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The Greater Portsmouth Chamber Business business development manager Ginny Griffith. Amy Root-Donle photo

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify. The mantra goes everywhere from organizational consultants to executive branding.

Skybus Airlines Chief Executive Officer Bill Diffenderffer says his company's simplified operating model focused on a goal of making it more affordable for people to fly.

Hence the alluring sales pitch — "10 seats for $10 on every flight" — taking advantage of regional airports such as Pease that do not suffer from severe air traffic congestion. And the airline, in keeping things simple, uses the Internet for everything from sales to customer support.

Since Skybus began offering daily nonstop service between Portsmouth and Columbus, Ohio, in May the sign of its success has one interesting measuring stick:

"We're sending out Seacoast guidebooks to Ohio by the cases," said Ginny Griffith, business development manager for the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.

The timely arrival of Skybus is one of the success stories of 2007, a year that saw new companies set down roots in the Seacoast while there were other restarts of some familiar business landmarks, such as The Metro restaurant which has gained new life as Rudi's Portsmouth, at 20 High St.

Skybus taxis down the runway in preparation for take-off at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. Rich Beauchesne photo

Construction of a new Christmas Tree Shops store was announced for the old Home Depot site on Durgin Lane, part of a continued retail boom off the Spaulding Turnpike and Gosling Road area. Christmas Tree Shops operates 36 stores in 10 states, and it opened six new stores last year. Christmas Tree Shops already has locations in South Portland and Augusta in Maine and Nashua and Salem in New Hampshire.

While the region experienced housing market hiccups and mortgage lending troubles like the rest of the country, the Seacoast saw growth in small and big companies, as well as continued growth at Pease International Tradeport in 2007.

"We've seen a lot of growth out at Pease," said Griffith.

She cited the Whaleback Systems expanding into the former Celestica building, among the many developments in greater Portsmouth.

The labor force, meanwhile, continued to be a matter of concern, though researchers at the Carsey Institute reported this fall that Maine and New Hampshire have reversed the trend of declining young adult populations, and saw growth at a rate greater than the national average.

The loss of young people and college students to other states for work, often called a "brain drain," has had a ripple effect across the housing and labor markets.

The New Hampshire labor force for 25-to-34-year-olds grew 3.9 percent between 2004 and 2006, compared to a 6.9 percent drop in the age group between 2000 and 2004, according to the Institute at the University of New Hampshire.

The jobless rate in Maine and New Hampshire is about the same as it was a year ago at this time. Maine's rate is 4.8 percent, while New Hampshire's rate is 3.5 percent.