(Concord, NH) - Today, New Hampshire’s Congressional Delegation announced that the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) has awarded federal grant funds to 13 development projects throughout the Granite State.  These grants, which total more than $2.2 million, will help to spur economic and community development in the North Country and other rural regions around the state. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $5 million in additional funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) in appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2018. President Trump’s budget had proposed eliminating the NBRC entirely. Last month in the House, Congresswoman Kuster introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation that would continue funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and extend its authorization for five years.

 “These grants are great news for economic development in rural New Hampshire and further demonstrate the importance of NBRC,” said Senator Shaheen. “NBRC continues to deliver important investments that bring jobs, tourism and critical services to rural New Hampshire communities. I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure NBRC receives additional funding for next year and resist the Trump administration’s reckless proposal to eliminate the Commission.”

“Northern Border Regional Commission grants have provided critical support to boost economic and community development and job creation in the North Country, while also providing important funding for substance use disorder treatment and recovery services,” Senator Hassan said. “I am pleased to announce the latest round of Northern Border Regional Commission grants to strengthen the North Country, and I will continue standing up against President Trump’s reckless budget proposal that includes eliminating this vital program.”

“The Northern Border Regional Commission plays an important role in promoting economic development and infrastructure projects throughout rural parts of New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “The grants announced today will help create jobs and bolster the economic competitiveness of the region and state. I’m working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues, who represent other rural districts, to reauthorize and strengthen this program so that we can continue to build on its success and support some of our most underserved communities."

"These grants are wonderful news for our North Country's economy, tourism, and infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “As a delegation, we will keep defending the Northern Border Regional Commission from the Administration's threat of elimination in the budget so it can keep making grants like these that boost economic development in Northern New Hampshire and beyond."

In total, NBRC awarded more than $8 million in grants to projects throughout the commission’s service areas in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York.  The grants announced today will support projects Kuster has long championed, including economic development in downtown Claremont, constructing a new treatment facility at Bethlehem’s Friendship House, and improving water infrastructure in Bethlehem, Colebrook and Whitefield, among others.

Among the projects receiving NBRC funds:

-The Lancaster Rotary Club Charities Inc. will receive $194,400 for parking lot construction and parallel parking in Lancaster, NH, including landscaping and river greenway with Phase I of access to the island nature area.

-The Town of Whitefield will receive $399,200 to upgrade the town’s existing septage receiving station to treat wastewater from septic tanks.

-The Northern Forest Center will receive $75,000 to deliver technical assistance to more than 57 forest-based businesses to help them adapt to the changing regional forest economy.

-The New Hampshire Academy of Science will receive $100,000 to establish a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) laboratory for future NH STEM workforce/leaders.

-The New Hampshire Department of Business & Economic Affairs, Division of Travel and Tourism will receive $70,000 for construction and renovation projects at the Intervale and Rumney Rest Areas.

-The G.A.L.A. Community Center will receive 250,000 to purchase and improve a vacant building in Conway for makerspace and business incubator services.

-The North Country will receive $78,750 to repair an inactive ATV/snowmobile trail in Stratford and add wayfinding signage.

-The Town of Colebrook will receive $400,000 to replace up to 600 traditional water meters with new “smart water meters”

-AHEAD, Inc. received $150,000 to construct a new 32 bed treatment facility at Bethlehem Friendship House

-Opera North will receive $150,000 to renovate the Charles Beaman home to serve as the base for a new summer festival for the performing and visual arts.

-The Bethlehem Village District will receive $75,000 to replace water meters to enhance delivery of clean, safe, reliable drinking water.

-Claremont Development Authority/City of Claremont (CD-2) will receive $149,650 to revitalize two historical city owned buildings for end user tenants.

Created by the 2008 Farm Bill, the Northern Border Regional Commission is a Federal-State partnership that is comprised of a Federal Co-Chair and the Governors of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.  The Commission was established to organize federal funding towards specific State economic and community development projects in rural parts of the Northeast.  The investments made by the NBRC have the direct impact of creating jobs, supporting community-oriented projects and attracting private investments that will help organizations and municipalities meet their funding objectives.  

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