**Shaheen, Through her Work on the Appropriations Committee, has Consistently Increased Funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission over the Last 3 Years**

**Shaheen & Kuster Successfully Included Provisions in Farm Bill that were Signed into Law that Reauthorized the NBRC for 5 years and Expanded its Reach to Additional New Hampshire Counties, including Cheshire and communities in Belknap**

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that New Hampshire agencies and organizations have been awarded $3,768,293 from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) for various projects that invest in the Granite State’s economic and community development. This is an increase of nearly a million dollars for New Hampshire compared to last year’s awards.

This is the first year that Cheshire County and communities in Belknap were eligible to apply for grant funding, thanks to a provision secured by Shaheen and Kuster in the Farm Bill that was signed into law. Shaheen and Kuster’s provisions reauthorized the NBRC for five years and expanded its reach to include Cheshire County and communities in Belknap County. Senator Shaheen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committees, has consistently secured federal funding for the NBRC through the annual appropriations process, including $20 million in fiscal year (FY) 2019 legislation that was signed into law in September. Shaheen has repeatedly increased funding for the NBRC over the last 3 years.

“As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, ensuring the Northern Border Regional Commission is reauthorized and funded has been one of my top priorities in Congress, and expanding its reach to include Cheshire County and communities in Belknap County was of the utmost importance to further spur economic growth throughout the state,” said Senator Shaheen. “This year’s allocation of funds is a testament to the significant economic opportunities in New Hampshire, and the important role the NBRC can play in empowering Granite State agencies and businesses. From improving our local infrastructure to supporting workforce training programs and revitalizing recreational sites to boost tourism – the NBRC is a boon to our state’s economy. I’ll keep working across the aisle to ensure the NBRC has the funding it needs to continue delivering federal resources that boost New Hampshire projects and priorities.”

“I am thrilled to announce $3.8 million in grants from the Northern Border Regional Commission to invest in projects that include expanding access to available child care, repairing damaged roads, and boosting technical workforce training,” said Senator Hassan. “The funding from this program makes a big difference to the economic and community development of our northern cities and towns – and I will continue fighting to ensure that this critical program is appropriately funded.”

“The Northern Border Regional Commission is crucial to the growth of New Hampshire’s economy and developing infrastructure projects in our rural communities,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “The funding announced today will help to generate jobs and career opportunities as well as bolster the economic wellbeing of the Granite State and the New England region. Just last month, the House unanimously passed my amendment to significantly increase funding for this crucial commission. I will continue my work to support and strengthen the NBRC so we can continue to build on our progress and further invest in communities in need.”

“The Northern Border Regional Commission provides critical support and funding for economic development projects across our region, and this latest announcement is welcome news for Granite Staters,” said Congressman Pappas. “I will continue to work alongside the rest of the delegation to secure investments that strengthen our state’s economy and way of life.”

As a member of the Farm Bill Conference Committee and Agriculture Committee, Kuster advocated for the inclusion of language to strengthen and expand the Northern Border Regional Commission in the Farm Bill. She has consistently fought for the NBRC, leading a bipartisan call to the governors of New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York urging support for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and introducing bipartisan legislation, the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act, to continue funding for the NBRC. This legislation was included in the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report. She has highlighted the importance of the program to senior members of the Trump Administration.

A list of the New Hampshire awards is available here.

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