Award recognizes innovative, collaborative approach to advancing local housing planning across New Hampshire
BEDFORD, N.H. – New Hampshire Housing is proud to announce that its Housing Opportunity Planning (HOP) Grant Program has been named 2026 Project of the Year by the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association (NNECAPA). Receiving this award acknowledges the collaborative efforts of NH Housing staff and program partners to strengthen local housing planning across the state.
The annual NNECAPA awards recognize people, organizations, and projects for outstanding contributions to planning throughout Northern New England. The HOP Grant Program was selected for its innovative, collaborative, and locally driven approach to addressing New Hampshire’s housing challenges.
“This award is a tremendous recognition of the creativity, dedication, and collaboration our team has brought to the HOP Grant Program,” said George Reagan, NH Housing’s Director of Community Engagement. “HOP has always been about giving communities the resources, knowledge, and support they need to develop housing solutions that work locally. We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful to the many partners and municipalities whose commitment made this work possible.”
Created as part of the state’s $100 million InvestNH initiative, the HOP Grant Program is administered by NH Housing through a contract with the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. The program combines grant funding with technical assistance, education, and community engagement to help municipalities advance master planning, housing needs assessments, regulatory audits, and zoning amendments.
The program has awarded 103 grants to 73 municipalities, impacting nearly 70 percent of New Hampshire’s population. All participating municipalities completed foundational housing work, with projects ranging from master plan updates and housing needs assessments to regulatory audits. Additionally, nearly seventy percent developed zoning amendments designed to enable greater housing density or new housing types.
Beyond individual planning projects, HOP has focused on building municipalities’ long-term capacity to address housing challenges. Through Housing Academy, participating communities gained tools to increase resident participation in housing discussions and turn local planning efforts into actionable solutions.
The program has been a collaborative effort among NH Housing, the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, UNH Cooperative Extension, Plan NH, NH Municipal Association, and NH Community Development Finance Authority. In endorsing HOP’s nomination, the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs highlighted the program’s innovative approach, strong partnerships, public participation, and measurable results.
“This recognition belongs to the entire team and to the communities that took on this work,” added Heather McCann, Managing Director of Engagement, Policy, and Communications for NH Housing. “The lasting impact of HOP is the capacity communities have built to keep moving housing solutions forward, creating opportunities for continued progress long after the initial grant work is complete. ”
Media Contact:
Etienne LaFond
Director, Communications and Marketing
elafond@nhhousing.org
603.310.9203
New Hampshire Housing’s Housing Opportunity Planning Grant Program Named NNECAPA Project of the Year