Posts Tagged ‘Sylvia Larsen’
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Strategies for securing business financing, tips for how to do business with the state, a look at this year’s top policy issues from the state’s top legislators and more will be the focus of the Business and Industry Association’s 7th Annual Small Business Day at the State House event to be held Jan. 31 at the Holiday Inn, Concord from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.
 The annual small business event, held in partnership with the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC), New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, and local and regional chambers of commerce, is meant to engage small business owners and managers in public policy discussion and debate, as well as provide them with practical and relevant information to help manage and grow their business. Small Business Day is sponsored by Public Service of New Hampshire, Bank of America and media sponsor New Hampshire Business Review.
Small Business Day at the State House will begin with a panel discussion with some of the state’s top elected leaders: Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen and House Minority Leader Terie Norelli (expected). The state leadership panel will focus specifically on top small business issues of 2012 and how state elected leaders will resolve them.
Two presentations will follow the legislative panel. First, New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Linda Hodgdon will explain the ins and outs of doing business with the state. Small business owners interested in supplying the state with everything it needs to function, from pencils and pens to computers and calculators, will learn how to engage in this process.
Next, New Hampshire Department of Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon will discuss the recently enacted NH Working programs and how they can help small businesses find the right job applicants. She will also provide an overview of the Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau (ELMI), the type of information available through ELMI and how small businesses might use it to their advantage.
Following a short break, New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Interim Director Chris Way will moderate a panel discussion called “Strategies for Financing Your Business.” Small business owners who feel like securing capital can sometimes be an uphill battle will hear from a panel of commercial lenders and representatives of alternative lending programs about financing options that may be open to them and help their business meet its growth objectives.
Gov. John Lynch has been invited to make closing remarks.
Participating chambers of commerce include the Exeter Area, Greater Peterborough, Hampton Area, Hanover Area, Lakes Region, Merrimack, Mount Washington Valley, Northern Gateway Regional, Plymouth Regional, Waterville Valley Region and Wolfeboro Area chambers of commerce.
The cost to attend Small Business Day at the State House is $15 per person and includes continental breakfast. To register, visit nhbia.org, Events or call 603-224-5388 x116.
Tags: Bank of America, Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, Chris Way, Jeb Bradley, Linda Hodgdon, New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services, New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, New Hampshire Employment Security, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Public Service of New Hampshire, Sylvia Larsen, Tara Reardon, Terie Norelli
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on Seventh Annual Small Business Day Slated for 1/31
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
A discussion about strategies and opportunities for controlling healthcare costs, a look at this year’s top policy issues from the state’s top legislators and more will be the focus of the Business and Industry Association’s 6th Annual Small Business Day at the State House event to be held Feb. 1 at the Holiday Inn, Concord from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.
 The annual small business event, held in partnership with the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC), New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, and local and regional chambers of commerce and business associations, is meant to engage small business owners and managers in public policy discussion and debate, as well as provide them with practical and relevant information to help manage and grow their business. Small Business Day is sponsored by Public Service of New Hampshire, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Hampshire, and media sponsor New Hampshire Business Review.
Small Business Day at the State House will begin with a panel discussion with the state’s top elected leaders: Senate President Peter Bragdon, House Speaker Bill O’Brien, Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen and House Minority Leader Terie Norelli (awaiting confirmation). The state leadership panel will focus specifically on top small business issues of 2011 and how state elected leaders will resolve them.
Following a short break, a panel of experts in the healthcare sector will participate in a panel discussion titled “Health Care – Why Is It So Expensive and What Can My Small Business Do About It?” Panel participants include Lisa Guertin, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire; Steve Gerlach, an attorney with Bernstein Shur; and Dan Cronin, CEO of CGI Employee Benefits Group. They will explore various theories about why health care is so expensive in the Granite State and discuss strategies and opportunities for small businesses to control rising healthcare costs.
The New Hampshire Small Business Development Center will present the event’s final breakout session titled “Move Your Business Forward with e-Tools,” a preview of two of the center’s new e-courses. Hollis McGuire of the NH SBDC will discuss the course Financing a Business in NH, which covers the variety of financing options available to New Hampshire small business owners. Christine Halvorson of Halvorson New Media will outline the second course, Social Media for Business, which unravels the array of products and uses of social media for business.
Participating chambers and business associations include the Grantham Area, Greater Claremont, Greater Keene, Greater Peterborough, Greater Salem, Hampton Area, Hillsborough, Lakes Region, Lebanon Area, Lincoln-Woodstock, Merrimack, Plymouth Regional, Souhegan Valley, Waterville Valley Region and Wolfeboro Area chambers of commerce, the New Hampshire Association of Insurance Agents, and the New Hampshire High Technology Council.
The cost to attend Small Business Day at the State House is $15 per person and includes continental breakfast. To register, call 603-224-5388 x116 or visit nhbia.org.
Tags: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Hampshire, Bernstein Shur, Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire, CGI Employee Benefits Group, Christine Halvorson, Dan Cronin, Halvorson New Media, Hollis McGuire, Lisa Guertin, New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Peter Bragdon, Public Service of New Hampshire, Steve Gerlach, Sylvia Larsen, Teri Norelli
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on Strategies for Managing Healthcare Costs Focus of Panel at Small Business Event
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Gov. John Lynch has signed into law his new, innovative jobs initiative aimed at helping workers and companies recover from the recession.
 Governor John Lynch New Hampshire Working is a three-part initiative introduced by Gov. Lynch. It is designed to help companies and workers avoid layoffs, help unemployed workers return to work and provide training to help workers get new jobs.
“Our number one focus must continue to be helping companies and workers recover from this recession,” Gov. Lynch said. “We cannot and we will not rest until everyone who wants a job can get a job. With this legislation, we are providing businesses and citizens with new help to get back to work and to recover from the recession.”
New Hampshire Working leverages existing resources to help businesses and workers recover from the recession. The legislation implementing parts of the program received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
“I have met a number of people who have been out of work for several months, and in some cases a year or more. They want the opportunity to work again, to show employers they have the skills and talents needed in today’s workforce, but they just need someone to give them a chance,” Gov. Lynch said. “With New Hampshire Working, we are giving them that chance. At the same, with this legislation, we will be able to help businesses retain the workers they need to recover from the recession and ensure that our workers and companies have the skills they need to compete in the future.”
“The focus of New Hampshire Employment Security is putting New Hampshire’s citizens back to work. New Hampshire Working provides us with creative new ways to help our workforce stay at work, return to work and be ready for work,” said Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon. “We applaud our Governor and the Legislature’s hard work in support of these efforts to help both business and employees in this challenging times.”
The new law, Senate Bill 501, immediately implements two parts of New Hampshire Working; the final piece is already up and running.
Under the first part of New Hampshire Working, the state will be able to partner with businesses and workers to provide an alternative to layoffs. Companies and workers would agree to reduced hours instead of layoffs, and the state will make up part of the lost wages for workers through unemployment benefits.
Workers will keep their jobs, their health insurance and most of their income. Companies will be able to retain the skilled workers they need to recover, and taxpayers will avoid increased costs as the demand for state services increases as unemployment rises. This part of New Hampshire Working is modeled after successful job-share programs in other states.
Under the second part of New Hampshire Working, New Hampshire job agencies will develop a plan for assessing the job skills of all newly unemployed workers. Workers can take the results of those assessments to potential employers, giving business owners confidence that new hires will have the necessary skills.
The new law also doubles the state’s Job Training Fund to $2 million a year in 2011 and allows Employment Security to use those funds to train unemployed workers.
“New Hampshire Working is a way we can help companies and workers through these tough times,” Gov. Lynch said. “The funding required for these programs is money we are already spending – but with New Hampshire Working we’re spending it better, in a way that will help companies and workers, and reduce costs for taxpayers.”
The final part of New Hampshire Working did not require legislation and is already up and running. This part of the initiative reduces upfront training costs for companies – often an impediment to hiring – and is providing on-the-job training to help workers get new jobs. Unemployed workers are able to continue to receive unemployment benefits while participating in up to six weeks of training at a potential new employer. A company has until the end of that period to decide if a worker has the skills the business needs.
Senate Bill 501 was sponsored by Sens. Maggie Hassan, Matt Houde, Amanda Merrill, Betsi DeVries, Jackie Cilley, Bette Lasky, Molly Kelly, Sylvia Larsen, Martha Fuller Clark, Kathy Sgambati, Deb Reynolds, Harold Janeway, Lou D’Allesandro, Peggy Gilmour, Bob Odell; and Reps. Mary Jane Wallner, Sally Kelly, Dan Eaton, Ed Butler and Will Infantine.
Tags: Amanda Merrill, Betsi DeVries, Bette Lasky, Bob Odell, Dan Eaton, Deb Reynolds, Ed Butler, Harold Janeway, Jackie Cilley, Kathy Sgambati, Lou D'Allesandro, Maggie Hassan, Martha Fuller Clark, Mary Jane Wallner, Matt Houde, New Hampshire Working, NH Employment Security, Peggy Gilmour, Sally Kelly, Sylvia Larsen, Tara Reardon, Will Infantine
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on NH Working Signed Into Law
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