Press Log 03/26/15 to 05/21/15
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In NH, biz likes Kasich's candor, unsure about tax plan Cincinnati.com Updated: Tuesday, March 24, 3:47 p.m. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/23/john-kasich-newhampshire/70346464/ NASHUA, N.H. -- Business leaders praised Gov. John Kasich for his candor and his advocacy of tax rates he called "flatter, lower and fairer." But members of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce said they hadn't heard about Kasich's plan to increase some taxes, such as those on sales or business activity, in order to help pay for much of his proposed income-tax cut for small businesses. New Hampshire, the "live-free-or-die" state, has no income or sales tax. "If he's just lowering one tax or raising another ... I want overall cuts in taxes," said Mike Tehan, of Merrimack, who works for the Internal Revenue Service. "If he's just going to shift, that may be helping the economy and I can take a look at that, but I hope it's an overall tax cut." Frank Stone, CEO of a machining company in Hudson, said he was open to the governor's plan, but hoped the overall effect would lower the tax burden on businesses. "I think right now, the biggest issue in the country is working together, having a balanced budget, being fiscally sound," said Frank Stone, CEO of a machining company in Hudson. Still, "from the corporate side, there needs to be a tax cut." Tehan and Stone met with the governor at a roundtable at Nashua Community College. This afternoon, the governor is meeting with Statehouse leaders and New Hampshire's Democratic governor before his final event, "Politics and Pie," at 7 p.m.
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Baker attends N.H. GOP fundraiser The Boston Globe By James Pindell, G LOB E STAF F MAR CH 27, 2015 https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/27/baker-attends-gopfundraiser/qx7tZtWpUGmP09ZmuajEfP/story.html Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker slipped into New Hampshire Friday to address the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce and attend a high-dollar fundraiser for the New Hampshire Republican Party. The state Republican Party said that about 15 people attended the fundraiser Friday morning held at the Crowne Plaza hotel. The hotel is the same site where 17 Republican White House hopefuls will speak at a conference in a few weeks. James Pindell can be reached at James.Pindell@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jamespindell.
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Nashua chamber honors Eminence award winners The Telegraph By CHRIS GAROFOLO, Staff Writer Saturday, March 28, 2015 http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1060230-469/nashua-chamber-honorseminence-award-winners.html NASHUA – Paul Hebert was honored Friday with the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Business Person of the Year award, one of six recipients to receive recognition during the 12th Eminence Awards. Hebert, of 501 Hub and the United Way of Greater Nashua, was presented the award at the chamber’s annual ceremony, held at the Sky Meadow Country Club, to celebrate those who have given back or advanced community activism in Greater Nashua. “There are literally dozens of you sitting here who are probably better candidates for this award than I am. There are things that you do in a big and a small way that make this an amazing community,” Hebert said. He was one of six individuals or businesses recognized at the event. Chamber judges also awarded St. Joseph Hospital as its Business of the Year, Alphagraphics as the Small Business of the Year and David Heath of Melanson Heath & Co. as the Chamber Volunteer of the Year. Fouad Mahfuz of PRG (Persian Rug Galleries) was the recipient of the Young Professional of the Year award and Brendan Keegan of Velocity Performance walked away with the Volunteer of the Year. Hebert, who currently serves as president of the United Way and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Nashua in addition to his numerous other charitable duties, humbly thanked the two other finalists for the award. He praised both Tom Tessier, of Weisman, Tessier, Lambert & Halloran, and Tom Wilhelmsen of Southern New Hampshire Health Systems for their contributions to the community. “Thank you, to all of you, for all the things you do day in and day out to make this such a wonderful place to live,” he added.
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Providing the keynote to the chamber awards ceremony was Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, who made his first trip to the Granite State since his inauguration. The Bay State governor talked about the positive business and personal relationships between New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He touted the success of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots during his first few weeks in office and pushed the region’s interdependence on each state in terms of energy and fighting narcotics abuse. But Baker focused a solid portion of his speech about his administration’s battle with one of the worst winters in the past quarter century. “At one point we had projects going on respecting removal and disposal of snow in 150 communities in Massachusetts,” he said. Chris Garofolo can be reached at 594-6465, cgarofolo@nashua telegraph.com or @Telegraph_Chris.
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Baker open to rail talks after Mass. Reviews its transit system The Telegraph By CHRIS GAROFOLO, Staff Writer Monday, March 30, 2015 http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1060314-469/baker-open-to-rail-talksafter-mass..html NASHUA – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said he is happy to talk about the possibility of expanding commuter rail into southern New Hampshire at a later date to focus in the meantime on his state’s existing infrastructure. During a brief swing through Greater Nashua on March 27, Baker said a transportation-centric advisory group is expected to present a reform draft to his administration this week reviewing governance, finance and operational issues, following a winter that dumped more than 9 feet of snow over a 30-day period. His priority is to examine mass transit needs within the Commonwealth before exploring the feasibility of a new commuter line into southern New Hampshire. “My first step here is to try and figure out what we need to do to actually deal with our existing system, which has some real issues that were exposed by the weather and the circumstances in the month of February,” Baker said during a questions portion of his keynote address during the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual Eminence Awards banquet. The Bay State governor was asked about the likelihood of extending passenger rail service from Boston to Nashua and Manchester via Lowell, Mass., after a federal Capitol Corridor Rail study released last month recommended an accelerated time frame to have the commuter line operating as soon as 2020. The two-year study analyzed rail, as well as other transit options, for the 73-mile commute from Concord to Boston. New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan has voiced support for such a project and proposed funding for an environmental and engineering assessment for expanding commuter rail into Nashua and Manchester. Baker, a first-term Republican, acknowledged the heavy traffic between the two states and said he is willing to discuss rail expansion once his administration finalizes its own infrastructure plans. 6
“But for me in the short-term, the big issue is going to be dealing with the existing system we have, the existing infrastructure that’s attached to it,” he said. “I’m happy to have conservation that gets beyond that but I have to get past this first piece first.” According to the study, it would cost an estimated $120 million to bring a rail line to Nashua and carry an annual operating expenses of approximately $4 million. The study also recommended offsetting capital costs by federal grants and contributions from Massachusetts. Baker was asked if the states should partner in paying for a proposed expansion or if New Hampshire should foot the bill. “Well, I’m in New Hampshire so obviously I’m not going to say that,” he said to a round of laughter. “I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.” Chris Garofolo can be reached at 594-6465, cgarofolo@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_Chris.
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Farmers Dinner to hold culinary venture in downtown Nashua The Telegraph Sunday, May 10, 2015 By KATHRYN MARCHOCKI http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1063310-469/farmers-dinner-to-hold-culinaryventure-in.html NASHUA – The Farmers Dinner is working with local agencies to host its second farm-totable culinary venture in downtown Nashua as part of an effort to inspire support for local agriculture. The Farmers Dinner Gala will be held June 21 at the Court Street Theater. All proceeds will benefit three local charities: Marguerite’s Place, Gate City Community Gardens and the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success. The event will take a different approach to showcasing in-season produce and foods grown at local farms from last September’s sold-out, sit-down affair on Main Street that closed downtown to traffic. The gala will feature three courses of hors d’oeuvres that will be served at the theater, which will be transformed into an old farm, while representatives from area farms discuss the importance of local agriculture, said Keith Sarasin, owner of The Farmers Dinner. The Farmers Dinner is working with the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, Great American Downtown and Celebrations Catering to put on the event. Celebrations Catering will prepare the food. Peas, spring mesclun, strawberries, fresh herbs and other produce grown within 40 miles of Nashua will be among the items featured. Eggs, cheese, free-range chicken and beef raised at local farms also will be on the menu. The Farmers Dinner brings together farmers, chefs and diners in attractive settings to educate, inspire and enjoy food. Since 2012, it has partnered with local farms and farmers to showcase local produce and returned more than $20,000 to local agriculture. Tickets are $35. They may be purchased at thefarmersdinner.com. For more information, visit the website, call 913-9854 or email info@thefarmersdinner.com. Kathryn Marchocki can be reached at 594-6589, kmarchocki@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_KMar.
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Restore money for rail
The Telegraph Tuesday, May 12, 2015 By J. CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS AND MICHAEL SKELTON http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinion/commentary/1063468-474/restore-money-forrail.html J. Christopher Williams is president and CEO of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. Michael Skelton is president of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. The Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce recently joined together to advocate for the New Hampshire Senate to restore funding in the governor’s budget that would allow the State to continue pursuing passenger rail in southern NH along the Capitol Corridor. Our joint letter of support that was recently sent to the Senate Finance Committee was cosigned by 30 companies based in Nashua and Manchester. Nineteen of those companies that signed onto this letter are from the Nashua area and include companies like Integra Biosciences, C&M Machining Products, Parallel Wireless, J. Lawrence Hall, and W.H. Bagshaw. Together with the Manchester Chamber, our two organizations represent more than 1,500 businesses across Southern New Hampshire that employ tens of thousands of our state’s residents and generate millions in economic activity. The Nashua-Manchester corridor also serves as the economic backbone of our entire state; as goes the economic output of our region, so goes the rest of New Hampshire. Therefore, economic growth along the NashuaManchester corridor is important to the overall growth of our entire state’s economy. The New Hampshire Capitol Corridor rail project could have a transformative impact on New Hampshire’s economy by positively impacting the Nashua-Manchester corridor. We urge the Senate to restore the $4 million in capital funding previously earmarked for the Capitol Corridor’s project development phase. This next phase would allow the state to appropriately vet the feasibility of rail expansion by completing the necessary engineering and environmental analysis of the Capitol Corridor project. If full funding is unavailable, we ask the Senate to consider a phased-funding approach for the project development process. According to the study released this past January, establishing four commuter rail stops between Lowell, Mass., and downtown Manchester would draw a minimum of 668,000 riders a year, leading to the creation of 5,600 permanent jobs supporting 3,600 new residential units along the corridor. Approximately 230 jobs would be created for the construction of the rail line and an additional 3,400 construction jobs would be created to 9
build the real estate development generated by rail. Beginning in 2030, 1,700 new jobs would be created every year due to the expansion of passenger rail. The Capitol Corridor study revealed a host of additional economic and societal benefits stemming from rail expansion, including improving access to the entire region, playing a major role in retaining young people, serving as a catalyst for smart development and creating a multi-modal transportation infrastructure in the state. At the top of this piece, we specifically referenced companies like Integra Biosciences, Parallel Wireless and C&M Machining Products – just a few of the many companies who cosigned this letter to the Senate, and just a few of the many other companies across our region that understand they need those benefits described above – the ability to attract more young workers in the coming years, along with housing and other mixed-use developments that would sprout around the rail stops and therefore provide appealing places for those workers to live, work and play. Companies like Integra Biosciences and Parallel Wireless do business around the world, and their work itself is cutting-edge within their respective industries. The 30 companies that signed onto this letter are real-world examples of business entities currently based in southern and who understand our state’s future economic livelihood relies upon connecting New Hampshire’s infrastructure into the rest of New England. Our Manchester-Nashua- Lowell corridor represents the single densest area of population in the entire country that is not currently served by rail. This is not a fact of which our state should be proud, nor is it a fact that speaks well for the ability of our area to attract in the future more companies like those referenced in this editorial and which signed onto our letter of support. We implore our state senators to consider restoring the $4 million in funding to allow the project development phase of the Capitol Corridor rail expansion project to move forward. Completing this phase will allow for a complete understanding of the costs and benefits of rail expansion and allow policymakers and the public to have the facts needed to consider this important economic opportunity for New Hampshire. J. Christopher Williams is president and CEO of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. Michael Skelton is president of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
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Nashua chamber names new president, CEO to take over expected mayoral candidate Chris Williams The Telegraph By Telegraph Staff Wednesday, May 13, 2015 http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1063534-469/nashua-chamber-namesnew-president-ceo-to.html NASHUA – Tracy Hatch, a former city alderman and longtime area businesswoman, will take over as president and CEO of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce when Chris Williams steps down as part of his run for mayor. Hatch was director of membership for the chamber from 2006-11, and in the early 1990s served as a Ward 2 alderman and ran for mayor. She recently worked as product manager for WhippleHill, a division of Blackbaud in Bedford, where she worked on software for K-12 private schools. Before that, she was business development officer at The Nashua Bank. Her political roles include being special assistant for education for former Gov. John Sununu and legislative aide for former Gov. Judd Gregg. “Our strong, vibrant Chamber is a huge asset to Nashua and I’m confident that we’ll continue to help shape a positive future for our community, its businesses and workforce, and our state,” Hatch said in a prepared statement. Hatch, 54, a graduate of Brown University in Rhode Island, lives in Nashua and has three children. Chris Williams announced in February that he would step down from his role as president and CEO by June. He is expected to run for the mayoral seat to be vacated by Donnalee Lozeau, who is not running for re-election. – Telegraph staff
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Nashua Chamber gets new leader The Union Leader By KIMBERLY HOUGHTON Union Leader Correspondent May 14. 2015 http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150514/NEWS02/150519505
NASHUA — Business professional and former city alderman Tracy Hatch has been selected to take over as the head of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. On Wednesday, the chamber’s board of directors announced that Hatch will serve as the organization’s next president and CEO. Hatch, 54, of Nashua, previously worked as the chamber’s director of membership, and formerly served two terms as a Nashua alderman. She has been a member of the Rotary Club of Nashua for 18 years, and previously served as its president. “I’m honored to have been selected to lead the chamber as president and CEO, and I look forward to working with the outstanding staff and board,” Hatch said in a statement. “Our strong, vibrant chamber is a huge asset to Nashua, and I’m confident that we’ll continue to help shape a positive future for our community, its businesses and work force and our state.” Chris Williams, the outgoing president of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, announced in February his pending resignation while considering a run for Nashua mayor. Following Williams’ announcement, a search began to find someone to fill the position that he has held for nearly a decade. “Tracy Hatch will admirably continue the good work of our chamber over the past nine years under her predecessor, Chris Williams, advocating for strong local and state policies and initiatives that enhance that quality of life and community vibrancy of both Greater Nashua and of our state at large,” Paul Hebert, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, said in a release. Hebert said Hatch’s deep political experience and history with nonprofit organizations and businesses in the Gate City will be a great asset for the chamber and the community. According to Hatch’s biography, posted on the chamber’s website, she recently worked as product manager for WhippleHill, a division of Blackbaud in Bedford, and previously was employed as business development officer at The Nashua Bank, where her duties included attracting new business.
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She graduated from Brown University in Rhode Island, and previously worked for former Gov. Edward DiPrete of Rhode Island and former Gov. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire as a legislative liaison for education and a special assistant for education, respectively. “Hatch brings extensive experience in community engagement, business and membership development and political leadership to the position,” the chamber stated in a release.
Hassan to give State of State talk in Nashua The Telegraph Telegraph staff Saturday, May 16, 2015 http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1063794-469/hassan-to-give-state-of-state-talk.html Gov. Maggie Hassan will give a State of the State presentation on June 16 at a breakfast sponsored by the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. The event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway, will feature Hassan’s “thoughts on New Hampshire’s economic condition and how it relates to the Nashua business community,” the chamber said. For more information, visit nashuachamber.com.
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Hatch cites passion for Nashua as she steps into chamber role The Telegraph By CHRIS GAROFOLO Staff Writer Sunday, May 17, 2015 http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1063879-469/hatch-cites-passion-for-nashua-asshe.html TRACY HATCH AGE: 54. CHILDREN: Sarah, Zander and Carly. EDUCATION: Brown University, Leadership Greater Nashua Class of 2010. WORK EXPERIENCE: Financial development director for YMCA of Greater Nashua. Five years as membership director with Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. Product manager for WhippleHill. Business development officer at The Nashua Bank. CITY GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: Nashua Board of Aldermen, mayoral campaign. REGIONAL BOARDS AND SERVICE GROUPS: Director of alumni relations and community events, director of annual giving at Daniel Webster College. Director of development for Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua. Past president of the Rotary Club of Nashua. NASHUA – When Tracy Hatch worked as director of membership for the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, her fifth-floor office provided a scenic overlook of the downtown. Roughly four years after leaving the position, Hatch returns to the chamber with a slightly better view. This time, she’s sitting in the Main Street office designated for the president and chief executive officer. “The view from this office is very nice. Different, different view,” she said with a smile. “As I look at being the president as opposed to being the membership director, it’s a broader view of what the chamber does and can be,” she said. “It is a different view. Not just the physical view, but the vision for the chamber.” Early last week, the chamber board of directors announced Hatch would take the helm of the business-centric organization with just shy of 600 members in Greater Nashua. She replaces J. Christopher Williams, who served as president and CEO for nine years. Williams, who will remain with the chamber for a brief transition period, is exploring a possible mayoral bid. 14
Hatch, a 54-year-old mother of three, will assume responsibility for executive leadership in the chamber, as well as its overall management, strategic direction, and program, marketing and member development. She was selected for the position in part because of her institutional knowledge of the region and strong political background – education liaison and special assistant in New Hampshire and Rhode Island, legislative lead for job training with the U.S. House of Representatives, former Ward 2 member of the Board of Aldermen and mayoral candidate in 1995. These characteristics, along with her extensive community engagement in the nonprofit sector, are expected to help her continue the chamber’s role as a civic, economic and legislative leader in New Hampshire. Paul Hebert, chairman of the board, said Hatch’s deep political experience, along with her history of service and business-building, are tremendous assets for the chamber. “Tracy Hatch will admirably continue the good work of our chamber over the past nine years under her predecessor, Chris Williams, advocating for strong local and state policies and initiatives that enhance the quality of life and community vibrancy of both Greater Nashua and of our state at large,” Hebert said in a statement. Hatch said Thursday she brings a multifaceted, eclectic resume to the office, given her practical knowledge as a nonprofit volunteer, a government aide and businesswoman in New Hampshire’s growing high-tech industries. She describes herself as a strong people person with “a willingness to listen and a curiosity about other people’s perspectives,” but she says her greatest strength is her passion for her city. “It’s where I live, it’s where I raised my family,” Hatch said. “I’m really invested in this community, and I want to see it succeed and I want to see it thrive. And I think without that passion, it’s just a job.” Hatch touts the chamber’s success in creating new development and outreach programs over the last few years, and has no plans to do an “abrupt about-face” in the short term. She doesn’t envision any major changes in chamber personnel or philosophy, and plans to study the initiatives started under Williams in her first few weeks. “Are there new things that we might look at?” Hatch said. “Probably, but I’d say those are more likely to happen in 2016 than now.” There is great potential for the chamber to continue its outreach in Greater Nashua’s increasingly diverse population. She said the chamber has a huge role in making sure its programs are accessible to all businesses and that new perspectives are heard to promote improved or updated policies. 15
“In terms of businesses downtown – no one likes to see a lot of vacancies,” she said. “By the same token, if every single space is taken, there’s no opportunity for new ideas or new organizations to come in, so you want to have some degree of turnover for a healthy downtown. “As we hear about central opportunities and expose our members to things going on downtown, I think that plays a role, as well, in helping to attract and retain businesses. There’s tremendous potential for this chamber to continue to grow and truly be an unbelievable advocate not only for business owners, but employees and the city as a whole.” Chris Garofolo can be reached at 594-6465, cgarofolo@nashua telegraph.com or @Telegraph_Chris.
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