given that the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy finds that 30 percent of new businesses fail within the first two years and 50 percent survive less than five years, the CWBA, in coordination with the state Treasurer’s Office, the US Small Business Administration and lead underwriter Citizens Bank Foundation have assembled a team of CPAs, bankers, attorneys, financial advisors and other top-notch professionals to share their expertise on a variety of topics.
Workshop topics include How to Negotiate; Social Media for Sales; How to Price Your Goods; How to Price Your Services; Understanding Cash Flow; Top Ten Wage and Hour Mistakes; Registering as a Women-Owned Business; How to Choose a Financial Advisor and Crowdfunding, among many others.
Other sponsors include: Geneia; the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development; New Hampshire Business Review; Labelle Winery; Rath, Young & Pignatelli and Women’s Fund of New Hampshire.
To register, visit www.cwbanh.com or call (603) 629-4697. Registration includes participation in three workshops of your choice, lunch and opportunities to learn from the experts.
A networking wine-tasting, sponsored by LaBelle Winery, will immediately follow the all-day event.
With a little know-how you truly can take control of your business, your finances and your life.
Listen here to the Women & Money Forum conversation on WTPL FM 107.7, with MaryAnn Manoogian and Chris Way, interim director of the NH Division of Economic Development.
‘Tis the season to be jolly and we were this week as we marked the 18th year we’ve hosted the Division of Economic Development annual meeting (with generous sponsorship from our friends at Public Service of New Hampshire.
We had a capacity crowd at the Inn at Church Landing in Meredith, we had great speakers … in all it was a great day.
Part of the fun was the awards presentation, recognizing all the good people, the great cooperation and the terrific work accomplished in the New Hampshire economy.
So without further ado:
Presented by Gov. Maggie Hassan and Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner Jeffrey Rose, the following were recognized:
Rose selected WS Badger Co. of Gilsum as the Company of the Year, recognizing it for its commitment to the community, the environment and its employees. Accepting the award was Emily Hall Warren, director of administration and strategic planning.
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard received the Employee Recognition award, presented by Jim Hinson, left, of the state Department of Education –Vocational Rehabilitation. The award recognized the shipyard for its inclusive hiring practices. Accepting for the shipyard were Debbie Jennings, president, Local 4, of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, and Paul O’Connor, president of the Federal Employees Metal Trade Council.
Kathleen Callahan of the New Hampshire Business Review received Rose’s media award, which recognizes a journalist each year for his or her coverage of the state’s economy.
The Division of Economic Development, part of the New Hampshire Department for Resources and Economic Development, is the single point of contact for New Hampshire businesses needing assistance and resources to grow and thrive, as well as for out-of-state companies looking to expand or relocate in the state.
Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development
This is a big week for the aerospace industry on both sides of the international border we share with Quebec. Up in Montreal, 800 people from all over Canada and the world were in town for the Forum Innovation Aérospatiale 2013 – Aero Montreal’s Aerospace Innovation Forum.
Given that our aero/defense industries are growing, this was the place to start the week.
Aerospace is a big deal in Quebec and especially in Montreal, home to the likes of the big names – Bombardier, Bell Helicopter and Pratt & Whitney Canada. We could illustrate this with facts and figures, but one of the speakers on Monday’s program explained it like this:
“Montreal is one place in the world where you can find all the parts you need to build an airplane within 30 kilometers.”
There was a spot on the program Monday afternoon for us and it was a momentous occasion, as the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Export Consortium signed its first international partnership with Aero Montreal.
Christopher Wrenn, left, of NHADEC signs the collaboration agreement with Aero Montreal.
“This is a big day for NHADEC and the state of New Hampshire,” said Christopher Wren of Gentex Corp. in Manchester, chairman of the export consortium, which was organized last March. “It’s important because we are such a young organization and it gives us the opportunity to partner with an organization that has a long history in aerospace. Our members will learn a lot, but we have a lot to offer to Aero Montreal.”
The agreement establishes preferred relations between the two organizations and encourages collaboration on topics such as training, research, joint trade missions and supplier development initiatives.
“This strategic collaboration will provide major opportunities for Quebec’s aerospace industry by encouraging trade and fostering partnerships between our two aerospace sectors,” said Suzanne Benoit, president of Aero Montreal, adding that it is the first step toward establishing a Quebec-New England aerospace corridor.
NHADEC was established by the International Trade Resource Center last March, one of the only export consortia in the country and boasts a membership of 70 companies. About 300 companies in New Hampshire have ties to the aero/defense industry and being able to tap into the connections, research and supply chain is going to be a great benefit to the sectors, which are growing in the Granite State.
“This signing really is an indication of the momentum we are building as a cluster,” said Jeffrey Rose, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development. “Just as aerospace and defense are key industries here, it is in Montreal as well. As we grow this collaboration and grow our partnership, we’ll develop new opportunities for New Hampshire businesses.”
Canada is New Hampshire’s largest trading partner and we share an international border with Quebec. Montreal (depending on where you are) is only a couple of hours away. The prime driver of Quebec’s economy is aerospace and 98 percent of that activity takes place within the city limits.
So this is a collaboration whose time has come and with Monday’s signing, NHADEC and Aero Montreal are cleared for take-off.
We trotted down to Londonderry Tuesday morning to Wire Belt Company of America, where president and CEO David Greer wielded a pair of scissors to cut a blue ribbon on the 12,000 square foot expansion of the plant.
We like ribbon cuttings and expansions of our manufacturing plants here in the Granite State. Mostly for the reasons David said on Tuesday morning.
“We are confident it clearly expresses our commitment to keep and grow manufacturing jobs here in New Hampshire,” he said.
Wire Belt is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that has been making stainless steel wire belt conveyer systems since 1947. The company relocated from Massachusetts to Londonderry in 1989 and our friends at Business New Hampshire magazine has named it the #1 Best Small Company to Work for in NH four times in the past five years.
The new addition gives Wire Belt more room and it’s energy efficient. With further growth in mind, the expanded roof will allow for the future extension of its solar energy system.
“Anything we can do to continue to grow manufacturing has got to be good for the economy,” Greer said.
The University of New Hampshire at Manchester has a great program in place to introduce children in the Queen City to STEM. With the STEM Discovery Lab now in place, students from kindergarten through grade 12 can get a hands-on experience in the world of science, technology, engineering and math.
