VERMONT — The federal Farm Bill passed in December included expansion of the territory eligible for grants under the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), to include the entire state of Vermont. Formerly, only the northern-most counties were eligible.
For information on the NBRC program head online to nbrc.gov or to the Vermont NBRC page, tinyurl.com/yxteunv2.
On Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tim Tierney from the Department of Economic Development within the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development will be in Addison County to provide information to potential applicants for the 2019 NBRC grant round. Points of discussion will include the goals of the NBRC, the application process and the scoring criteria used by reviewers.
Between $1.5 million and $2.5 million will be available for economic and infrastructure projects, with a $500,000 max award for infrastructure project and $250,000 for other projects. Addison is considered a “transitional county,” which requires a 50 percent match. Application will be available in February, with a letter of interest due March 30 and application due in May. Eligible applicants are public bodies, 501(c) non-profits, Native American Tribes, and state government, for projects that focus on:
•  Transportation infrastructure.
•  Basic public infrastructure.
•  Telecommunications infrastructure.
•  Workforce development, entrepreneurship and businesses and technology development.
•  Resources and open space conservation, tourism and recreation.
•  Renewable and alternative energy.
Tierney will also provide information on the Regional Forest Economy Partnership grant opportunity. The NBRC just released a NOFA with separate funding to address the declining forest products industry.
Please join ACEDC and the ACRPC for this informational briefing by the Vt Agency of Commerce.
What: NBRC Grant program informational briefing
Where: Middlebury Town Offices, Selectboard chambers- note change of venue
When: February 21, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
RSVP to : [email protected]