Every big company starts small

Since 1982, Wilcox Industries has grown to more than 440 people

A team of operators conducts live fire drills using Wilcox Industries’ RAID Xe and BOSS Xe laser aiming/sighting systems. Wilcox develops technology for military and law-enforcement agencies. (Courtesy photo)

MANUFACTURING

When I started my first business in 1982, I didn’t know exactly where the journey would lead. What I did know was that I wanted to build something lasting, something rooted in innovation and capable of creating good jobs.

Twelve years later, we moved from Epping into a 2,000-square-foot space at Pease International Tradeport with just 10 employees. Today, we employ more than 440 people, operate within our current 220,000-square-foot facility, and are preparing to move into an 80,000-square-foot addition totaling 300,000 square feet when complete.

Those numbers tell a story of year-over-year growth, not overnight success. This tells a story of time, of steady, deliberate progress that becomes possible only when the right people, committed communities and supportive agencies believe in what you’re trying to build. Growth requires patience, significant investment and persistence, but it also requires a place that lets you grow.

Today, Wilcox designs and manufactures more than 260 products and exports to 32 countries. Our systems are used by military and first-responder professionals around the world. But every product we make, every contract we earn and every job we create is still guided by the same principle that defined our earliest days: We build it here, in New Hampshire, with the people who helped get us here.

The power of place

Our story began in aerospace, designing and machining precision parts for some of the most demanding applications in the industry. When we outgrew our first facility, our move to Pease International Tradeport opened the door to the defense sector, where we now develop mission-critical systems that safeguard the men and women of our armed forces who safeguard all of us.

Pease International Tradeport was more than a business park; it was a place that believed in entrepreneurship and understood what it takes for a small business to scale. One of our champions was former Commissioner George Bald. He came to Pease in 1994, where he served as the economic development director, and Wilcox was the very first company to sign a lease in that role. He saw potential in our small team and understood that New Hampshire’s businesses need partners.

George worked with us by adjusting our rent while we made improvements, offering grace periods during the inevitable early cash-flow crunches, and visiting often to encourage us. That kind of steady, practical support can be the difference between a company that just survives but more importantly actually grows.

Later, when we transitioned to Newington, that same spirit of partnership continued. The town’s officials, residents and workforce worked with us, not against us, to help us expand further. Newington understood that welcoming a growing business isn’t just about permitting or zoning; it’s about creating an environment where innovation can take root and thrive. Their partnership with the town of Newington has been instrumental to our success, and is a model of how a community can strengthen a company by believing in its future.

These kinds of relationships rarely make headlines the same way major corporate relocations do. But it’s the quiet, consistent cooperation between business owners and local leaders that builds the foundation for a thriving local economy. Yes, roads, utilities and zoning matter, but so does attitude. A municipality willing to say “yes” to entrepreneurship, to expansion, to skilled trades, and employee housing is a community investing in its own future. For us, those yeses made all the difference.

To small businesses: Stay the course

If you’re a small business owner in New Hampshire, with five employees, or perhaps 50, I can tell you from experience that growth takes time. It takes patience, persistence, investment and people who believe in your vision. The first three to five years are the hardest. The next 10 bring new challenges, but if you surround yourself with good people, stay nimble and believe in continuous improvement, your craft and your workforce, the growth will come.

Don’t underestimate the resources available here. Our technical schools, community colleges and workforce programs have talented people ready to work with their hands and minds. Our bank, M&T, and our NH economic development partners are more accessible than you may assume. These resources are tools, so utilize them.

To businesses looking for a home, choose New Hampshire

New Hampshire offers something rare: a pro-business climate, one of the lowest tax bases in the nation, a skilled workforce, and a quality of life that attracts and retains talent. There is room to build, space to innovate, and a deep culture of problem-solving and innovation. We don’t just talk about the value of small business, we live it.

Our workforce understands precision, accountability and teamwork. Our leaders recognize that advanced manufacturing and innovation are not relics of the past; they’re the backbone of a resilient economy. And communities like Newington show that, when a business thrives, the town around it thrives, too.

To communities: your support matters

Supporting business development doesn’t mean giving everything away. It means listening, collaborating and understanding that both startups and expansions take planning and time. When a business grows, the benefits ripple far beyond its walls: construction jobs, supply-chain contracts, tax revenue, charitable support and local spending. The payroll from one thriving company supports dozens of restaurants, shops, service providers and tradespeople.

Standing in our facility today with the hum of machines, the creativity of engineers and skilled workers, I’m reminded of that early entrepreneurial spark that started it all. It reminds me that great things rarely happen fast. But they do happen when you stay committed to your vision and to the community that surrounds you.

As we complete our expansion facility this winter, I am reminded once again: It takes time. Time to build a product line, time to build a reputation, and most importantly, time to build trust. My hope is that the next generation of entrepreneurs understand this, and that our towns and cities continue to recognize that when small businesses take root and grows, they don’t just create jobs; they create resilience, innovation and a prosperous New Hampshire for all of us to enjoy.

James W. Teetzel is the founder and CEO of Wilcox Industries Corp.