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“DRED is dead”

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On Wednesday Gov. Chris Sununu quipped, “DRED is dead.”

He was referring to the Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED). This year’s budget bill divided DRED into two departments: the Department of Business and Economic Affairs and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Sununu proposed the reorganization to create a department solely focused on economic development. DRED’s mission also covered state parks, conservation land, and even historical preservation.

In an editorial Sununu called the new Department of Business and Economic Affairs “a one-stop-shop for all business needs to better coordinate all of our business-centric agencies to drive our economy and make businesses and jobs a top priority.” 

The Legislative Budget Assistant did not estimate a cost for the reorganization, and the Department of Administrative Services anticipates that the reorganization can be absorbed by existing budgets.

However, some legislators are concerned that the reorganization will set the state back.

“We were provided information before the Senate Finance Committee that it could cost the state well over $2 million to do this reorganization and we would lose some of the synergy value of the current structure. So I thought it was more appropriate to create a committee to study how best to go about doing a reorganization before jumping in head first.”

Sen. Dan Feltes 

Do you think New Hampshire will benefit from creating a new department focused solely on business and economic development? Share your opinion in the comments.

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