Strengthening NH’s workforce and supporting job creation initiatives.
MANCHESTER, NH – Highlighting the importance of the advanced manufacturing and high-tech industry to New Hampshire’s economy, Governor Maggie Hassan on Thursday kicked off the 12th Annual Governor’s Advanced Manufacturing and High Technology Summit.
“As the state’s largest industry, manufacturing is critical to strengthening the foundation for the innovation economy that will expand middle class opportunity and keep New Hampshire moving in the right direction,” Hassan said. “But we know that there is more we need to do to keep our economy moving forward, to keep manufacturing jobs in New Hampshire and to attract new advanced manufacturing and high-tech companies to the Granite State.”
Presented by the Business and Industry Association, the New Hampshire High Technology Council, the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, the Advanced Manufacturing and High Technology Summit brings together businesses, educational institutions, local economic development officials and other manufacturing experts for workshops and networking opportunities aimed at sharing best practices in order to help the industry continue to grow and create jobs.
“Today’s summit is a great example of the New Hampshire Way, citizens coming together – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – to solve long-standing challenges and get things done for New Hampshire’s people, businesses and economy,” Hassan said. “But I want to continue to hear from you about what you need to continue thriving and creating jobs here in New Hampshire for years to come, because ensuring state government is responsive to the needs of the advanced manufacturing and high-tech community is critical as we work together to strengthen the foundation for the 21st century economy.”
Hassan’s focus has been on supporting innovative, job-creating businesses in order to expand middle class opportunity and keep New Hampshire’s economy moving in the right direction by restoring funding for higher education in her bipartisan budget in exchange for the first in-state tuition freeze at the University System of New Hampshire in 25 years and a 5 percent reduction of in-state tuition at New Hampshire’s community colleges that began this fall.
The bipartisan budget also revitalized the state’s economic development activities, fully funded the Director of Economic Development for the first time in years, increased travel and tourism promotion and improved international trade assistance.
In order to make it easier for high-tech businesses to start up and flourish in New Hampshire, Hassan and the Business Finance Authority launched Live Free and Start, an initiative that brings together accomplished business leaders and entrepreneurs to make recommendations on how to modernize business regulations and how to improve technology used to do business with the state.
Hassan and the Department of Resources and Economic Development have also launched a manufacturing video contest that partners advanced manufacturing companies with local schools in order to engage New Hampshire’s students and help them understand that there are exciting and interesting career opportunities at manufacturing companies across the state.
The 12th Annual Governor’s Advanced Manufacturing and High Technology Summit marked the culmination of Manufacturing Week in New Hampshire, which Hassan proclaimed as September 29 through October 3 in order to recognize manufacturing’s vital role in New Hampshire’s economy.
You can read the full text of Hassan’s proclamation below:
Manufacturing Week Address by Gov. Maggie Hassan