New Hampshire’s Business Resource Center Provides 911 Response to Burned-Out Business

GORHAM, NH—You might expect that the New Hampshire Business Resource Center (BRC), a state agency, would provide information. But, according to its director, Roy Duddy, “We’re both 911 and 411 for businesses—a source of information and a resource when a business is in trouble or runs into an emergency.”

Such was the case for Steel Elements, a Gorham-based company that designs, engineers and manufactures light gauge steel framing for the construction industry. On the night of Monday, March 5, Steel Elements was struck a devastating blow when its 25,000-square foot plant burned.

The next day the company’s CEO, Scott Coulombe, received a call from Duddy, who quickly set up a meeting on site that included Coulombe; Steel Elements’ vice president, Ray LeTellier, and its controller, Scott McKnight; Rich McLeod, Governor Lynch’s North Country representative; Berlin City Planner Pam LaFlamme; Bill Jackson, Gorham Town Manager; and Jim Wagner, Androscoggin Valley Economic Recovery Corporation Economic Development Director.

The group came up with a rapid-fire punch list of what needed to be done to get the three-year-old company up and running again. A site in Berlin was found where the company  could move its manufacturing operations until the burned-out plant could be rebuilt—but the company would need office space nearby. Also needed: signage, power, telephone, various permits, police escorts when equipment and inventory was moved, and assistance with government agencies including the fire marshall, state Insurance Department and Attorney General’s office. “People were on cell phones, setting things in motion so that by the end of the meeting, we were able to resolve a number of the issues,” Duddy explains.

Construction trailers were suggested as a solution for the needed office space, which could be set up on the grounds adjacent to the interim manufacturing plant. When it was found that none were available through New Hampshire’s Division of Transportation, Duddy turned to his agency’s frequent partner, PSNH, and PSNH’s Economic & Community Development Manager, Pat McDermott.

McDermott picks up the story. “PSNH was already involved, making sure that Steel Elements had electricity at the new site in Berlin. I was able to locate a 24-foot by 60-foot double-wide trailer in Bow that PSNH was no longer using. Roy and I looked at it the next day, and contacted Scott, who came to see it. We arranged to sell it to Steel Elements for $1.”

Scott Coulombe continues, “Some of our staff went to Bow on Sunday and worked with the moving team. They had the building on site the next day.” Coulombe is quick to acknowledge how important Steel Elements’ employees were. “They were at work the day after the fire—and we were even able to ship product that day. They’re a versatile and talented group with a broad range of skills. I never had to ask; they just pitched in and did what was needed. We were also fortunate that our engineering department was not involved in the fire. We ran our server—a key element in our business—over to engineering, and even though it had some damage, we were able to get it up and running within a day.”

Duddy was very impressed with both Steel Elements’ leadership and staff. “Luckily the company was in good shape financially and well insured. The company didn’t miss a beat and the employees didn’t miss a day’s pay.”

Steel Elements had just been selected to receive a $400,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant program; the money was earmarked for capital expansion as the company had already outgrown its plant. Coulombe says the company plans to rebuild a larger plant on its original site. “We’ve received so much support at every turn—from Will Infantine at Aspen Insurance in Manchester who provided us with the coverage through Traveller’s Insurance, and from townspeople, local officials the Governor’s office and the state agencies. As I told Roy Duddy, ‘When we ran into a stone wall, I turned around and you all were there with a bulldozer to knock it down for us.’”

PSNH’s McDermott has seen this unique type of response before. “What’s key in these situations is having the network of people and organizations already in place and the ability to turn things around quickly,” comments McDermott.

Duddy responds, “That’s essentially what we’re all here for.”

For more information on BRC’s services, contact Steve Boucher at the New Hampshire Business Resource Center, 172 Pembroke Road, P.O. Box 1856, Concord, NH 03302. 603-271-7581. www.nheconomy.com.