After more than a year of debate, New Hampshire childcare providers received a direct answer this week on childcare workforce grant funding. In a series of letters exchanged between federal officials, state officials, and an advocacy group, it has been determined that federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, dollars cannot be used to […]
Whether you’re a parent or provider, navigating New Hampshire’s childcare landscape can be tricky. With hundreds of programs and varying resources, it’s difficult to know where to start as a parent or provider. To help address those challenges, the state contracts with the Community Action Partnership of Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties, which provides statewide child […]
A new study comparing early education systems among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., puts New Hampshire at 48th, suggesting it has one of the worst systems in the country. Published Tuesday, the “States with the Best and Worst Early Education Systems” from WalletHub, a personal finance company, graded states based on access, quality, and […]
As a businesswoman and a young mother, Elizabeth Asch knew she would need someone to watch her young children. She owns the River Valley Club, a health and wellness facility in Lebanon that offers fitness classes, tennis and pickleball, a day spa, a hair salon, and other amenities to its adult clientele. Initially, the club […]
Cinde Warmington, a Democratic candidate for New Hampshire governor, outlined her priorities for childcare while touring a program in Rochester Tuesday. The former executive councilor visited Rochester Child Care Center and participated in a roundtable discussion with Executive Director Cora Hoppe, Family Services Coordinator Anne Grassie, and Rochester Mayor Chuck Grassie. They discussed increasing state […]
At a bill signing ceremony, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte said she “still supports” funding for the Granite Steps for Quality and childcare workforce grant programs. Last month, the Bulletin reported that the state’s Executive Council has continued to vote down a contract that would provide over $1 million to Granite Steps for Quality, New […]
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte has signed three bills related to early care and education into law, including a new business tax credit. After months of legislative procedure and weeks of waiting for the bill to hit her desk, Ayotte on Thursday signed House Bill 1433, which gives businesses a tax credit for increasing the […]
In an industry where financial margins are tight, salaries are low, and many employers cannot afford to offer benefits, one program aims to fill the gaps in services for childcare providers. The State Early Learning Alliance of New Hampshire, or SELA, is a “one-stop” marketplace that offers childcare providers, programs, and the families they serve […]
The latest financial challenge for New Hampshire childcare providers started with a heated exchange in the Executive Council chambers. At a session on May 6, Councilor John Stephen pursued an aggressive line of questioning toward Lori Weaver, commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, regarding a childcare contract. Contracts between state agencies and […]
The New Hampshire Executive Council approved a $3.4 million contract with the Community Action Partnership of Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties to continue funding through the next biennium for various childcare workforce, resource, and data collection services the program operates. The contract is paid for entirely with federal funds. The community action partnership holds the contract […]