The
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), established by Congress in 2008, is a federal-state partnership for economic and community development in New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Maine. Each year, Congress appropriates funding to NBRC to provide financial and technical assistance for programming promoting economic and infrastructure development to eligible entities across the region.
In New Hampshire, projects are eligible for the Catalyst, Forest Economy, and Timber for Transit grant programs in all, or portions of, Belknap; Carroll; Cheshire; Coos; Grafton, and Sullivan Counties. The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) administers the program within the state and works with eligible communities and organizations throughout the year.
BEA offers
technical assistance to eligible projects. For more information, contact
Steve Fortier, BEA’s administrator for rural economic development.
In 2023, communities and organizations in six rural New Hampshire counties shared $11 million through
Catalyst grants awarded by NBRC.
Funding opportunities are now available for the following programs:
The
Catalyst Program supports economic development initiatives modernizing and expanding water and wastewater systems; revitalizing transportation infrastructure; establishing workforce development programs and facilities; expanding the outdoor recreation economy, and construction of new childcare and healthcare facilities.
The
Forest Economy Program supports the industry as it evolves to include new technologies and business models.
The
Timber for Transit Program advances the use of domestic forest products in transportation infrastructure projects.
Northern Border Regional Commission also partners with other federal agencies to provide access for eligible entities in NH’s NBRC region to additional funding opportunities for workforce development; growing the recreation economy; and attracting and retaining healthcare workforce.
Upcoming Events:
2024 Forest Economy Program Information Sessions via Zoom
2024 Timber for Transit Program Information Sessions via Zoom
2024 Catalyst Program Information Session
Feb. 14, 1-2 pm
Historic Cheshire County Courthouse
12 Court St., Keene
For information, contact
Steve Fortier, Administrator of Rural Economic Development at
steven.j.fortier@livefree.nh.gov or (603) 688-5918.