The closure of the Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, N.H., in 1990 presented a significant opportunity to the community surrounding the facility. No one could have predicted what would happen in 10 short years.

Today, the Pease International Tradeport - formerly the Pease Air Force Base - is home to more than 150 businesses, which employ approximately 5,000 people. Projects slated for completion in the next several years will bring the total job creation to nearly 10,000.

Over 3.6 million square feet of new or renovated space has been completed since the project began.

Lonza grows at Tradeport

One of the first tenants to occupy the former military installation was Celltech, now known as Lonza Biologics. In October, the company, the world's leading contract manufacturer of therapeutic drugs, announced its plan to more than quadruple its manufacturing capacity at the Portsmouth facility.

"Lonza draws from a national pool and our location in Portsmouth is attractive due to the diverse lifestyle opportunities here," said Mark Sawyer, vice president of Lonza.

Aprisma builds world headquarters at Pease

Aprisma Management Technologies, a spin-off of Rochester-based Cabletron Systems, plans to construct its world headquarters at the Pease International Tradeport. The company is a leader in intelligent infrastructure service assurance solutions. Aprisma develops software to manage computer networks and ensure that service is not interrupted.

Aprisma's new 100,000 square foot headquarters will feature a state-of-the-art network operations center, where the company will demonstrate its software capabilities. The company currently employs 200 and plans to add 100 more jobs over the next year.

While Aprisma officials reviewed a number of sites for the project, staying on the seacoast was a priority. The quality of life in the region was a driving force behind the decision.

Bottomline Technologies, which will join Aprisma at the Tradeport, is consolidating its operations at one location and plans to increase employment over the next several years. The company is a provider of financial resource management software.

New hampshire Facts & Contacts

DEMOGRAPHY AND ECONOMY

Population: 1.2 million

Capital: Concord

Three Largest Cities: Manchester, 102,830; Nashua, 82,677; Concord, 38,981

GSP: $44 billion (1999)

Per Capita Income: $30,690 (1999)

Percentage of Private Manufacturing Labor Force Organized: 7.1% (2000)

Right to Work State: no

Unemployment Rate: 4.1% (Sept. 2001)

Average Hourly Manufacturing Wage: $13.41 (2000)

Population Age 25 and Over With Bachelor's Degree or More: Manchester, 19.6%; Nashua, 28.8%; Concord, 28.1%

Corporate Income Tax Rate: 8.0% (flat rate) plus 0.50% tax on enterprise base (2001)

Percentage Employment by Sector: construction, 4.1%; manufacturing, 16.2%; transportation/public utilities, 3.5%; trade, 26.7%; finance, insurance and real estate, 5.2%; services, 31.0%; government, 13.2%

Primary Industries: industrial and commercial machinery; electronic and electrical equipment; fabricated metal products

Targeted Industries: space research and development; lumber and computer products; health services; educational services; business and financial services; electrical products and instruments

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Roy Duddy, Director, New Hampshire Office of Business and Industrial Development, 172 Pembroke Road, Concord, NH 03302, phone (603) 271-2591, fax: (603) 271-6784,

Web: www.nheconomy.com