Update (8/3/2023):
The Forest Economy Program (FEP) grant competition is now open.
The Fall 2023 FEP competition is now open. The Northern Border Regional Commission is accepting Letters of Interest until September 22, 2023 and will make up to $4 million in grants available, with a maximum award of $1 million. There are informational webinars scheduled for Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9 for organizations interested in applying. Registration is required. For more information about the FEP competition, visit the Northern Border Regional Commission FEP webpage. Future competitions will be announced on this page if funding is available.
The Catalyst Program (formerly called the State Economic and Infrastructure Development (EID)) grant competition is now closed.
The 2023 Catalyst Program is now closed. The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) will make up to $44 million (approximately $11 million to Vermont applicants) in grants. Future competitions will be announced on this page if funding is available. For more information, please visit the NBRC Catalyst Program website.
OVERVIEW
The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a Federal-State partnership that invests in community and economic development projects in economically distressed counties across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
Information regarding the Northern Border Regional Commission and grant opportunities including the annual distress criteria and match requirements, program overviews, maximum award amounts, eligibility criteria, allowable uses, prior awards, and competition timelines can be found on the NBRC website. Information regarding prior NBRC investments in Vermont can be found on the Vermont NBRC page.
It is strongly recommended that Vermont applicants for NBRC funding contact Kristie Farnham about their projects in advance of submitting an application; she can be reached by email at kristie.farnham@vermont.gov.
REGIONAL PROJECT PRIORITIZATION LISTS
Annually, Regional Development Corporations (RDCs) in Vermont compile Regional Project Prioritization lists for their region. These lists help to identify high priority projects for NBRC investment. To see what projects have been identified as priorities by the 12 RDCs, please download the RPP List (Microsoft Excel File).
FOREST ECONOMY PROGRAM (FEP) (Formerly known as RFEP):
The purpose of this program is to support the forest-based economy, and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the four-state NBRC region.
Information regarding the FEP program, including the program overviews, maximum award amounts, eligibility criteria, allowable uses, prior awards, and competition timelines can be found on the NBRC FEP website. Information regarding prior NBRC investments in Vermont can be found on this list of Regional Forest Economy Partnership Awards.
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:
- Community development projects
- Workforce [re] training and development projects
- Marketing/communication and education projects
- Business planning and technical assistance projects
- Public infrastructure projects
CATALYST PROGRAM (Formerly EID and IIJA):
The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Catalyst Program supports the mission of the NBRC to fund economic development and infrastructure projects throughout designated counties in its four-state service area. The NBRC partnership provides investments to job-creating projects that help reduce poverty, unemployment, and outmigration. NBRC investment funds originate from the Federal Government but are approved by the Federal Government’s NBRC representative (Federal Co-Chair) and the Governors of the four States. Competitions will be announced as funding is available. Typically, Notices of Funding Opportunities are announced in the spring annually. Eligible organizations, which include nonprofit and governmental entities (state, local & Indian tribes), may access grant application forms online. Please find more Catalyst Program information here including the NBRC manual and Vermont scoring criteria. Funds support projects such as:
- Transportation infrastructure
- Basic public infrastructure
- Telecommunications infrastructure
- Renewable and alternative energy infrastructure
- Business and workforce development
- Basic health care
- Resource conservation, tourism, recreation
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY? (EID and FEP)
- State governments of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York
- Local governments (village, town, city, and county)
- Other political subdivisions of States (regional planning commissions, authorities of the state)
- Indian Tribes: § 200.54 Indian tribe (or “federally recognized Indian tribe”). Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Chapter 33), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). See annually published Bureau of Indian Affairs list of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services.
- Non-profit entities. The term ‘nonprofit entity’ means any organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code. The non-profit entity must be able to demonstrate they have federal grant experience and organizational capacity related to economic development.
- Forest Economy Program Only: Institutions of Higher Education (must be able to demonstrate existing industry partnerships)
QUESTIONS?
Vermont applications are reviewed, scored, and prioritized by the State of Vermont. These efforts are coordinated by State Program Manager Kristie Farnham. Resulting grant awards are managed by NBRC.
It is strongly recommended that Vermont applicants for NBRC funding contact Kristie Farnham about their projects in advance of submitting an application; she can be reached by email at kristie.farnham@vermont.gov.