A group of New Hampshire business leaders has formed a network of business and non-profit organizations to promote business in New Hampshire. The organization, NetworkNH, hopes to develop financial, human and technological resources for the state and to entice business and industry investment. "New Hampshire can be the nucleus of a new New England and a focus of innovation in the new world economy," says James Kobielus, analyst with The Burton Group, a research and consulting firm specializing in high-tech and located in Schaumburg, Ill. (www.burtonpartners.com).
      The state is aggressively courting the financial, insurance and real estate industries. A report issued by NetworkNH shows New Hampshire ranks ninth in the nation as a percentage of gross state product in those industries. "The financial services industry is a leader in New Hampshire in investment in formation technology services and hiring a skilled workforce," says Brian Gottlob, principle of PolEcon Research, co-founder of NetworkNH and the report's primary author. "The industry has played a significant role in the state's recent economic growth."
      This year Corning's new $225 million photonics component manufacturing facility in Nashua will be operational. The expansion, which is part of Corning Laserton, produces components used in communications networks such as pump lasers, transmission lasers and receivers and it will employ 850 people.