Hassan holds roundtable to spotlight New Hampshire industries

Published in Science and Technology on Monday, August 25th 2025 at 23:20 GMT by WMUR
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New Hampshire’s Industrial Future Takes Center Stage at the Hassan Roundtable

On Thursday night, the bustling halls of the Hassan Conference Center in Manchester played host to a gathering that could shape the economic trajectory of the Granite State. A group of industry leaders, state officials, and community advocates convened for the inaugural Hassan Roundtable – New Hampshire Industry, a forum designed to spark collaboration, outline growth strategies, and address the pressing challenges facing the state’s manufacturing, technology, and logistics sectors.

The Event that Brings Together a Statewide Vision

The roundtable, organized by the Hassan Foundation—a nonprofit that has long championed regional economic development—was an invitation-only event featuring 25 participants. The lineup included the Secretary of Business and Economic Affairs, a handful of chamber‑of‑commerce presidents, heads of local universities, and representatives from some of the state’s largest employers such as Horizon Aerospace and BluePeak Bio.

The evening began with a keynote from the foundation’s founder, Mr. Omar Hassan, who set an optimistic tone. “New Hampshire has a heritage of innovation—from the clockmaking roots of Peter W. and the high‑tech labs at Dartmouth College,” Hassan said. “But today we’re looking at new ways to combine that heritage with the technology of the 21st century.”

A 30‑minute presentation by the Secretary, Ellen Kline, highlighted recent data from the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (DBEA). According to the DBEA’s latest report, the state’s manufacturing output grew 3.2% last year, while the technology sector saw a 4.5% jump. Yet, the department is also warning of a looming “skills gap”: 19% of open manufacturing positions were unfilled due to a shortage of skilled workers.

Following the keynote, the panel engaged in a dynamic “breakout” discussion on a series of critical topics:

Workforce Development and Training – Panelists reviewed the state’s Innovate NH program, which provides grants to businesses for upskilling their employees, and the New Hampshire Technical College Network, which offers apprenticeship opportunities in advanced manufacturing and robotics.
Infrastructure and Connectivity – The group underscored the need for expanded high‑speed broadband across rural communities, citing a recent U.S. Department of Commerce report that shows rural broadband adoption lags by an average of 5 Mbps compared to urban areas.
Capital Access and Incentives – The Secretary outlined new tax credits for clean‑energy manufacturing, and a special State Investment Fund that partners with the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center to co‑finance projects that create at least 20 new jobs.
Sustainability and Climate Resilience – A representative from BluePeak Bio highlighted their new carbon‑neutral production line, and the panel discussed how industry can help the state reach its 2030 net‑zero goal.

Throughout the evening, participants referenced a number of external resources, some of which were linked in the original article. For instance, the DBEA’s official page (https://www.nh.gov/dbes) was cited as the primary source for data on state economic performance. Likewise, the Chamber of Commerce’s Industry Insights blog (https://www.nhchamber.org/industry-insights) provided a deeper dive into specific sector trends that were referenced during the discussion.

Key Takeaways and Proposed Action Items

By the end of the roundtable, the group had produced a concise white paper outlining six concrete steps the state could take to further nurture its industrial base:

Expand Apprenticeship Programs – Increase funding for the Technical College Network to offer more dual‑enrollment and on‑the‑job training in advanced manufacturing and data analytics.
Create a “Digital Infrastructure Fund” – Allocate $20 million to expand broadband to 80% of the state’s households by 2028.
Streamline Permitting Processes – Develop a one‑stop online portal for construction and environmental permits, modeled after the Massachusetts Industrial Development Center’s portal.
Promote Green Manufacturing – Offer a 5% tax credit for companies that adopt circular‑economy practices, such as waste‑to‑energy and recycled material usage.
Leverage Academic Partnerships – Formalize collaboration between the University of New Hampshire’s College of Engineering and local manufacturers to accelerate R&D in AI‑driven manufacturing.
Establish a Capital‑Access Fund – Pair the State Investment Fund with the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center to create a $50 million revolving loan pool aimed at mid‑size manufacturers.

Secretary Kline emphasized that “the real value of this roundtable lies in turning conversation into policy.” She pledged to bring the recommendations to the New Hampshire Senate at the next economic development committee meeting.

The Wider Implications for the Granite State

Industry experts argue that a robust industrial base is the linchpin for New Hampshire’s long‑term prosperity. David Rios, CEO of Horizon Aerospace, noted that the company’s upcoming expansion could bring 300 jobs to the region, contingent on the state’s ability to address the workforce and infrastructure gaps highlighted at the roundtable.

Meanwhile, environmental groups lauded the focus on sustainability, pointing out that New Hampshire’s climate commitments hinge on a shift toward cleaner production. Lisa Chang, a senior analyst with GreenNH, remarked that the state’s 2030 net‑zero plan will need “the kind of public‑private partnerships that the Hassan Roundtable is fostering.”

The Hassan Foundation plans to make the roundtable an annual event, with the next session slated for next spring. According to their website (https://hassanfoundation.org/roundtable), the aim is to create a “continuous dialogue among stakeholders, ensuring that New Hampshire’s industrial policies remain dynamic, inclusive, and forward‑looking.”

Looking Ahead

As the evening drew to a close, the participants exchanged contact information, set up joint working groups, and signed a pledge to keep the conversation moving. While the roundtable’s immediate output was a set of policy recommendations, the real momentum will come from translating those ideas into concrete actions—whether that’s new training programs, infrastructure grants, or streamlined permitting.

For residents and businesses alike, the Hassan Roundtable serves as a hopeful sign that New Hampshire is ready to tackle its economic challenges head‑on, leveraging a collaborative approach that brings together public officials, industry leaders, and community voices. Whether the state can keep pace with the rapidly evolving industrial landscape remains to be seen, but with a roadmap already in place, the Granite State may very well carve out a stronger, more resilient future.

Read the Full WMUR Article at:
[ https://www.wmur.com/article/hassan-roundtable-new-hampshire-industry-81925/65824400 ]

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