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Business Visitation Program
Department of Resources and Economic Development
Office of Business and Industrial Development
72 Pembroke Road P.O. Box 1856
Concord NH 03302-1856
Phone: (603) 271-2591 Fax: (603) 271-6784
The Business Visitation Program is a locally implemented business retention and expansion program. Its goal is to stimulate local economic growth by assisting businesses that are already in operation. How does the program work? By helping local companies and communities identify, then resolve business issues.
Before a community can assist its firms, however, it must have some mechanism for pinpointing businesses' issues, concerns, and opinions. The Business Visitation Program is that mechanism.
The mechanics of the program involve local volunteers visiting businesses to gather information about firms' development issues, economic concerns and opinions about their community as a place to do business. Once aware of these issues local state and federal programs can be accessed to assist the firms. A referral network coordinates questions, issues and concerns.
The Business Visitation Program provides sound business assistance. Staff members can link businesses with a variety of financial, technological, business planning, marketing, and job training resources. Best of all, this assistance is offered at no cost, and strict confidentiality is assured.
Vendor Matching Program
Department of Resources and Economic Development
Office of Business and Industrial Development
172 Pembroke Road P.O. Box 1856
Concord, NH 03302-1856
Phone: (603) 271-2591 Fax: (603) 271-6784
As part of the Office of Business and Industrial Development's efforts to promote existing New Hampshire industries, the agency maintains a detailed database of information identifying Granite State companies that manufacture a specific product or products.
This database can be used to match a prospective client's product needs with the appropriate New Hampshire vendor of those products.
This effort is based on an SIC {Standard Industrial Classification} code breakdown of OBID's manufacturers database. It provides immediate access to the database to describe who in New Hampshire manufactures parts/components that a company may need in its business.
To access the Made in New Hampshire Vendor Matching Program, interested clients provide OBID with a description of the desired product-as specific as possible-for entry into the database. The system then determines what matches exist among New Hampshire-made products.
Procurement Technical Assistance Program
Department of Resources and Economic Development
Office of Business and Industrial Development
172 Pembroke Road P.O. Box 1856
Concord NH 03302-1856
Phone: 6O3-271-2591 Fax: (603) 271-6784
Many companies find the concept of selling to the government-if they have considered it-too daunting to ever get involved. Or, if they have tried it, the red tape factor quickly squelched the interest. The Procurement Technical Assistance Program has been funded by the State of New Hampshire and the federal government to provide the necessary tools to be competitive in the federal marketplace through:
Procurement counseling: one-on-one counseling and technical assistance.
Contract announcements: electronic scanning of the Commerce Business Daily federal contract awards, Defense Logistics Agency under $25,000 procurements, and foreign trade opportunities.
Specifications and standards: some government contracts reference additional specifications and documentation.
Support databases: The New Hampshire Procurement Technical Assistance Program's databases can allow clients to access past procurement histories, target appropriate buying agencies, identify agency purchasing patterns and find prime contractor/sub-contractor opportunities.
Financial Assistance
Finance Clearinghouse
Department of Resources and Economic Development
Office of Business and Industrial Development
72 Pembroke Rood P. O. Box1856
Concord NH 03302-1856
Phone: 6O3-271-2591 Fax: (603) 271-6784
The Finance Clearinghouse offers companies assistance in obtaining financing. The main goal is to assess what needs o business has, then help identify the various financing programs available. A complete listing of programs can be obtained through the clearinghouse, and staff is available to meet with companies as needed.
Small Business Administration
55 Pleasant Street, # 3101
Concord, NH 03301
Phone 6O3-225-1400 Fax: (603) 225-1409
Small Business Administration {SBA) Guaranty Loans are made by private lenders, usually banks, and are guaranteed up to a specified percentage by the SBA. The 7(a) Guaranty Program helps lenders provide longer term financing for small business customers. The program limits the bank's exposure and allows lenders to consider larger loan requests. A secondary market exists for sale of the guaranteed portion of SBA loans.
Business Finance Authority
2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 201
Concord NH 03301
Phone: 6O3-415-0190 Fax: (603)
415-0194
The Business Finance Authority has several loan programs designed to foster economic development and create employment opportunities with an emphasis on small business assistance. One initiative is the Capital Access Program (CAP). CAP provides incentives to banks to make loans to small businesses considered to have more than conventional risk.
New Hampshire Business Development
Corporation
1001 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Phone:(603) 623-55OO Fax: (603) 623-3972
The New Hampshire Business Development Corporation (NHBDC) is a for-profit company in the business of funding loans to small businesses that qualify. The company is a joint venture between the State of New Hampshire and IncuVenture Corporation, a private investment management firm. Candidates may access loan applications from the NHSDC, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Resources and Economic Development, or any of the Small Business Development Centers throughout the state.
Community Development Block Grant
New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority
14 Dixon Avenue, Suite 102
Concord, NH 03301
Phone (603) 226-2170 Fax: (603) 226-2816
Community Development Block Grant Funds are from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and are given to individual communities for various economic development projects, including loan programs for small businesses. Contact local town offices to inquire about any programs that might be available within the community.
New Hampshire Capital Consortium
c/o New Hampshire Business Development Corporation
1001 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Phone: (603) 623-5500 Fax: (603) 623-3972
Established in November 1994, the New Hampshire Capital Consortium (NHCC) is a venture capital partnership organized by the NHBDC for the purpose of funding early-stage, high-potential growth companies in New Hampshire. The NHCC is part of the $30 million Small Business Investment Company, which is managed by Zero Stage Capital Company, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts. With funding from the NHBDC, the State of New Hampshire, CFX Bank, Energy North, First NH Bank, Fleet Bank, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and Public Service of New Hampshire. The NHCC makes investments of between $250,000 and $1,000,000 in high-potential companies with five-year sales forecasts of $20-50 million.
International Assistance
International Trade Resource Center
Department of Resources and Economic Development
Office of International Commerce
Pease International Tradeport
601 Spaulding Turnpike, Suite 29
Portsmouth, NH 03801-2833
Phone: 6O3-334-6O74 Fax: (603) 334-6110
The New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center (ITRC) is a one-stop location where New Hampshire businesses, both current and potential exporters, can access the assistance and information necessary to effectively explore, develop and penetrate the foreign marketplace. The ITRC is a state facility under the administration of the Department of Resources ond Economic Development, housing the state's Office of International Commerce; ths U.S. Department of Commerce/U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service; the Small Business Development Center's international trade training arm; the Top of New England/U.S. Export-Import Bank Export Finance Program; and the New Hampshire International Trade Association.
Together, these entities offer the business community a variety of programs and services including:
New Hampshire Export Finance Program
Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIMBANK)
U.S Small Business Administration (SBA)
Department of Resources and Economic Development
Office of International Commerce
International Trade Resource Center
601 Spaulding Turnpike, Suite 29
Portsmouth, NH 03301-2840
Phone: (603) 334-6074 Fax: (603) 334-6110
The New Hampshire Export Finance Program is a member of the Export-Import Bank U.S. City/State program. Financing support is available to facilitate the export of goods and services by small-to-mid-sized businesses.
The program offers the EXIMBANK and SBA Working Capital Loan Guarantee Program and EXIMBANK Export Credit Insurance. In addition, financing for foreign customs is available to qualified sales of capital goods and services in most countries around the world through EXIM's foreign buyer credit program.
New Hampshire Port Authority
555 Market Street
Portsmouth, NH 03802
Phone: (603) 436-8500 Fax: (603) 436-2780
The Port Authority develops and manages the state's tidal waters in order to stimulate commerce and the shipment of freight through the port. The Port Authority also cooperates with other state and federal agencies in planning the maintenance, development and use of the port, harbors and navigable rivers.
Pease International Tradeport
360 Corporate Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 6O3-433-6088 Fax: 6O3-427-0433
Pease International Tradeport offers 3,000 acres of land ready for development. The site features an airport with an 11,32O-foot runway, capable of handling the world's largest aircraft, as well as an 18-hole golf course. It is adjacent to a deep-water seaport, a major interstate highway system, and railway service. The trade-port is already home to more than 150 businesses, organizations and state agencies.
Technology and Training
New Hampshire Industrial Research Center
University of New Hampshire
Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 6O3-862-0123 Fax: (603) 862-0329
The New Hampshire Industrial Research Center (NHIRC) is funded by the Department of Resources and Economic Development to assist New Hampshire industry in becoming more competitive, thereby retaining and increasing industrial employment.
NHIRC services include assistance in basic and applied research development and marketing through a matching grants program.
Workforce Opportunity Council, Inc.
64 Old Suncook Road
Concord NH 03301
Phone: (603) 228-9500 Fax: (603) 228-8557
The Workforce Opportunity Council, Inc. brings direct access to employment, economic, labor market, education, training and social service information. It serves as a network to the work force.
New Hampshire Technical Colleges and Institute System
Post-Secondary Education
5 Institute Drive
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 800-247-3420 (in-state)
or (603) 271-2722 Fax: (603) 271-2725
New Hampshire has six two-year technical colleges and one technical institute. Within each institution, a Technology Deployment Center provides general or customized training and education to meet the needs of business and industry. Programs in manufacturing and industrial technology, as well as Novell training, Internet, ISO 9000, Microsoft, and many others are available.
New Hampshire Employment Security
32 South Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 800-852-3400 (in-state)
or (603) 222-3311 Fax: (603) 229-4321
For employers and job seekers, NH Employment Security provides unemployment information, compensation and labor market information, and employment services. For more information, visit www.nhes.state.nh.us.
Manchester Manufacturing Management Center
15O Dow Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Phone: (603) 425-0106 Fax: (603) 625-0145
The Manchester Manufacturing Management Center (MMMC) is a major information, education and resource center for manufacturers in New Hampshire. Funded by the Gruber Foundation, the MMMC is operated by the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore School of Business ond Economics. The center serves as a crucial link between the university and the manufacturing community through sponsorship of industry-specific programs, including seminars, symposia, expos, and internships.
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