June 20th, 2018
 Commissioner Taylor Caswell Last year, Governor Sununu proposed the division of the Department of Resources and Economic Development, creating the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. Since its approval by the Legislature, this new agency has been a catalyst for increasing opportunities for New Hampshire to modernize and vastly improve the focus and practice of how we do economic development.
This couldn’t have happened at a better time. The practice of economic development has changed drastically over the past decade. States and cities are moving away from the longstanding focus on government-run business recruitment and standard worker ‘unemployment training’ programs that gave little thought to what might come next for those workers.
What does this mean for New Hampshire?
It means we can hone in on the needs of our businesses here first, and leverage our business community with our state’s regional strengths to develop a compelling case for new businesses to come here.
It means we build new, more innovative strategies to recruit talent to our state.
It means connecting education and training directly to employers and jobs.
It means a new, more aggressive entry into the global marketplace to find opportunity for our small businesses seeking new markets.
It means refreshed, meaningful relationships with our state’s incredible network of public and private academic institutions, linking them with state policymakers and business leaders statewide.
It means working to update and increase the predictability of the state’s regulatory environment and use our small and agile government as a true advantage.
It means constructing new partnerships and collaborations across a broad universe of stakeholders to focus on building communities where people want to live and work and telling that story effectively and to as many people outside the state as we can.
New Hampshire’s economy is growing fast. Companies are expanding or moving here, and people are working. In fact, in 2017, New Hampshire’s economy was the second fastest growing economy in the nation and our unemployment rate remains low.
My goal is to build this new system and create an economy that is resilient, vibrant, collaborative, intentional, and protects what we love best about New Hampshire.
The new Department of Business and Economic Affairs has the tools it needs to get there. We have the widely-respected Division of Travel & Tourism Development, which has a marketing team that is among the best in the nation and stokes the engine of New Hampshire’s crucial hospitality economy. In 2017, its work helped generate 2.23 million visitor trips to New Hampshire, which yielded $5.5 billion in spending, maintaining 48,000 jobs, and generating $269 million in tax revenue for the state.
Our Division of Economic Development helps businesses connect to, and fund, job training; works with existing and new business leaders to finance and expand their economic footprint; guides companies seeking to access global markets or win government contracts, and helps drive our entrepreneurial economy. Its work has direct impact on the profitability of our state’s employers and creates value for the state and residents.
The combined teams are creating new stakeholder collaborations, integrating marketing efforts and strategies, and working hard to establish New Hampshire as a leader in holistic, collaborative state economic development.
I look forward to working with you.
Taylor Caswell
Commissioner
New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs
Tags: Commissioner Taylor Caswell, Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Division of Economic Development, Division of Travel and Tourism Development
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June 7th, 2018
 1: The state of New Hampshire’s booth at the BIO International this week in Boston. 2: Shawn Cain, right, COO of LSNE Contract Manufacturing and BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell. 3: Caswell and President/CEO Thomas Taylor, right, of Foxx Life Sciences. 4: Caswell and David Alward, right, Canada’s Consul General to New England. 5: The NH pavilion team: Business and Economic Affairs; the University of New Hampshire; the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute; the Community College System of New Hampshire; Dartmouth College and the New Hampshire High Tech Council. New Hampshire showcased its fast-growing biotech/medtech industry, its academic partners, and its quality of life at the annual BIO International Convention in Boston, Mass. this week. Now in its 25th year, the event draws over 17,000 people and 1,800 exhibitors from all over the world.
The Department of Business and Economic Affairs partnered with the University of New Hampshire; the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute; the Community College System of New Hampshire; Dartmouth College and the New Hampshire High Technology Council to present a collaborative and interactive experience for biotech companies, biotech talent, executives, startups, and other stakeholders for the three-day conference.
“This is a prestigious and respected trade show that’s been around for 25 years and it was time that New Hampshire got in front of an international audience to talk about what we have going on here,” said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “We have trailblazing companies that are changing healthcare around the world.”
Caswell visited with several New Hampshire companies taking part in the show, including Foxx Life Sciences of Salem, Lonza Biologics of Portsmouth, and LSNE Contract Manufacturing of Bedford.
“Each of these companies has a major footprint in New Hampshire and they are continuing to grow,” he said. “They are finding the talent they need here and a business climate conducive to growth, but we want to do everything we can to continue to support their goals and provide quality jobs for New Hampshire.”
Caswell also met with David Alward, Canada’s Consul General to New England for a wide ranging discussion about life sciences, trade and tariffs.
“We share a $5 billion border with Canada,” Caswell said, “and for many of our businesses, small or large, the relationship with Canada is critical. We need to do what we can to protect that.”
Throughout the three-day conference, New Hampshire’s team promoted the state’s exceptional business climate and lifestyle assets; from education pathways and life science startups to how to match up its outstanding academic institutions, their research, and their graduating workforces with companies across the state.
“New Hampshire is poised to be at the forefront of innovation and healthcare and the leaders of pharma and biotech from around the world got to see that the BIO International Convention,” Caswell said.
Tags: Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, BIO International Convention, Community College System of New Hampshire, Dartmouth College, Foxx Life Sciences, LSNE Contract Manufacturing, NH High Technology Council, University of New Hampshire
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June 4th, 2018
 Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell When Governor Sununu signed SB 564 into law last week, he set New Hampshire on course to becoming the global hub for regenerative manufacturing.
The science behind creating new tissue and organs, and manufacturing them commercially, may sound like something from the 22nd century, but that technology is already happening at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute in the Manchester Millyard.
The potential impact on New Hampshire economy, the healthcare industry, and people’s lives across the planet is nothing short of colossal.
Scientists, visionaries and legislators came together in Manchester this week for the signing of this bill because it is that important to our 21st century economy. This new law exempts for 10 years qualified companies locating their regenerative manufacturing business in New Hampshire from state corporate taxes. It also establishes a $5 million student loan forgiveness program for those people who come here to work in and grow this amazing industry. After five years, the state will pay for their student loans.
These are significant new tools that truly illustrate that New Hampshire is open for business. This legislation will help us recruit to our state, and retain, both businesses and the skilled workforce they need to grow and further evolve this science.
I can’t think of a more appropriate place for regenerative manufacturing to start changing the world than Manchester’s Millyard. A century ago, these very same buildings housed the largest and most technologically advanced textile mills on the planet. And now, here in 2018, these mills are on the precipice of once again being a globally critical manufacturing hub.
We’ve been here before. We can do it again.
Taylor Caswell
Commissioner
NH Business and Economic Affairs
Tags: Commissioner Taylor Caswell, Manchester, Manchester Millyard, regenerative manufacturing
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June 1st, 2018
Governor Chris Sununu this week signed SB 564 into law, a groundbreaking step in the state’s leadership in regenerative medicine. It provides an unprecedented 10-year tax exemption from both the state business profits tax, as well as the business enterprise tax, to for-profit companies that have at least 75 percent of their taxable activity in the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) project in Manchester.
The bill also includes a $5 million student loan repayment program for workers who devote at least five years to the project, which has been spearheaded by inventor Dean Kamen. Kamen’s vision attracted an $80 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to create the international hub of regenerative manufacturing, whose mission it is to make practical the large-scale manufacturing of engineered tissues and tissue-related technologies, to benefit existing industries and grow new ones.
In addition to Kamen, Sununu was joined by Taylor Caswell, commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, as well Michael Golway, CEO of Advanced Solutions Life Sciences, and Martine Rothblatt, CEO of Lung BioTechnology, the leaders of two companies first to benefit from this legislation.
 Martine Rothblatt ~ CEO, Lung BioTechnology It is difficult to find the top talent we need. When Dean (Kamen) told me about the possibility that our graduates from the top schools throughout the country would have, after committing five years working here, their student loans paid for, “I said, ‘Dean, this would be something which is better than anyone else in the country has.’”
Our HR people said this is the silver bullet for getting the people you want to have here.
We have already moved our organ manufacturing group from Kendall Square, the hotspot if they are just graduating from MIT or Harvard. We will move them here because I believed that you would get this bill passed.
Because of this, I guarantee there is nothing better you can do than to create opportunity, get out of the way and let the organ manufacturers bring the talented individuals here and take the ball all the way.
“This legislation lays the groundwork to advance New Hampshire’s role in developing the ARMI network and the larger biotech community in our state,” Sununu said. “Veterans, children and people all over the world have the potential to benefit from this research, being done right here in southern New Hampshire.”
 Michael Golway, CEO, Advanced Solutions Life Sciences I’m an 18-year entrepreneur; I’ve done 10 acquisitions and six startups. I share this with you because we’ve had quite a bit of experience buying companies and starting companies around the country and I have never seen the speed with which this legislation was conceptualized and implemented. I applaud everyone who had a role.
From an entrepreneur’s standpoint, there’s an incredible vision with ARMI and what this could look like in the next several years. At its core value, if you think about what it could mean for this area; if you truly become the Silicon Valley for biofabrication, it is a course direction that will impact this area and region for many, many years to come.
This is a big deal; this is a material calculus of how we look at a strategy for this business, anytime you can get relief or mitigate the risks, that’s a good thing and this bill in particular does just that.
“By supporting the critical work being done by ARMI, New Hampshire’s biotech sector will continue to flourish, attracting innovative companies and employees to the Granite State,” Caswell said. “The student loan repayment program will competitively position the state as we continue to recruit and grow our workforce.”
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May 17th, 2018
 Today, Governor Chris Sununu and Commissioner Taylor Caswell announced that Revision Military, a multinational company with locations across the globe is choosing Portsmouth as its United States Headquarters.
Revision Military, a world leader in military and tactical solutions and protective equipment, will open its new offices at Pease International Tradeport. The New Hampshire location will become Revision’s US Headquarters and Center of Excellence, steering product research, as well as the development and manufacturing of the company’s most advanced products.
“Revision Military was the first company I met with after being elected governor, and today’s announcement is a testament to our pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda,” Sununu said. “As an acclaimed international company, their expansion into the Granite State – which will serve as their US Headquarters – proves that New Hampshire is open for business once again. Revision designs and manufactures state of the art military hardware that keeps our troops safe, and we are proud they will call New Hampshire home.”
By expanding to New Hampshire, Revision will improve access to its military customer base in the Greater Boston area, as well as along the Eastern Seaboard, and will be better positioned to work collaboratively with local academic institutions, such as the University of New Hampshire, and a significant number of locally based partners and suppliers.
“New Hampshire’s business climate and hyper-focus on economic development is paying dividends every day,” said Commissioner Taylor Caswell. “Precision manufacturers like Revision are expanding and coming here for our quality workforce, low taxes, and business-friendly approach. These things don’t happen by accident.”
“Revision’s expansion to New Hampshire deepens the company’s already-well-founded commitment to US based operations and manufacturing,” said Jonathan Blanshay, CEO, Revision Military. “Moreover, this future location represents a bold but necessary next step forward for the company—indicative of both Revision’s ever-widening vision for innovation in soldier systems and tactical solutions. It is also essential in order to effectively house the full breadth of the company’s growing capabilities. We are very excited to initiate this new chapter for the company and we have started to put together a world-class team. Revision has evolved significantly over the last 17 years and this upcoming investment in a prime location makes our intentions clear: We expect to accelerate our growth and capabilities for the foreseeable future, and in the coming months and years we will be looking to hire dozens of the very best engineers, technicians, manufacturing experts and program managers available in the area in order to further develop our vision and service our customers.”
Revision has already hired the first group of New Hampshire management-level employees. Together they will spearhead the development of new facilities, new capabilities and implement near-term strategy based on Revision’s current slate of projects, contracts, and in-progress bids. This founding group of New Hampshire-based employees includes Chief Technology Officer Chris Palmer, who will oversee the team and report directly to Blanshay.
The announcement of the expansion in New Hampshire comes just over two years after Revision last opened a new facility in Bristol, UK. This new venture also builds on considerable recent investments made by the company to upgrade its facilities in the U.S. and Canada, particularly the relocation and upgrading of the Montreal hub for industrial design and R&D to a modern, centrally-located office, as well as an aggressive expansion project in Newport, Vt.—the company’s main armor and helmet manufacturing facility—completed last year.
Across seven facilities, Revision has established state-of-the-art, vertically integrated operations—from industry-leading sales and customer service, to world-class branding and marketing, to forward-thinking business and product development, and beyond. Revision has built a substantial international reputation on the strength of cutting-edge high-volume manufacturing, advanced R&D, and testing laboratories. The Company is ISO 9001-2008 certified and employs over 400 people. With this new location, Revision joins, and will contribute to, a vibrant New Hampshire economy with the high-skilled workforce the company needs to continue to deliver best-in-class soldier system technology.
About Revision
Revision develops and delivers purpose-built protective soldier equipment for military use worldwide. The company, which began with eyewear, has expanded to face, head and torso protection as well as energy storage and power management products, continues to develop innovative capabilities for integrated, performance-enhancing soldier systems. To that end, Revision brings together the most advanced expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and finest technical minds. Privately owned and ISO 9001:2008 certified, Revision’s operational headquarters is located in Essex Junction, Vermont, USA, with additional offices in Montreal, Canada, The UK, and Luxembourg.
Tags: business expansion, Pease International Tradeport, Revision Military, US Headquarters
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May 17th, 2018
 Ken Cail, Cindy Conde; Lorna Colquhoun — NH Business Matters New Hampshire’s life science sector, which incorporates everything from medical device manufacturing to pharmaceutical development, is growing and from June 4 – 7, it will showcased at the 2018 BIO International convention in Boston.
In New Hampshire, there are over 200 companies that represent this life sciences landscape. Some of them are subsidiaries of global companies; others are based and founded here … it’s thriving and it’s vast.
Cindy Conde
Chairman, BIOTech|MEDTech committee
NH High Technology Council
Joining the Division of Economic Development in the New Hampshire pavilion will be: ARMI|BioFabUSA; Community College System of New Hampshire; Dartmouth College; NH High Tech Council, and the University of New Hampshire.
This month’s guest on New Hampshire Business Matters on WTPL-FM is Cindy Conde, chairman of the NH High Tech Council’s BioTech|MedTech committee, who talks about this vibrant sector and what New Hampshire offers growing companies within the industry.
Tune in here.
Tags: BIO International, Life sciences, NH Business Matters, NH High Technology Council, WTPL FM 107.7
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May 9th, 2018
 The scheduling portal for the first ever B2B meetings is open until May 10. Register for login credentials; request appointments and check to see who has requested an appointment with you. There are 20 minute time slots for appointments beginning at 6:30pm, ending at 7:50pm; a potential for four meetings. You can block any time slots or leave them open for meeting requests. Make sure to confirm meetings that have been requested of you and keep checking back as new attendees register. A global defense industry and technology innovation expert headlines the 4th annual networking event hosted by the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Export Consortium, from 5:30 – 8 pm, May 17 at the Manchester Country Club.
Tate Nurkin, founder of OTH Intelligence Group LLC, is frequently cited on defense-related topics and has provided testimony to the U.S. – China Economic and Security Review Commission about the implications of China’s military reforms and modernization. His keynote address examines the shifting defense industrial landscape and the future of defense innovation.
The event will also feature trade representatives from Canada, Saudi Arabia and other resource organizations, as well as a first-ever business-to-business matchmaking component.
Find out how NHADEC gave a big boost to one New Hampshire company. Tune in here to learn the benefits of being a member.
Founded in 2013 by the New Hampshire Office of International Commerce, the consortium is expanding its membership beyond the state and now includes members from Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and as far away as Utah. It has also forged relationships with AeroMontreal and the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, fostering partnerships and opportunities in markets around the world for its members.
The event is open to anyone with an interest in the state’s aerospace and defense sector, but registration is required at www.NHADEC.com.
For more information, contact Dawn Wivell at 603-836-4207.
Tags: Aerospace, business to business, defense, international resources, NHADEC, Office of International Commerce
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May 3rd, 2018
 Since publication of this post, the tracts nominated last month have been so designated by the Department of Treasury. -Ed.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has nominated 27 low income census tracts of the state to be designated as Opportunity Zones, part of a federal program encouraging economic development and investment in neighborhoods around the country. Governor Sununu made the announcement from Marceau Park in Franklin, one of the areas designated today.
In New Hampshire, the areas nominated include tracts and contiguous tracts, ranging from the Manchester Millyard, downtown Rochester and tracts in the Seacoast, to the White Mountains and the North Country.
“New Hampshire’s resiliency lies in our local communities – they are the backbone of our society and the focal point of cultural activity,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “For far too long, however, some communities have been left behind. While some have thrived in recent years, others are struggling to keep up. Today, we are announcing 27 Opportunity Zones across the state to encourage investments in areas that are often left behind. Opportunity Zones provide tax incentives to investors to reinvest unrealized capital gains into neighborhoods throughout the state. These local neighborhoods deserve an economic boost, and that is what we are going to give them. The goal is simple: to create jobs, to increase wages, and to revitalize communities across the state.”
For more information about the Opportunity Zone nominations, visit our website.
“Our goal was to designate tracts that present the best opportunities for investment and can leverage other state and federal resources. My hope is that once this program is fully deployed, it can serve as catalyst to bringing economic opportunity to New Hampshire communities,” said Taylor Caswell, Commissioner, New Hampshire Business and Economic Affairs.
The program was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provides federal tax incentives to investors in areas designated as an Opportunity Zone and is administered by the U.S. Treasury Department. States were required to designate 25% of the low income census tracts in the state as Opportunity Zones. Investors can defer capital gains on earnings reinvested in the zones and long-term investments maintained for over 10 years do not have to pay additional capital gains taxes on earnings from Opportunity Zone investments.
Final designations are subject to federal confirmation and final rules for the new Opportunity Zone are being developed by the US Treasury.
Communities nominated for federal Opportunity Zones:
- Berlin
- Claremont
- Colebrook, Atkinson and Gilmanton Grant
- Conway/North Conway
- Derry
- Dixville Notch, Columbia, Millsfield, Errol, Dummer, Milan, Cambridge, Success, Erving and Wentworth’s Location, Second College Grant
- Dover
- Durham
- Franklin
- Keene
- Laconia
- Lancaster, Kilkenny
- Lincoln, Easton, Waterville Valley, Livermore
- Littleton
- Manchester
- Nashua
- Newport
- Plymouth
- Raymond
- Rochester
- Seabrook
- Somersworth
- Stratford, Groveton (Northumberland), Stark, Odell
Tags: Commissioner Caswell, Gov. Sununu, NH economic development, Opportunity Zones
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May 3rd, 2018
 May 4 Forum on the Future Breakfast Having a strong and talented workforce is vital in keeping the state’s economy robust and healthy. With its low rate of unemployment, New Hampshire is committed to making sure businesses and manufacturers have the employees they need to grow.
This was the topic of the May 4 Forum on the Future Breakfast, during which a panel discussed the role of older workers, with their knowledge and experience, in being a resource for meeting the demand, organized by the New Hampshire College and University Council.
“Most beliefs about aging are outdated,” said Todd Fahey, state director for AARP, who moderated the discussion.
The age of 65 has long been synonymous with the age people retire; that’s not the case anymore, he said. People are living longer, healthier lives and most baby boomers want to work.
As they continue to work, it is possible for there to be synergy between generations, said Will Arvelo, director of the Division Of Economic Development. Much is lost if experienced, older workers depart their jobs, taking with them their valuable training.
“That is something really powerful,” he said, in terms of mentorship and knowledge transfer.
Other speakers included Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig; Manchester Community College President Susan Huard; Granite State College President Mark Rubenstein; Robert Segal, CEO, Automotive Supply Association and Sanel Auto Parts, and Deanna Strand, executive director, Dover Adult Learning Center.
Tags: AARP, baby boomers, City of Manchester, Dover Adult Learning Center, Granite State College, Manchester Community College, Sanel Auto Parts, workforce
Posted in NH Business Matters | Comments Off on The Value, Role of Older Workers in Strengthening the Workforce, Economy
May 2nd, 2018
 DTTD will focus its summer campaign on new markets in New England, including Hartford, Ct., Portland, Maine, Providence, RI and Burlington, Vt, along with its traditional markets including, Boston, New York, Montréal, and Toronto. The New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development expects a record-breaking 2018 summer travel season with all-time highs for visitation and visitor spending.
More than three million visitors will spend $1.8 billion this summer, including more than 650,000 visitors over Memorial Day Weekend.
During the M/S Mount Washington’s traditional Shakedown Cruise on May 3, Gov. Chris Sununu joined state tourism officials to announce New Hampshire is projected to host a record 3.4 million visitors who will spend a record $1.8 billion this summer.
“There is no better place to be in the summer than right here in New Hampshire,” he said. “From hiking the White Mountains to cruising around Lake Winnipesaukee or visiting Hampton Beach, there are endless opportunities to explore our beautiful state.”
Marking the unofficial kick-off to New Hampshire’s most popular travel season, Memorial Day Weekend is expected to draw 650,000 out-of-state travelers and generate more than $120 million in spending from Friday, May 25, through Monday, May 28.
“Travelers spend billions of dollars each year in New Hampshire, at our restaurants, our tax-free retail destinations and our tremendous hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts,” said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “I’m pleased to share that the Division of Travel and Tourism Development is expecting another record-breaking summer season.”
During the kickoff event, DTTD unveiled its Live Free summer marketing campaign, which calls out the variety of activities available within close proximity, embracing the diverse backdrops and experiences that separate New Hampshire from its competitive set.
Tags: summer, summer forecast, Travel and Tourism, travel projections
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