Economic Mobility Strategy
City of Nashua, NH
Economic Equity
Nashua, a city of 91,000 residents in southern New Hampshire, was historically a predominantly white, middle-class community. Over the past 10-15 years, the city has experienced increasing diversity as families from various minority groups and socioeconomic backgrounds have moved in. Nashua is also facing challenges related to a growing housing crisis and significant substance abuse issues.
In 2022, Nashua adopted a master plan with economic mobility as its primary economic development goal. However, the plan lacked a clear definition of economic mobility, as well as specific action items and associated goals.
The City engaged Fourth Economy to conduct a data-driven assessment, gather stakeholder input, and develop recommendations for promoting economic mobility among its residents.
Our Approach
Fourth Economy analyzed local and regional trends to create a comprehensive overview of Nashua’s economic and demographic landscape. Through quantitative analysis, we examined various metrics, including population trends, housing affordability, health indicators, and labor force participation, to understand the factors influencing economic mobility in the region. This data, combined with discussions with City of Nashua staff and community stakeholders, revealed three key themes: workforce and business attraction and retention, housing, and childcare.
The Results
The “Imagine Nashua: Economic Mobility Report” summarizes our findings and provides recommendations organized under three Pathways:
Pathway 1: Workforce Development and Business Retention
Pathway 2: Addressing Local Housing Needs
Pathway 3: Childcare Accessibility
The City is actively implementing these recommendations and using a companion implementation matrix to track timelines and responsibilities.
Location
Nashua, NH