Grafton Regional Development Corporation (GRDC) today announced the launch of the Upper Valley Childcare Solutions Partnership, a seven-month regional initiative designed to address the Upper Valley’s acute shortage of quality, affordable childcare. Funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Couch Family Foundation, the project is one of two pilots in the state and part of a four-state national effort focused on building innovative, scalable childcare solutions.
Childcare shortages are a growing challenge for New Hampshire’s workforce and economy. A recent New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute study estimates that these shortages cost New Hampshire businesses up to $56 million annually due to employee absenteeism, turnover, and forgone economic activity. Families face long waitlists, employers struggle to hire and retain staff, and communities feel the broader ripple effects of constrained economic mobility.
“Childcare is not just a family issue—it is a core economic infrastructure issue,” said Anne Duncan Cooley, CEO of GRDC. “Our region’s employers, municipalities, and nonprofit partners have been sounding the alarm for years. GRDC is honored to help lead a coordinated, solutions-focused effort that brings all these stakeholders together. This work builds on more than two decades of relationship-building and economic development leadership in Grafton County. We are committed to helping the Upper Valley create a strong, reliable childcare system that allows families to thrive and businesses to grow.”
Starting this fall and continuing through the spring of 2026, this initiative builds on momentum generated by earlier EPIC (Executives Partnering to Invest in Children) workshops and the Vital Communities’ Early Childhood Education Initiative, and it aligns with national partners including the National League of Cities (NLC), Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF), EPIC, and statewide organizations like the NH Business & Industry Association and NH Community Development Finance Authority.
The initiative is organized around three coordinated areas of work that together address workforce needs, facility capacity, and long-term system sustainability. GRDC Programs Director Michelle Beaudin will lead efforts to strengthen the childcare workforce by convening providers, educators, and support organizations to identify barriers, share strategies, and expand the number of qualified early childhood professionals. Consultant Nancy Merrill, with support from Beaudin, will guide facility expansion and development efforts, helping providers explore relocation, renovation, and innovative childcare models that make better use of available community spaces. GRDC CEO Anne Duncan Cooley and consultant Tracy Hutchins will co-lead the investigation, design and pilot of an employer-supported funding solution that strengthens childcare providers, supports the early childhood workforce, and helps address facility needs—bridging the gap until more stable public funding is available. Together, these interconnected components create a comprehensive regional strategy to stabilize and grow childcare capacity in the Upper Valley.
With the project now underway, the next major phase is direct engagement with employers throughout the Upper Valley. Employers interested in participating in this next phase or sharing employee experiences are encouraged to contact GRDC directly at 603-536-2011 or childcare@graftonrdc.org.
Grafton Regional Development Corporation
Grafton Regional Development Corporation
