Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a stop in Concord this week, joining New Hampshire Democrats to call for stronger government support for child care programs.
The discussion took place at the Granite YMCA, where Buttigieg toured the organization’s child care facilities before sitting down with U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander and several state leaders. Among those participating were House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson, Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, and Granite YMCA CEO Michelle Sheppard.
The roundtable centered on a growing concern in New Hampshire: the rising cost of child care and the strain it places on families, providers, and businesses alike.
Participants described a system under pressure. Providers face staffing shortages and thin margins. Parents struggle to find affordable options. Meanwhile, employers report workforce disruptions tied to child care gaps.
Buttigieg said his experience at the U.S. Department of Transportation shaped his view of the issue. During his tenure, he said, the availability of on-site child care expanded who could realistically participate in federal infrastructure projects.
“It completely changed who could be part of the work,” he said, noting that access often determines whether qualified people can stay in the workforce.
He argued that without policy intervention, providers cannot meet community demand while also offering competitive wages. According to Buttigieg, the market alone will not resolve the imbalance between supply and affordability.
“You cannot expect independent child care providers with no policy support to meet the needs of a community and pay people properly,” he said in an interview. “There will be a gap unless we choose to fill it.”
Goodlander, who represents New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, echoed those concerns. She pointed to recent federal action, including provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act that support employer-based child care initiatives. She also highlighted funding secured for early childhood programs across the state.
Still, she said, the broader affordability challenge remains unresolved.
“We’re losing nearly $200 million in wages because people — mostly women — are forced to make impossible choices,” Goodlander said. “Do they leave the workforce, or can they afford care?”
She described the issue not only as a family burden but also as an economic one. When parents step away from jobs due to lack of child care, businesses lose experienced employees and the state’s workforce shrinks.
State lawmakers at the event discussed proposals currently moving through the New Hampshire Legislature. Among them are efforts to expand a child care business tax credit and explore insurance risk pool models intended to stabilize costs for providers.
Granite YMCA leaders emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships. They noted that while community organizations play a critical role, sustained funding and policy consistency are necessary to maintain access.
New Hampshire has long faced workforce shortages, and advocates argue that child care is directly tied to the state’s economic stability. With elections approaching, Democrats appear poised to make the issue central to their message.
Whether additional funding proposals gain traction in Concord or Washington remains to be seen. For now, the visit underscored how child care — once considered a family matter — has become a focal point in the state’s political and economic conversation.
