Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $300,000 grant to support disaster recovery efforts in the North Country. The funding, awarded to the North Country Council, will support the hiring of a disaster recovery coordinator to work with local officials and business leaders to facilitate long-term economic recovery efforts, as well as the development of a disaster preparedness plan for communities in Grafton, Carroll, and Coos counties that suffered damage from natural disasters in 2011.

“When natural disasters strike, it's important that our communities have the resources they need to effectively respond,” Kuster said. “These critical funds will help ensure that communities throughout the North Country are able to recover from natural disasters and focus on strengthening the economy.”

The grants are part of a $200 million appropriation made by Congress to EDA to help communities that received a major disaster designation in fiscal year 2011 with long-term economic recovery and infrastructure support. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

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