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Strategic Economic Plan for NH

Prepared by the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire
November 2013

In 2013, BIA developed a strategic economic plan for New Hampshire in response to continued and long-standing unease about the direction of the state.

Nine stakeholder groups comprised of nearly 200 business leaders, policy experts and others with an interest in this process met in April, May and June of that year for a series of meetings focused on a variety of issue areas: energy and regulated utilities; fiscal policy; health care; regulatory environment (labor and environmental); education, workforce skills and labor pool; workforce housing; infrastructure (transportation, waste and drinking water; natural and cultural resources; and business growth, retention and attraction.

Each group worked to articulate a specific goal in support of the vision statement and establish related action steps to achieve the goal. The final product will highlight the state's economic and business advantages, identify weaknesses and recommend ways to address them effectively, and emphasize opportunities for positioning the state for future growth and prosperity.

The BIA contracted with two respected consulting groups to help develop the strategic economic plan. The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies analyzed New Hampshire's economic landscape and provided benchmark data for comparison to assist in goal-setting. The team of Synchrony Advisors LLC and Mather Associates LLC (Synchrony-Mather), led by John Gilbert and Cotton Cleveland, facilitated the stakeholder meetings and developed the initial draft of the strategic economic plan for BIA staff and board review, editing and final approval by the full board of directors.

Parts of the plan serve as a public policy blueprint for the association's work now and in the years ahead. The BIA encourages others to embrace all or portions of the plan and work with the association to achieve its recommendations.

We invite you to download a complete copy of the strategic economic plan or the two-page summary hand-out and distribute to anyone who may have an interest.

We invite you to contact us with any questions or feedback.

General or media inquiries:
603.224.5388 x111