High resolution versions of the photos are available here and here.

On Friday, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined Senator Shaheen, Senator Hassan, local elected officials, healthcare professionals and area residents to give remarks at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House for the recently completed Friendship House treatment facility in Bethlehem. Kuster wrote in support of funding through the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) for the construction of the new 32-bed facility to help expand services at the Friendship House, the North Country’s only short-term residential and outpatient treatment program.  Later in Littleton, the Congresswoman met with staff, board members and officials from the White Mountain Science Institute, Littleton Industrial Development Corporation, and White Mountain Community College to hear about their respective work and how they plan to utilize grant funds they received this year from NBRC, which Kuster fought to secure.

“It was great to see the Friendship House expansion project through from fruition to completion, and to hear about how NBRC funds will help North Country organizations grow and thrive,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Since it was enacted, the NBRC has provided critical economic development resources to rural communities in our state and across the region. Granite Staters deserve to know NBRC will be around in the years to come, and I am committed to fighting for and securing the funds this critical partnership needs to continue helping the North Country grow and thrive.”  

“Support from the NBRC program is vital for our mission to create the next generation of creative problem solvers in the North Country,” said William Church, Executive Director of White Mountain Science Institute. “On Friday, we had a very productive meeting with Congresswoman Kuster, John O'Rourke from NBRC, and Mollie Kaylor from NH's Division of Economic Development to discuss our Mobile STEM Works Lab.  Multiple regional stakeholders including students, teachers, education organizations, and industry were present to share their perspective, their needs, and most importantly their ideas for how to move forward in preparing students for life and work in the 21st century.  We are extremely grateful for NBRC's support and Congresswoman Kuster's work to bring resources such as this to our region.”

Kuster has been a leader in the effort to protect the Northern Border Regional Commission, introducing bipartisan legislation, the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act, to continue funding for the NBRC for five years.

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