Gov. Kelly Ayotte delivered her first State of the State address on June 18 at the Nashua Country Club. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

NASHUA – During her first State of the State address on June 18, Gov. Kelly Ayotte shared her optimism for the future of New Hampshire, putting an emphasis on issues such as housing, jobs and the economy.

This year’s event was hosted by the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce.

Going into this year’s budget season, Ayotte said the state could no longer rely on the $2 billion allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“We had to recalibrate,” she said.

Ayotte and her team crafted a budget with two objectives in mind: protecting the New Hampshire Advantage and ensuring that the most vulnerable Granite Staters are protected.

The Senate’s two-year budget now totals $15.9 billion while the House of Representatives passed a budget funded at $15.5 billion. The legislature is now working to finalize the budget in the Committees of Conference.

Ayotte also said New Hampshire has the strongest job growth and one of the lowest unemployment rates. As of April, the state’s unemployment rate was 3.1 percent compared to the national average of 4.2 percent.

“This is a pro business state,” she said. “We can do things more nimbly than other states. We have an unbelievable ability to get everyone at the table.”

In September, Ayotte will be leading a trade mission to Canada.

“The tariffs are real concerns,” she said. “We’re going to continue to build relationships there.”

Ayotte also said the budget provides funding to streamline the permitting process for housing.

Under the current system, it takes four agencies one year to approve a development. Under her administration, Ayotte said that process will be reduced to two agencies and a 60-day waiting period.

“The people who work in our communities need a place to live,” she said. “My plan is to convene a housing summit.”

Regarding higher education, Ayotte highlighted the importance of investing in the state’s seven community colleges and careers in the trades.

“We have a great need for welders,” she said.

Ayotte said that in prior years, students have had difficulty transferring credits between community colleges. However, she said that will no longer be a problem.

“I’m going to push that,” said Ayotte, adding that students should not have to pay to take the same course twice.

She also said the state colleges need to remain affordable.

“We’re going to have to innovate and have that state funding there,” said Ayotte.

Looking at the public school system, Ayotte said she is working on a uniform policy that would remove cell phones from the classroom. She said studies have shown that without phones, students learn better, achieve higher test scores and have improved social skills.

“At lunch they’ll actually talk to each other,” she said, adding that the Claremont School District implemented a no cell phone policy 18 months ago, which has proven to be successful.