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WEBVTT OW LIVE, THE PROBLEM ISN'TLIMITED TO ONE BUSINESS.JOSH: NO IT'S NOT.CURRENTLY SIG SAUER IS A MAJOREMPLOYER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,ACCOUNTING FOR AROUND 1400 JOBS,BUT THE PLANNED EXPANSION MEANSMORE JOBS, AND BECAUSE POWERSOYS MUCH CHEAPER IN ARKANSASTHAN IT IS HERE, THAT'S GOOD FORFOLKS THERE.>> IT'S QUIET.REPORTER: DURING THE PRIMARYSOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR LINDSEYGRAHAM TOURED SIG SAUER INSTRATHAM AND CAME AWAY IMPRESSEDWITH BOTH THE FACILITY AND ITSPRODUCT.>> THIS IS THE AIR FORCE O.S.I.WEAPON.JOSH: NOW THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GUNMAKER IS EXPANDING WITHCONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 70,000SQUARE FOOT FACILITY BUILT INARKANSAS.A DECISION THE DIRECTOR OFFACILITIES SAYS WAS A NOBRAINER>> WELL, IT'S ENERGY SUPPLY.WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT.JOSH: DURING A TAPING OF NEWHAMPSHIRE BUSINESS, HE SAID NEWHAMPSHIRE WAS THE FIRST CHOICEFOR EXPANSION, BUT A QUICK LOOKAT THE NUMBERS CHANGED THAT.IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THE COST OFINDUSTRIAL POWER SITS AT MORETHAN 12 CENTS PER KILL OWATTHOUR.IN ARKANSAS IT'S LESS THAN HALFTHAT PRICE.>> BUSINESS HAS TO DO WHAT ITHAS TO DO TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.AND AS A BY-PRODUCT OF THAT,HOPEFULLY THERE IS A MESSAGEBEING RECEIVE.JOSH: IT'S ALSO WHY OTHERGRANITE STATE COMPANIES SAY THEYARE FORCED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE IFTHEY WANT TO EXPAND.IT'S A PROBLEM THAT DOES HAVETHE ATTENTION OF GOVERNOR ELECTSUNUNU WHO SAYS HE IS FOCUSED ONPOWER DIVERSIFICATION.>> THERE ARE LOTS OF PIECES TOTHAT PUZZLE, THERE'S RENEWABLEENERGY, WE HAVE NEW PLANTS GOINGOFF LINE, WE HAVE NORTHERN PASSCOMING IN.WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL FORNATURAL GAS, BUT IT HAS TO BEDONE THE RIGHT WAY.JOSH: ANOTHER PROBLEM SIG SAUERIS FACING IS FINDING TALLLE.THE COMPANY HAS SET ASIDE SPACEAT ITS HEADQUARTERS FOR ACOMMUNITY COLLEGE TRAININGPROGRAM TO GIVE WORK TERSESKILLS THEY NEED IN THATCOMPANY.

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One of New Hampshire’s most successful companies is expanding out of state. Gun maker Sig Sauer, which employs more than 1,400 people in the Granite State, is expanding to Arkansas, where power is much cheaper than it is in New Hampshire. The company is building a 70,000-square-foot facility. "It’s energy supply. We don't have enough of it,” Sig Sauer Facilities Director Jeff Chierepko said. During a taping of New Hampshire’s Business with Fred Kocher, Chierepko said New Hampshire was the first choice for expansion, but a look at the numbers changed the company's decision. In New Hampshire, the cost of industrial power sits at more than 12 cents per killowatt per hour. In Arkansas, it’s less than half that price, an annual savings Chierepko puts at around $1 million. "Business has to do what it has to do (to) remain competitive. Hopefully there is a message being received,” Chierepko said. Other Granite State companies such as Lindt and Sprungli and Whelen Engineering also said they are forced to look elsewhere to expand. It's a problem that has the attention of Gov.-elect Chris Sununu, who said he's focused power diversification. "Now there are lots of pieces to that puzzle. There’s renewable energy. What are we doing with our current infrastructure? We have new plants that are going offline. We have Northern Pass coming in. We have the potential for natural gas, but it has to be done the New Hampshire way. The right way,” Sununu said. Sig Sauer is also facing a problem finding talent. The company set aside space at its headquarters for a community college training program to give workers the skills they need in the company. Despite that effort, though, there are still 200 job openings at Sig Sauer in New Hampshire.