Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan and Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) to celebrate Berlin's $19.5 million federal RAISE grant that Senator Hassan and Representative Kuster helped secure. The funding will help Berlin make significant Main Street infrastructure improvements, which will support tourism in the region and the overall economy. Senator Hassan was part of the bipartisan group to negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure package that is now law, and it provided nearly $7.5 billion for the federal RAISE grant program. 

“It was great to be with Secretary Buttigieg and local leaders today to celebrate Berlin’s new infrastructure project that will position the entire region for continued growth and development,” said Senator Hassan. “Berlin is a gateway to our beautiful mountains and forests, offering incredible opportunities for outdoor recreation. I was proud to help advocate for the RAISE grant and look forward to seeing how it will encourage more residents and visitors alike to come to Berlin, visit Main Street businesses, and see all that the Berlin area has to offer. I will continue working to make sure that our communities have the tools to thrive.”

“It was wonderful to be joined by Secretary Buttigieg today in Berlin to highlight this exciting investment in the city made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Rep. Kuster. “This federal RAISE grant will allow Berlin to revitalize its downtown infrastructure and make transformational, innovative changes to the city’s main streets while harnessing renewable energy and saving the city money in winter maintenance costs. The revitalization of downtown Berlin will go a long way in spurring economic development and helping to grow the recreational tourism economy here in the North Country. This is one of many projects that will be made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – over the next five years, our state stands to receive significant resources to repair our roads and bridges, expand broadband internet access and so much more, all while creating good-paying jobs. I will continue advocating for New Hampshire initiatives and funding to bolster our economy and improve the lives of Granite Staters.”

“We're thrilled to award $19.5 million to renew Berlin with safe and snow-free roads and sidewalks that will bring residents and visitors to downtown businesses year-round and help save taxpayer money by reducing the cost of managing snow," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are able to celebrate this good news for Berlin as a direct result of Senator Hassan, Senator Shaheen, Representative Kuster, and Representative Pappas, working across the aisle to deliver the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the President's desk so that we could get funding for good projects like this.”

Adam Hammill, owner of Exile Burrito in Berlin, also spoke at the event. Hammill has been a strong advocate for New Hampshire businesses. Hammill opened his new restaurant during the pandemic, however like many new businesses, he was not eligible to receive COVID-19 relief. Hammill raised this concern with Senator Hassan, who successfully worked across the aisle to ensure that new businesses like Hammill’s will be able to access payroll assistance through the Employee Retention Tax Credit. Senator Hassan honored Hammill for his advocacy, bringing him as her virtual guest for the 2021 State of the Union.

“One of the cornerstones of the American experiment is a healthy representative democracy, and even in this hyper-partisan time if you look hard enough you will find folks like Senator Hassan who are willing to work together for the greater good,” said Hammill. “From working to ensure that new businesses like mine could secure COVID-19 relief, to passing into law the bipartisan infrastructure law, Senator Hassan always looks out for Berlin. The new project in Berlin will only increase entrepreneurs’ willingness to give Main Street a chance, and will increase the ability to draw people out to Main Street during our cold winters. I was proud to speak to the importance of this investment at today’s event.”

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