Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, the result of several years of work by The Center and many organizations across the region and by much of the region’s congressional delegation. The Commission’s focus is to help address the community and economic development needs of the most severely distressed portions of the Northern Forest region. A basic overview of the Commission is available from the National Association of Development Organizations.

The NBRC is an important new regional coordination mechanism for the Northern Forest states as well as a potentially significant new source of investment for economic and community development in the region. The Center coordinates with NBRC stakeholders across the region, with the Commission members (a federal co-chair and the region’s four governors), and with the regional congressional delegation to align the work of the Commission with regional priorities and to secure additional funding for its activities.

  • Northern Border Commission Announces 2011 Grant Awards - 11/10/11

    According to press articles, Northern Border Regional Commission grants in 2011 include the following. Detail on each of these projects can be found by clicking on the “News Articles” tab above.

    Maine
    $200,000 to the town of Van Buren toward the construction of a vegetable-processing plant to help expand markets for local farmers.
    $50,000 to Northern Maine Finance Corp. in Caribou to establish a public-private partnership aimed at linking entrepreneurs with investors to grow business and jobs in Aroostook and Washington counties.

     

    New Hampshire
    $200,000 to Northern Community Investment Corp. for visitor information kiosks for tourists along Route 3 in New Hampshire’s North Country.
    $225,000 to the Grafton County Economic Development Council for construction of a business incubator in Plymouth.
    $225,000 to the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council to extend the access road to the Technology Village off Route 16 in Conway.

     

    Vermont
    $128,500 to Lyndon State College and the Northeastern Vermont Development Association to create collaboration among Northeast Kingdom manufacturers and expand training programs.

    $78,190 to the town of Brighton to build a 2,100-foot lakeside walking path that will connect to downtown to enhance tourism and recreation in the community.

     

    New York
    $250,000 to Clayton Local Development Corp. to install water and wastewater systems for the proposed $35 million Frink Hotel.
    $95,320 to Lewis County Development Corp. to rehabilitate a railway spur that connects to the former Lyons Falls Pulp & Paper mill site, which the agency is attempting to redevelop as a business park.
     
  • House Appropriates $1.35 million for Northern Border Regional Commission in FY12 - 07/29/11

    On July 15 the House approved a fiscal year 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill containing $1,350,000 for the Northern Border Regional Commission and continuing a waiver of the 10% cap on the Commission’s administrative expenses. The bill must pass the Senate before becoming law. The Commission received $1.5 million in annual funding in FY10 and FY11.
  • Northern Border Regional Commission Opens 2012 Grant Process- Applications Due Aug 29 - 07/29/11

    The region’s congressional delegation announced July 26 that the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) will begin accepting applications for federal assistance beginning August 1st, with the goal of awarding approximately $1.25 million by September 30th. Eligible projects must develop the infrastructure of the region; assist in providing job skills and employment related education; provide basic health care and other public services for areas that are severely economically distressed; promote resources conservation, tourism, and recreation; or promote the development of renewable and alternative energy sources. Applications are due August 29.

     

    As with last year, the application process is different in each state. Contact the appropriate group listed below to get more information.

     

    Maine
    Contact your local economic development district:
    Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments     in Auburn, (207) 783-9186
    Eastern Maine Development Corporation     in Bangor, (207) 942-6389
    Kennebec Valley Council of Governments     in Fairfield, (207) 453-4258
    Northern Maine Development Commission     in Caribou, (207) 498-8736
     

    New Hampshire
    Contact North Country Council (603) 444-6303
     

    Vermont
    Contact one of the Vermont delegation’s district offices by calling:
    Ted Brady (Senator Leahy): 802-229-0569
    David Weinstein (Senator Sanders): 802 862-0697
    Brent Raymond (Representative Welch): 802-652-2450

     

    New York
    Application forms and additional information are available at www.dos.ny.gov/communityprojects/funding.html. Submissions must be postmarked by August 29, 2011 and mailed AND emailed to: New York Department of State, Attention Kyle Wilber, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231, (518) 473-3355, nbrcgrant@dos.state.ny.us 
  • $1.25 million in border development money on the way - 07/28/11

    Due: August 29, 2011
    The Northern Border Regional Commission has announced a new round of funding for economically strapped Canadian border regions of Maine, New York and Vermont.
    The commission plans Aug. 1 to begin accepting applications for the money and to announce how it will award the $1.25 million available by Sept. 30.
    Bangor Daily News article link
  • House Committee Recommends $1.35 million for Northern Border Regional Commission in FY12 - 06/16/11

    On June 15 the House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal year 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill containing $1,350,000 for the Northern Border Regional Commission and continuing a waiver of the 10% cap on the Commission’s administrative expenses. The bill must pass the full House and Senate before becoming law. The Commission received $1.5 million in annual funding in FY10 and FY11.
  • Northern Border Regional Commission Receives $1.5 million in FY11 Funding - 04/25/11

    The continuing resolution for the remainder of federal FY11- passed by Congress on April 15- includes $1.5 million in appropriations for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The Commission was funded at the same level in FY’10, when it awarded over $1 million in grants to economic development projects across the Northern Forest. With the FY11 appropriation, NBRC Federal Co-chair Sandy Blitz reports that the Commission will have a grant award program this year. He expects the grant announcement to be available in June.


    The FY11 appropriations bill also includes a waiver of the 10% cap on NBRC administrative expenses.
     
  • NBRC Federal Co-chair meets with NY Stakeholders - 01/10/11

    On October 25 and 26, 2010, The Center and New York partners hosted a series of stakeholder meetings in the Adirondack and Tug Hill regions for NBRC federal co-chair Sandy Blitz. The “Northern Forest Conversations,” held with the NY State Tug Hill Commission in Watertown, NY, and with Paul Smith’s College in Paul Smiths, NY, provided a first chance for many New York interests to hear directly from Mr. Blitz about the commission, and an opportunity for him to learn about the economic development opportunities and challenges in that part of the region. Northern Forest Center Program & Policy Director Joe Short also spoke at both sessions about the NBRC and the Northern Forest Investment Zone.