Resources for Doing Business in NH

Gr. Hudson Chamber of Commerce

In This Issue
NH DRED
Job Training Fund Grant
On-the Job Training Program
Government Contracts
Growing Your Business
SCORE Counseling & Resources
Energy Efficiency Programs
Technical & Financing Assistance
Stay, Work & Play NH
Economic Revitalization Zones
International Trade
Manufacturing Solutions
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Other Business Resources




 

Greetings!
NH Seal
In our continued efforts to assist our local businesses the GHCC has gathered together some important resources that our business members may find helpful.  If you know of a program or resource that other business members may benefit from, please feel free to let us know and we will share it with all.
  
State of New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development
 
NH DREDProviding comprehensive services to New Hampshire businesses and those considering expanding or relocating to the state of NH.

The NH Business Resource Center can assist with any needs your business may have including technical assistance for manufacturers, grant assistance in recruiting and training new employees and incumbent workers, overcoming permitting challenges, employee retention/layoff aversion, or any other issue that affects your ability to grow or retain workers as well customized reports and personal tours on available industrial and office real estate and site selection as well as broadband assistance and information about possible tax credits such as research and development and green jobs or energy opportunities for business.
  
NH offers exceptional quality of life and it's one of the best places in the country to expand or relocate a business.  NH, particularly Hudson, is a great place to live and do business!

Job Training Program - NH Job Training Fund (50/50 Grant)
 
Talent development is a major component of New Hampshire's economic vitality, and businesses large and small realize the importance of a skilled and educated workforce.NH Job Training

That's why the New Hampshire Job Training Fund was created, and hopefully your company is able to take advantage of this matching grant program designed to enhance worker skills and help you stay competitive in the global marketplace.

Who is eligible? Private businesses located in NH & those intending to locate in the State and who elect to pay into the unemployment trust fund.  Who can do the training? training shall be provided by the local NH Community College, if they determine they cannot or does not provide the training then the grant recipient may contact another training entity which must be named in the grant application.  What training is allowed? Training programs may include: structured, on-site laboratory or classroom training; basic skills; technical skills; quality improvement; safety; management and supervision; English as a second language. What is the matching grant requirement? A minimum 1:1 cash match is required. 

For a fact sheet, more information and to download an application for the NH Job Training Fund grant visit www.nhjobtrainingfund.org .

On-the-Job Training Program, Return to Work Initiative and NH Works Job Match
 

NH Employment Security (NHES) offers programs and services that will help your business. NHES is making it easier for you to get all the information you need in a one-stop, self-service format through there website. At the NHES website you'll find comprehensive information about Unemployment Compensation taxes and benefits, employer services, and economic, labor, demographic and workforce development information.

 

NHESOn-the-Job Training (OJT) is a hire-first program that reimburses a company for the cost of training a new employee. A customized training plan is put in place by the company which leads to employee retention in the job. The basic purpose of OJT is to allow an employer to hire an individual who would not otherwise qualify for the job and to teach the skills needed to perform at the entry level for the position. Click here for more details on On-the-Job Training program.

 

The Return to Work Initiative is a voluntary program to provide a structured, supervised training opportunity to NH unemployed claimants while continuing to collect unemployment compensation. The training program may be up to six weeks, and a maximum of 24 hours per week. Claimants must continue to file weekly continued claims to receive benefits and conduct a work search during non-training time unless otherwise exempted.  For program highlights or to become a return to work participant visit Return to Work Initiative.

 

The Stay at Work (WorkShare) Initiative offers employers an alternative to layoffs during a temporary slowdown in business.  It allows employers to keep eligible employees on the payroll by having all of the workers in a department or unit share reduced work hours of 10-50% and collect a percentage of Unemployment Insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks.  For more details visit NH Stay At Work Workshare.

 

NH Works Job Match website offers an opportunity for job seekers to find a job as well as Employers to post a job opening, visit NH Works Job Match.

NH Business Assistance to Competing for Government Contracts
 
Sell to Government: The New Hampshire Procurement Technical Assistance Progrwhite houseam (NH-PTAP) exists to help New Hampshire client businesses - whether large, small, newly established, minority owned, women-owned, veteran owned, etc... - obtain information needed to bid competitively on Department of Defense, federal, state and local contracts.

If your company is interested in learning more about selling to government visit www.nheconomy.com/ptap  

 

Growing a Business?  Starting a Business?
 

NH Small Business Development Center provides professional one-on-one business management advice and educational programs, at NO COST, to new and existing businesses. 

 

NH SBDCSmall businesses are vital to our state's economic vitality; the NH SBDC's goal is to help your business succeed!  For FREE e-learning courses, such as crafting a business plan, marketing, finance, social media, e-Commerce and managment information; or hot small business topics and resources visit NH SBDC at www.NHSBDC.org.

 

 

SCORE - Free Counseling and Resources
 

The Merrimack Valley Chapter of SCORE, based in Manchester NH assists small business with free business counseling, small business training and provide a library of resource information, much of Score Logowhich is online. Their mission: "Timely, Quality Business Counseling."  

 

Volunteer members--whose broad business experience ranges from marketing and sales, engineering, manufacturing, contract management, finance, general management, service and more--use their individual skills to help clients evaluate and develop plans for new businesses, solve business problems and direct them to additional resources, including financing.

 

To get free local mentoring, tools to run your business or participate in local or online workshops visit the Merrimack Valley Chapter of SCORE at http://merrimackvalley.score.org  

 

Energy Efficiency Programs
 
New England business owners have long sought new and innovative ways to lowenergyer energy costs while also making thoughtful choices about energy efficiency.  The NH Business Resource Center offers many programs and resources to assist NH companies with energy efficiency and pollution prevention.  The center and its partners will work with you to provide information on audits, workshops, training, and new technologies. 

Visit Enegy Efficiency & Renewable Programs for more details on how you can save money on your company utilities. 

Technical Assistance and Alternative Financing
 

Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDC) is a non-profit economic development corporation located in Southern NH serving new, growing and challenged businesses.  Whether you need to find a lending partner, finance an expansion, or need assistance with restructuring, REDC may be able to help. 

 

REDCOwning and operating a business is not easy and the REDC's goal is to assist you in any way they can. REDC offer's technical assistance and alternative financing through their revolving loan fund, and referrals to its extensive network of partners that can help with any facet of business development.

 

 

Stay, Work and Play New Hampshire
 

Stay, Work and Play New Hampshire encourages more young workers to "Stay, Work and Play" in New Hampshire.StayWorkPlay Their Mission Statement: "To work collaboratively across New Hampshire to support ongoing economic, workforce, and community development by promoting the state as a favorable place for young workers and recent college graduates to stay, work and play, when considering employment and lifestyle opportunities. For more information visit them at www.stayworkplay.org

 

NH Economic Revitalization Zone Program
 
In an effort to encourage and create jobs, communities and employers may take advantage of New Hampshire's Economic Revitalization Zone Program.  The Economic Revitalization Zone Tax Credits (ERZ Tax Credit) Program is an incentive for new and existing businesses to relocate, expand and/
or create new jobs in NH.  Hudson Seal

This ERZ program encourages companies to move into unused or underutilized industrial parks in return for tax credits against their annual business profits and enterprise taxes. All companies within these zones may apply to the state for the credit.

 

In 2008, two industrial parks in HUDSON were designated Revitalization Zones:

Sagamore Industrial Park is located just north of the Sagamore Bridge between Route 3A and the Merrimack River and includes properties located on Executive Drive, Executive Drive Extension, Friars Drive, Wentworth Drive, Hampshire Drive, Flagstone Drive, and Sagamore Park Road. The Sagamore Bridge from the west connects Route 3A to Route 3 in Nashua.

 

Clement Road Industrial Park is located on Route 111, from Sullivan Road to Clement Road including properties located on Sullivan Road, Clement Road, Constitution Drive, Hudson Park Drive, Wall Street, Park Avenue, Industrial Drive, and Commercial Street. Route 111 from the east connects to Interstate 93 in Windham, and connects to Route 3A and Route 102 to the west.

 

With over $850,000 in tax liability credits available each fiscal year, discover how your business can reap the rewards of the ERZ Business Tax Credit Program. 

 

For more information on this credit and the necessary applications visit the NH Economy website or  visit the Town of Hudson webiste at: www.HudsonNH.gov.

 

NH International Trade Resource Center
 

The New Hampshire Office of International Commerce - an office of the Division of Economic Development - is organized to plan, develop, and administer programs for international trade promotion and foreign market development, and to coordinate other public and private organizations involved in concurrent efforts.

International Trade
For many companies, the idea of venturing into the world marketplace can be an intimidating project. And even those businesses now selling in foreign markets may be missing emerging opportunities for growth. The fact is, 96% of the world's consumers live outside the United States. That means your company may have significant untapped sales potential in the international market, if you know how to export successfully.

 

The New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center's unique alliance of state, federal and private sector organizations all conveniently housed in one single location offers you a full spectrum of information, programs and customized services to help your business by opening the door to a world of opportunities.  Visit them at www.exportnh.org or call (603) 271-8444.

 

NH Manufacturing Extension Partnership - Growth Based Solutions for Manufacturers
 

The New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NH MEP) is able to leverage a vast array of public and private resources and services that are available to every manufacturing enterprise in the state.  The New Hampshire MEP will assist your organization in a transformation from traditional to world-class manufacturer. Our experienced project managers will work with your team to identify conditions which may be impeding your ability to become more commanufacturingpetitive and prosperous. We can assist in providing the resources to help you maximize your profit. In working side by side with your leadership, the MEP becomes a partner for success. 

 

The challenge for manufacturers today is satisfying escalating customer expectations in an increasingly volatile and competitive global market while also maintaining satisfactory profit margins. With technological change happening so rapidly many small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) find it difficult to keep pace with the demands for new technologies that will enable them to remain profitably competitive.

NH MEP provides affordable, innovative solutions to the problems encountered by today's manufacturing enterprise by facilitating interaction between industry, government and academia.

Visit them at www.nhmep.org or call (603) 226-3200.

We hope you find these resources helpful for your business.  If you have resources that you have found helpful and would like to share with other business folks, please send them on to the Hudson Chamber office, we'd be happy to share more resources with our local businesses.

And as always, feel free to contact the Gr. Hudson Chamber office if we can be of assistance to you and your business!
Sincerely,
Brenda Collins, Executive Director
Gr. Hudson Chamber of Commerce
71 Lowell Road, Hudson NH  0305
www.HudsonChamber.com
(603) 889-4731

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