Business

State officials and representatives of three New Hampshire companies will head to the United Arab Emirates this month for an industry trade show.

  After more than a year of planning, the state has called off this month’s planned trade mission to Colombia.

The mission was intended to help New Hampshire companies find export opportunities in Colombia. State officials say a number of firms expressed interest, but none signed up to make the trip.

Tina Kasim of the New Hampshire Office of International Commerce says the state is now considering a range of ways to help firms looking to do more business overseas.

  Several hundred New Hampshire residents are receiving refunds from tax preparer H&R Block over what the state calls erroneous charges.

The Attorney General’s office found a case in which H&R Block had charged a consumer to prepare a business and profits tax return that was neither needed nor filed. 

One of the state's first four medical marijuana dispensaries is proposed for a business park in western New Hampshire.

The Valley News reports Temescal Wellness, a Manchester-based organization that the state selected to sell medical marijuana, said it plans to locate one of its dispensaries in the Hanover Road Professional Center in Lebanon.

Organization President Ted Rebholz said the site was chosen to make it convenient for as many patients as possible. It is located near Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and interstates 89 and 91.

Planet Fitness has gone public. The company's long-expected Initial Public Offering began Thursday, trading on the New York Stock Exchange with a starting price of $16 a share. 

The company is looking to grow, and quickly - right now Planet Fitness has just over 1,000 locations, but it says it sees the potential for more than 4,000 in the future. But while the company’s profits have grown along with its footprint, so has its debt, to the tune of $500 million.

Gov. Maggie Hassan is signing a bill that modernizes securities regulations in New Hampshire, with the goal of making it easier for businesses to start up and grow.

The Uniform Securities Act is being signed into law Monday afternoon.

Hassan said the measure helps focus on investor protection and reduce hurdles for businesses trying to raise capital, while balancing the state's interest in regulating securities transactions.

The New Hampshire ski industry says the 2014-2015 season was the fourth best on record.

Ski New Hampshire says its member resorts saw more than 2.5 million visits over the winter.

 A union representing FairPoint Communications workers in New Hampshire says it will meet with the company this week over plans to cut 260 positions.

Federal officials say they issued a higher number of citations and fines than usual to New Hampshire employers for exposing workers to fall hazards this winter.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted inspections between January 29 and March 4 and found a number of employees removing snow from rooftops who were not adequately protected from the risk of falling.

FairPoint Communications says it will cut about 260 positions, including many in northern New England, as part of a restructuring. 

In its statement, FairPoint did not specify the number of job cuts in the region, but the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America, which represent many FairPoint workers, say there will be 219 layoffs in the region, which they say would comprise about 10 percent of the workforce. 

New Hampshire's economy has yet to see tangible benefits from Gov. Maggie Hassan's trade trip to Turkey last year, which state officials and businesses say provided a solid footing for future deals.

Republicans are still critical of the Democratic governor's decision to lead the trip, which cost the state $15,000, after she imposed a ban on out-of-state travel.

A new competition will connect startup tech companies and investors thinking of starting a company to resources helping them launch their businesses.

The winners of the "Ultimate NH Connection," competition will meet with Gov. Maggie Hassan and industry leaders who've gone through the process. The hour-long meeting will help them get the resources they need to succeed.

Details were released April 23 with a revamped website for the "Live Free and Start" program. Applications are due May 15 and the winner will be selected in June.

Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas says the city's police chief will meet this week with Uber representatives to review the company's policies on vetting drivers. That could mean the city and the ride-booking company could find a compromise over Uber's presence in Manchester.

As warmer weather has moved into New Hampshire, most of the state's more than 30 ski resorts have already closed. But Loon Mountain, Cannon Mountain and Mount Sunapee will stay open Saturday and Sunday, Bretton Woods will remain open through Monday, and Wildcat Mountain is planning to offer daily skiing through April 26.

Molly Mahar at Loon Mountain says this ski season only really hit its peak in the spring, well after the more traditional high points such as Christmas, New Year’s and Presidents Day.

The CEO of Segway Inc. says the personal transportation device maker plans to stay in New Hampshire after being acquired by a Chinese firm.

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission says sales of locally produced wines and spirits reached a record high of $1.35 million. Sales grew by 32.5% over the past fiscal year.

Liquor Commission Chairman Joseph Mollica attributes this growth to prominent product placement in the state’s liquor stores.

“We’re very supportive of them and we appreciate their hard work and dedication to their craft. And we’re happy to promote their products as New Hampshire citizens.”

The Liquor Commission also provides local producers with free warehouse storage.