Northern Border Regional Commission Announces 2023 Forest Economy Program Grant Round

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2022
Contact: Marina Bowie, Forest Economy Program Manager
mbowie@nbrc.gov
(603) 369-3001

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is pleased to announce the 2023 Forest Economy Program (FEP) grant application opportunity. With this program, the Commission intends to support the forest-based economy and to assist in the forest industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the four-state NBRC region. Eligible organizations, which include nonprofit and governmental entities (state, local & Indian tribes), are now able to access a program overview of the FEP via NBRC’s website. The Commission will make up to $7 million in grants available, with a maximum award of $1 Million.
 

“There is an intrinsic link between the northern forest and the economic success of communities across the NBRC region. The program we are announcing today places a renewed focus on supporting businesses and communities in Northern New England and New York as they seek out new and innovative markets for wood products,” said NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders.

Whether funded directly or through partnerships, funds will be awarded to support projects in the forest economy, which may include one (or multiple) of the following:

1. Community development projects that support the diversified use of forests within the Northern Border Regional Commission’s service area for economic activity to include wood products and advanced materials manufacturing, as well as for other economic activity that utilizes northern border forests sustainably and demonstrates planning for climate resiliency.
2. Workforce [re] training and development projects for the purpose of building the skills and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed for forest businesses.
3. Marketing/communication and education projects that promote the environmental and climate benefits of forest management and forest products in ways that strengthen markets for wood products.
4. Business planning and technical assistance projects that enhance the viability and sustainability of new and existing forest businesses.
5. Public infrastructure projects that directly support the forest industry, and/or that demonstrate the use of wood-based products in public infrastructure.

Please refer to the 2023 Forest Economy Program Overview located on NBRC’s website for additional information including examples of projects that fit within the above categories.

Potential applicants must express interest through Letters of Interest (LOI) and will have two opportunities to submit: March 10th, 2023 by 5pm, or September 22th, 2023 by 5pm. LOIs will be evaluated by a 9-member Advisory Board, consisting of forest economy representatives from each of the four NBRC states. The Advisory Board will determine which applicants will be invited to submit a full application, due either April 28th or November 3rd, depending on when the Letter of Interest is submitted. Visit the NBRC website to view the full 2023 program timeline.

For those considering applications in 2023, please contact NBRC Forest Economy Program Manager Marina Bowie, the NBRC State Program Manager in the State(s) where the proposed project will take place, and/or a Forest Economy Program Advisory Board member. These individuals will be happy to assist you as you develop your projects and applications:

NBRC State Program Managers
 

Maine:                                                        New Hampshire:

Charlotte Mace                                           Steve Fortier

(207) 624-7448                                          (603) 271-6305

charlotte.mace@maine.gov                       steven.j.fortier@livefree.nh.gov

New York:                                                  Vermont:

Kyle Wilber                                                 Kristie Farnham

(518) 473-3694                                           (802) 398-5268

kyle.wilber@dos.ny.gov                              kristie.farnham@vermont.gov

Forest Economy Program Advisory Board

NBRC Representative: Joe Short                     jshort@northernforest.org                         (603) 491-2651

Maine:                            Dana Doran                 executivedirector@maineloggers.com      (207) 688-8195

                                       Eric Kingsley                kingsley@inrsllc.com                                (207) 233-9910

New Hampshire:           Andy Fast                     Andrew.Fast@unh.edu                             (603) 862-2402

                                       Jasen Stock                 jstock@nhtoa.org                                      (603) 674-8148

Vermont:                       Christine McGowan     christine@vsjf.org                                      (802) 828-5770

                                      Charlie Hancock          northwoodsforestry@gmail.com                (802) 326-2093

New York:                     Carrie Tuttle                 ctuttle@danc.org                                       (315) 778-8312

                                      Daniel Berheide           dberheide@westelcom.com                      (518) 461-3614

For a PDF of this Press Release please click HERE

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About the Northern Border Regional Commission (www.nbrc.gov)

Created in 2008, the Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership whose mission

is to help alleviate economic distress and encourage private sector job creation in Maine, New

Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. In its thirteen-year history, including these new awards, the

commission has awarded 331 grants, amounting to more than $90.6 million in direct investment and

$296 million in additional leveraged investments, across the four states through its primary State

Economic & Infrastructure Development (SEID) grant program and other special initiatives.