news hub
the
Stay Work Play Releases 2026 Policy Report
MARCH 2026
The 2026 policy report outlines State House advocacy advancing housing, childcare, and workforce solutions amid growing pressure on New Hampshire’s future workforce, capturing both progress and priority — highlighting key legislative wins, ongoing challenges, and the policy direction needed to ensure New Hampshire remains competitive in attracting and retaining the next generation of its workforce.
SWP Featured on It’s Freitag! Podcast
MARCH 2026
In this episode, host Jan Ziegler sits down with SWP Executive Director, Corinne Breton-Benfield, for an insightful conversation about workforce development, young talent retention, and what it takes to build a thriving future for New Hampshire. Corinne shares her journey from a background in the arts to leading a statewide nonprofit, and how her work is focused on connecting young professionals with opportunity while addressing some of the state’s most pressing challenges.
SWP Featured on Seacoast Stories Podcast
MARCH 2026
Corinne Benfield left The Granite State for college, vowing not to return to the state that raised her. Then, she moved to NYC to pursue an art career. Her time in the Big Apple didn't go as planned, leading her back to New Hampshire, where she began to see her home state through a completely different lens. Now, as the Executive Director of Stay Work Play, it's her job to convince young professionals to have the same epiphany she once did. Today, Benfield joins Seacoast Stories host Troy Farkas to share her story: Why she came back to NH, the endless opportunities afforded to young people in the state, and the "master narrative" that's driving so many young people away. Plus, the biggest pain points for young people, and the three things she would change in this state if she were given a magic wand.
Meet the Rising Stars Leadership Program Class of 2026
MARCH 2026
Stay Work Play is proud to announce the 2026 Rising Stars Leadership Program Cohort, spotlighting some of New Hampshire’s most promising young professionals across industries, including healthcare, finance, media, housing, education, energy, and economic development.
Young People in NH Can’t Afford to Stay and Are Begging For Changes
FEBRUARY 2026
Stay Work Play Wraps eight regional listening sessions reveal why young people love New Hampshire — and what must change to ensure they can build a future here. Read the full breakdown from our recent Policy & Pints series, a statewide tour where we hear from young people in the 603.
WMUR: Survey shows high housing costs pushing young people away from New Hampshire
FEBRUARY 2026
Young people in New Hampshire are demanding change when it comes to housing. A survey from Stay Work Play NH finds that 85% of young Granite Staters believe New Hampshire is worse on housing than other places in the United States.
NHPR: One Problem for Retaining Young Talent in NH is the Dating Scene
NOVEMBER 2025
NHPR’s Morning Edition producer Jackie Harris spoke with fellow millennial Corinne Benfield, the executive director at Stay Work Play. They discuss how the high cost of living, and New Hampshire’s dating scene, are affecting whether young people decide to settle down in the state.
Stay Work Play Unveils Findings from the 2025 Quality of Life Survey in New Hampshire
NOVEMBER 2025
Stay Work Play partnered with Montagne Powers and Saint Anselm College for the state’s only recurring survey thats asks young people directly how it feels to live, work, and build a future here. The results were unveiled on November 6, 2025 in Manchester with a panel of local experts unpacking the data before taking audience questions.
The third installment of the survey, conducted by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center, reveals a nuanced picture: NH’s core strengths remain strong, but the life stage when people most want to put down roots is getting harder to navigate. Click below to read Manchester Ink Link’s coverage of the survey unveiling.
View the full survey results at www.stayworkplay.org/survey.
NHPR’s Lau Guzmán to host the 2025 Rising Stars Awards
SEPTEMBER 2025
Stay Work Play is proud to partner with New Hampshire Public Radio for the 16th annual Rising Stars Awards — a celebration of New Hampshire’s outstanding young leaders and the organizations that champion them.
Hosted by NHPR’s Lau Guzmán, the evening promises bold energy, great conversation, and a room full of changemakers — all gathered to recognize the individuals and employers shaping the future of the Granite State.
SWP Featured on the New NHAR ‘Getting Real’ Podcast
AUGUST 2025
Read, listen to, or view the new NHAR podcast — Getting Real, featuring Corinne Benfield of Stay Work Play from August 2025. Corinne discusses the challenges of retaining young people in a state where home prices are at record highs and affordability at all-time lows.
SWP Featured on the Granite Goodness Podcast, Ep #51
JUNE 2025
Read, listen to, or watch episode 51 of Granite Goodness podcast as Andy DeMeo and SWP Executive Director, Corinne Benfield, talk Manchvegas, art, a Stay Work Play dating site (!!), and why YPs really should stay, work, play in New Hampshire after all.
Op-ed from Corinne Benfield:
Homes for Every Generation
A recent op-ed in the Union Leader suggested New Hampshire’s housing crisis is a “false premise,” blaming shifting generational attitudes or a supposed lack of motivation among young people for the challenges they face.
Let’s be clear: the housing supply and affordability crisis in our state is very real — especially for young people. It threatens our future prosperity and demands bold, thoughtful action.
JUNE 2025
SWP Partners with
State Organizations for
Homebuying Survey
Launched in October 2024, the Homebuying Sentiment Survey is aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the experiences and sentiments of current and potential homebuyers across the state. The survey is specifically designed to target renters and those who currently do not own a home. The goal is to gather insights that will help shape effective programs and policies to support homeownership in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Housing is proud to partner with NH Business Review, New Hampshire Magazine, and Stay Work Play to promote the survey and ensure that a broad audience of potential homebuyers is reached.
2025 Rising Stars
Leadership Program
Introducing the Class of 2025 Rising Stars Leadership Program, presented by Rise Private Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC.
This program is an empowering journey designed to inspire and cultivate the next generation of leaders in New Hampshire. This immersive experience goes beyond skill-building; it’s about shaping visionary leaders who are deeply connected to the fabric of our state and ready to take action.
2025 Policy Positions Report
Stay Work Play New Hampshire has announced its 2025 Policy Positions, with housing affordability leading the charge as the organization’s most critical legislative focus. As young people continue to grapple with skyrocketing housing costs, limited social opportunities, and the rising cost of living, Stay Work Play is committed to advancing practical, bipartisan solutions to these challenges.
The newly released policy report outlines key legislative positions that exemplify the organization’s commitment to making the state more attractive and accessible for young talent.