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 […]

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 […]

Last month, New Hampshire legislators took their final regular session vote, marking the end of the state’s 2026 legislative session. While a handful of childcare-related bills are awaiting a final verdict from the governor, about half of the filed bills failed to make it to the end.  So far, Gov. Kelly Ayotte has signed bills […]

Executive Councilor John Stephen pointedly questioned officials from the Department of Health and Human Services during this week’s meeting about why a childcare workforce grant program was not funded.  That exchange was prompted by an unrelated contract that was up for debate on Wednesday, which would give more than $1.2 million to a company that […]

Standing on the newly built deck in her backyard, Asha Clark wipes mucus off the face of the infant she’s holding in one arm, while using her free  arm to keep a toddler from re-entering the house. In the grass, three children ages 1 to 4 are riding small bikes and playing with sticks.  “No, […]