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| New Hampshire Business and Industry Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Hampshire Business and Industry Association |
| Type | Nonprofit trade association |
| Founded | 1920s |
| Headquarters | Concord, New Hampshire |
| Services | Advocacy, business services, workforce training, research |
New Hampshire Business and Industry Association is a state-level trade association representing employers and businesses in New Hampshire, providing advocacy, policy analysis, and member services. The association works with legislators, regulators, and business leaders across the state and engages with regional and national organizations to influence public policy. It operates offices and programs aimed at workforce development, compliance, and business growth.
Founded in the early 20th century, the association emerged amid industrial expansion in Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth and during political developments involving the New Hampshire General Court, Franklin Pierce era legacies, and the rise of interstate commerce. Over decades the organization interacted with leaders from John Sununu to Jeanne Shaheen and engaged in issues tied to the New England industrial base, including textile mills in Milford, manufacturing in Claremont, and service sector growth in Concord. The association expanded through the post-World War II era, navigating policy debates involving the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security, tax reforms enacted by the New Hampshire Legislature, and regulatory shifts influenced by the United States Chamber of Commerce. In later years it forged ties with entities such as the National Federation of Independent Business and the Business Roundtable while responding to regional challenges like the decline of Granite State manufacturing and the rise of technology firms in Seacoast New Hampshire.
The association states objectives that include representing employer interests before the New Hampshire Executive Council, crafting model legislation for the New Hampshire Senate and New Hampshire House of Representatives, and supporting small employers across sectors such as hospitality in Hanover, tourism around Lake Winnipesaukee, and biotech clusters near Dover. It emphasizes workforce development aligned with programs at institutions like Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, and Nashua Community College and pursues objectives tied to tax policy, regulatory reform, and health care cost containment influenced by debates in the New Hampshire State House.
The organization is governed by a board drawn from executives of member firms spanning industries headquartered in Manchester, Keene, and Portsmouth. Executive leadership traditionally coordinates with policy staff, membership services, and program directors who liaise with federal counterparts such as the Small Business Administration and national associations like Convention of States Project. Leadership transitions have at times involved figures active in statewide politics, creating intersections with elected officials including former governors and state legislators from districts in Strafford County and Merrimack County.
Programs include workforce development initiatives tied to apprenticeships and partnerships with vocational programs at Plymouth State University and River Valley Community College, compliance resources addressing labor standards referenced in state statutes, and health care benefit consulting for employers negotiating with carriers operating in Concord Hospital networks. Services extend to legal hotlines, human resources guidance, and seminars featuring speakers from organizations such as the American Enterprise Institute, Brookings Institution, and Pew Charitable Trusts on topics affecting firms in Hillsborough County and Cheshire County.
The association engages in lobbying before the New Hampshire Governor's office, testifies at hearings convened in the State House (New Hampshire), and files policy proposals on taxation, workforce, and regulatory matters. It participates in coalitions with groups like the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Legislative Exchange Council on model policy approaches and has submitted comment letters to federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor on issues that affect state employers. The association also conducts public campaigns and issues analyses that influence debates around business incentives, property tax policy, and labor law changes debated in the New Hampshire Supreme Court context.
Membership draws companies from sectors including advanced manufacturing firms in Salem, New Hampshire, technology startups around Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, health care providers affiliated with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and service firms in Laconia. The association partners with educational institutions like Keene State College, workforce boards such as the New Hampshire Employment Security, and regional development organizations including the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. It also collaborates with national networks like the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and nonprofit funders including the Ford Foundation on select workforce initiatives.
Funding sources include membership dues from corporations headquartered in New Hampshire, revenue from events and training programs held in venues in Salem and Portsmouth, and grants for workforce initiatives from foundations and federal programs administered through agencies like the U.S. Department of Commerce. Financial oversight is conducted by a board committee and external auditors; major expenditures typically cover policy research, legal services, and member outreach across the Seacoast and Monadnock Region.
The association has influenced tax and regulatory outcomes affecting businesses in New Hampshire, contributing to debates that involve stakeholders such as small employers represented by the National Federation of Independent Business and large employers in sectors covered by the New England Council. Critics have challenged its positions on labor policy, health care mandates, and tax incentives, citing perspectives from labor unions like Service Employees International Union and policy advocates at organizations such as the Economic Policy Institute and Center for American Progress. Supporters credit the association with promoting business-friendly policies that proponents argue helped attract firms to Rochester, New Hampshire and supported job creation in the Seacoast region.
Category:Organizations based in New Hampshire