Strengthening the Child Care Ecosystem in the Strafford Region

The Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) is a regional agency focused on economic development and planning in Strafford County, New Hampshire, addressing critical infrastructure and community needs. This work matters because accessible and affordable child care is essential to workforce participation and regional economic stability. This report represents the second phase of SRPC’s regional child care initiative. The Capstone team assessed municipal compliance with New Hampshire’s child care legislation, HB 1567 (2024), identified zoning and regulatory barriers affecting family child care providers, and provided municipalities with a model zoning ordinance. The team also expanded research on child care supply and demand across 18 municipalities, focusing on children ages 0–5 and licensed providers, to better understand gaps, trends, and contextual factors influencing child care capacity. In addition, the team surveyed community partners and practitioners to assess awareness of state financing resources and developed a centralized digital resource to improve access to child care funding.