Governor-elect Maggie Hassan started at UNH where she discussed green launching pad – a program that provides funding and mentoring to green start- up companies. Hassan then visited Portsmouth’s Thema-HEXX, a 2011 grant recipient that won the NH High Tech Council’s product of the year for its heating and cooling technology. There, Hassan said she hoped to reform the state’s procurement process to make it easier for local entrepreneurs to do business with the state.
"We’ve got these great companies with really great sustainable products that could also help the state not only be greener but also save money."
Hassan gave no specifics but says the state’s current system, which can involve a lengthy bid process and almost always requires oversight by the executive council needs to be modernized.
"Because right now it comes out of a model that was developed pretty much when the state was founded."
Hassan’s says the goal of her innovation tour is get input from businesses and community leaders on how to move the state forward.
