Mayors, state officials woo companies from Quebec

Joseph Monrone, Albany International CEO, speaks about the benefits for all involved during the Seacoast aerospace initiative ceremony held at Pease on Monday morning.Deb Cram photo

PORTSMOUTH The Seacoast is emerging as the state's composites manufacturing region for aerospace and defense business growth.

Portsmouth Mayor Robert Lister, joined by mayors from three other cities on the Seacoast, signed a letter during a ceremony Monday that will be sent to Canadian manufacturers and suppliers in greater Montreal, where 98 percent of Quebec's aerospace activity is concentrated.

The letter invites Montreal manufacturing company owners to visit the Seacoast to talk about opportunities for partnership and collaboration in the aerospace industry.

Jeffrey Rose, commissioner of the state Department of Resources and Economic Development, introduced Gov. Maggie Hassan at the Seacoast Aerospace Initiative press event held at Two International Group on the Pease International Tradeport.

This is a region that has a deep history in the tradition of aerospace and defense, Rose said. This is because of the steady leadership in our state, and we have a real champion in Gov. Hassan.

Hassan made an analogy to the current Boston-Montreal hockey playoff series.

When you watch the Canadiens and the Bruins play, you see two teams playing extraordinarily hard with great, great skill. So I think it speaks very well of the partnership we are celebrating today.

Sometimes we win; sometimes we lose, she continued in good humor. But we always come back, right? And we fight just as hard the next time.

View original post here:

Seacoast aerospace initiative takes off