NH Economic Development Team Targeting Quebec Firms for Business Expansion

Overflow Crowd Expected for Presentation

QUEBEC CITY, PQ –Forty-eight businesspeople representing 41 Quebec companies will learn about the benefits of expanding their operations to New Hampshire at a special dinner to be hosted by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development at Le Chateau Frontenac on Tuesday, June 12.

“New Hampshire and Quebec have always had a mutually beneficial relationship built on cultural similarities and friendship,” said New Hampshire Department of Resources & Economic Development Commissioner George Bald who will lead the business recruitment mission. “It makes perfect sense that so many Quebec area companies are interested in discovering the business advantages of establishing a U.S. base of operations in New Hampshire.”

Following the success of a similar business recruitment mission to Sherbrooke last year, this special invitation only dinner will give top state economic development officials the opportunity to inform expanding Quebec companies about the many advantages of doing business in New Hampshire – a favorable tax environment, proximity to existing customer base, skilled workforce, available commercial real estate, and language similarities. The presentation will be conducted almost exclusively in French.

The dinner is a public/private partnership which also involves Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH), the state’s leading electric utility. Public Service’s participation was instrumental in the success of previous business recruitment missions to Montreal, Sherbrooke, Toronto and Los Angeles. When response to the Quebec mission was even greater than expected, PSNH agreed to subsidize the cost of 18 additional Quebec business representatives interested in participating.

“We’re happy to step to the plate to ensure that any business owner interested in learning more about our state has the opportunity to do so,” said Pat McDermott, Public Service of New Hampshire Economic and Community Development Manager. “Economic development is a team effort and we welcome any opportunity to spread the word about New Hampshire as a prime business destination.”

Also joining Commissioner Bald on the mission will be New Hampshire Business Resource Center Business Development Managers Michael Bergeron and John DiNapoli, New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Communications Manager Steve Boucher, Colebrook Development Corporation President Beno Lamontagne, Colebrook Development Corporation Vice Chairman Roland Cotnoir, City of Berlin Economic Development Director Norman Charest, City of Berlin Housing Director Andre Caron, Androscoggin Valley Economic Recovery Corporation Director Jim Wagner, Public Service of NH Business Development Manager Gordon Tuttle and Josee-Marie and Melanie Vaillant, owners of Colebrook-based KHEOPS International, a company with roots in the Province of Quebec.

For additional information about the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, please visit www.nheconomy.com or call (603) 271-2341.