The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) on Jan. 20 recognized the Town of Exeter as a Housing Champion for its leadership and commitment to addressing the state’s housing needs through its innovative local policies and partnerships.
The presentation was made during the regular biweekly meeting of the Board of Selectmen, which was joined by State Sen. Debra Altschiller.
The town earned the designation from BEA’s InvestNH housing program for its meaningful action to expand affordable and accessible housing that aligns with community goals. It is one of 10 communities, including Newmarket, Rye, and Hampton, recognized for their proactive approaches to land use, zoning, and permitting that encourage housing development while maintaining local character. With 18 communities designated in 2024, there are now a total of 28 Housing Champions around the state.
“Exeter exemplifies what it means to be a Housing Champion,” said Andrew Dorsett, the state housing director. “The town has shown real leadership in creating housing solutions that reflect both local priorities and statewide needs. Communities like Exeter are vital to ensuring that New Hampshire remains a place where people can live and work.”
As part of the Housing Champions initiative, BEA awarded $5 million statewide through 11 grants that supported 2,700 new housing units. The housing production grant realized the completion of approximately 400 housing units. The infrastructure improvement grants supported the production of 2,300 new housing units, helping communities move forward with projects that will increase workforce housing and encourage economic growth.
The Housing Champions program, established in 2023, is another key component of the state’s strategy to help communities address housing challenges through innovative, locally driven policies. InvestNH, established in 2022, has supported the creation of nearly 5,000 housing units and provided technical assistance to more than 70 municipalities across the state.