New Hampshire Trying to Steal Companies Away from Massachusetts

By Jim on November 20th, 2008

Now this is the kind of sneaky type of thing I really like. Heh.

The state Division of Economic Development has long wooed out-of-state businesses. But the approach was too subtle, too traditional. Now the division has launched a clever initiative to directly target Massachusetts-based businesses for poaching.

Called “Open Invitation,” the initiative involves contacting hundreds of Bay State companies and offering their owners limo rides from the state border to a Common Man restaurant, lunch with state business recruiters, tours of possible relocation sites and tickets to a Manchester Monarchs game or Cannon Mountain.

And, as they say in sales, “that’s not all.” The state has created a wonderfully informative Web site, www.nhopeninvitation.com, that makes the case for relocating businesses from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. On the site are lots of data, including a lengthy comparison of business costs and quality of life factors.

We just need to make sure that if they companies come here that they don’t bring along statist employees who will want to change New Hampshire to be like Taxachusetts. I’d rather that the companies stayed home than have that happen.

Still, what an amusing and juicy little program. It’s sneaky and will no doubt help New Hampshire’s economy at the expense of Taxachusetts.

What’s not to love?