By Jordan J. Phelan
Staff Writer
CONCORD — The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) has awarded more than $4.5 million in federal funds on Monday to 10 projects that will boost community development projects in New Hampshire.
Created by the U.S. Congress in 2008, the NBRC is a federal-state partnership whose mission is to help alleviate economic distress and help the region grow throughout 36 northern counties of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) works with communities and organizations throughout the year on projects that are eligible for the grants.
In New Hampshire, eligible counties are Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan.
“The grants awarded today provide a significant boost to the communities receiving them, “ said Gov. Chris Sununu in a press release. “The funding strengthens infrastructure, creates jobs, and encourages investment critical for future growth and opportunity.”
The 10 projects work to support existing community and organizational efforts to advance and strengthen local economies, said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
“The projects receiving funding this year reflect some of the pressing needs of our rural communities, including broadband development, childcare, and access to clean water,” he said. “These projects will make a real difference in the communities.”
Awards were made for the following projects:
— The town of Newport is receiving $600,000 to improve and replace more than 4,000 feet of water lines, ensuring 1,600 residential users and major employers have reliable access to clean water.
— The town of Goshen is receiving $500,000 to increase broadband access within the town and meet the needs of an emerging remote workforce, and to redesign Mill Village Road South (Route10) to facilitate economic development by attracting traditional brick and mortar businesses.
— The town of Colebrook is receiving $250,000 to clean out its wastewater treatment facility lagoons for the first time in 20 years, directly supporting the increased manufacturing of COVID-19–related nitrile gloves at American Performance Polymers and the expansion necessary to meet demand.
— The town of Hebron is receiving $995,110 to construct a 25-mile fiber-optic broadband network to provide affordable, fast and reliable internet service to every home and business in the town.
— The town of Sandwich is receiving $840,493 to support a public-private partnership to construct a fiber-optic broadband network, which will replace unreliable DSL and provide affordable access to homes and businesses.
— The town of Wakefield is receiving $245,000 to rehabilitate the former Old Union Hotel’s upper floors, improving infrastructure and economic development opportunities, including job creation and training.
— White Mountains Community College is receiving $350,000 for workforce training and development in the region.
— Mid-State Community Development Corp. in Plymouth is receiving $350,000 to expand childcare services and create 16 jobs to serve the needs of 816 area children under age 6.
— Littleton Industrial Development Corp. is receiving $210,000 for expansion of the industrial park, including 600 feet of access road and culvert replacement; installation of water/sewer lines, landscaping and permitting needed for expansion of current businesses and development of new ones;
—Umbagog Snowmobile Association in Errol is receiving $251,076 for the purchase of a new trail groomer to promote snowmobiling by providing access to 1,000 miles of trails in the area, sustaining businesses and encouraging new business growth.
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