NBRC Announces $27 Million in 2024 Catalyst Grant Awards for Economic Development

Today, the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) announced $27 Million in new awards as part of the Commission’s Catalyst Program spring competition.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2024
Contact: Andrea Smith, Program Director
asmith@nbrc.gov
(603) 369-3001

CONCORD, N.H. (June 27, 2024) – Today, the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) announced $27 Million in new awards as part of the Commission’s Catalyst Program spring competition. This includes $18 million in funding made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden - a key part of his Investing in America agenda.

The 33 Catalyst Awards will go to communities in the Commission’s member states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont and include a broad range of economic development initiatives such as projects that will:

modernize and expand water and wastewater systems;
establish business and workforce development programs and facilities;
grow outdoor recreation infrastructure and economies; and
construct new childcare, healthcare and community center facilities.

These projects are matched by public and private investments, resulting in more than $124 Million in total investment across the four-state NBRC region. The Commission increased accessibility to its Catalyst Program funds by establishing two funding rounds, resulting in flexibility for applicants and just-in-time funding for projects poised to get started. Funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law support the largest infrastructure investments, including foundational infrastructure for expanded housing developments and construction of childcare facilities. These projects will unfold over the next three years, and all of this year’s awardees are listed on the NBRC’s website, www.nbrc.gov.

The 2024 Catalyst Program spring grant round was highly competitive, with 110 Applications received and more than $106 Million in funding requests. The Catalyst Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. The slate of selected projects advance NBRC investment priorities to reach underserved communities: 23 of the Commission’s awards are going to communities with less than 5,000 people, and 24 to communities and organizations who are receiving their first NBRC funding award.

“With these awards the Commission is making foundational investments that will help build more inclusive economies and address the central needs of small rural towns, such as additional housing and access to childcare,” said NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders. “We have prioritized helping flood ravaged communities, closing gaps in rural health access and making awards to communities and places that are too often underrepresented in public grant making. NBRC investments often spark broader economic revitalization and I believe these awards will have a similar positive impact in the region.”

In Barre City, Vt., one award will address the region’s housing crunch that has been exacerbated by recent flooding:

“This transformative project will create over 125 mixed income housing units in Barre City, and not only provide new places to live for those impacted by last year's floods, but also grow our tax base and create much-needed workforce housing for teachers, nurses and other professionals being recruited to the area,” said Barre City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro.

In Maine, the Mi’kmaq Nation will expand a brook trout hatchery operation, supporting the Tribe’s mission of food sovereignty while also producing enough to market outside the community:

“This grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission and support from the Northern Maine Development Commission in the application process, not only ensures this project will move forward but also allows us to purchase the equipment needed to have the capacity to raise and process triple the amount of fish we currently are. This is a game changer for our fisheries program and the Mi’kmaq Nation’s goal to provide healthy and culturally relevant food to our community and beyond,” said Shannon Hill, Environmental Health Director, Mi’kmaq Environmental Health Department.

First-time applicants at The Walpole Foundation in New Hampshire will pursue work on building an improved space for structured childcare:

“The Walpole Village School, a fifty-year-old preschool, has always been housed in inadequate spaces. This grant enables the Walpole Foundation to move forward in building an energy efficient facility to meet the future needs of children 2-1/2 to 5 years of age,” said Peggy Pschirrer, President, The Walpole Foundation

In New York’s rural Lewis County, funds are being used for the crucial expansion of primary care services:

“This grant award will allow the Health Center to construct a 4-exam room primary care clinic with a lab, provider office, and reception area. This primary care suite will allow for two healthcare providers to care for patients while addressing their health and social needs - focusing on health inequalities, social determinants of health, nutrition/food security, and disease prevention and management,” said Joey Horton, CEO, North Country Family Health Center, Inc.

The funds for this program, and all NBRC programs, are available thanks to the support of the Congressional Delegations of all four NBRC states: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. An additional $20M will be made available through the 2024 Catalyst Program fall funding round. Please refer to NBRC’s website, www.nbrc.gov, for announcements about current and future Funding Opportunities.

View a Full List of Awards by State Here

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Created in 2008, the Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership whose mission is to catalyze community vitality and economic prosperity in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont through flexible funding and strategic support.