The 2025 NBRC funding opportunities, including the Catalyst Program, are now open.
We encourage you to complete the questionnaire below for project coaching through the technical assistance program. Completing the questionnaire will help our Coaching Team understand where you could benefit from technical assistance with your funding application.
Applicants who utilize this technical assistance or “coaching” program have seen increased success rates over those who do not use this free service. Coaching helps less experienced and higher-need organizations secure funding and bring their projects to life. Over the last three years, 80% of the awarded projects have utilized the services of the technical assistance program.
Please feel free to complete the questionnaire and schedule an intake to get an early start on your Spring 2025 application.
We look forward to assisting you in the upcoming funding cycle!
Stay tuned at www.NBRC.gov for updates on 2025 programs.
Before completing the questionnaire, please review the material below.
The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA), in conjunction with the Northern Borders Regional Commission (NBRC), offers free technical assistance to eligible projects planning to submit a funding request in 2025. Technical assistance is currently available on an ongoing basis.
Once this questionnaire is submitted, BEA will review the information to determine eligibility and whether the submitted would benefit from receiving technical assistance, such as support with fundraising and project finances, planning and feasibility, analysis, evaluation, and other areas.
NBRC Overview
The NBRC – one of several Regional Commissions nationally - is a federal-state partnership supporting community and economic development projects within eligible counties in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York.
Its primary community and economic development program is the CATLYST.
Other specialized funds exist for Timber for Transit, Forest Economy, and Workforce Development.
NBRC will accept applications – via grants.gov - in the spring and fall for infrastructure or non-infrastructure projects. Infrastructure projects are eligible for up to $1,000,000 in funding, and non-infrastructure projects are eligible for up to $500,000.
Application materials and more information on key dates are now available on the NBRC's website.
Eligibility - 2025
NBRC is required to annually assess the level of economic and demographic distress among the counties in its service area to determine funding eligibility. The project and entities’ location solely determines eligibility. The full distress assessment can be found at Assessing Distress in NBRC Counties | Northern Border Regional Commission.
Municipalities, not-for-profits, and other units of government, such as public higher education,
are eligible for NBRC funding. Note that being eligible is not necessarily being competitive!
The map provides an overview of eligible funding areas in 2025. Coos and Sullivan County are classified as distressed and eligible for NBRC funding with a 20% match commitment.
Cheshire, Carroll, Belknap, and now Merrimack Counties are classified as transitional and eligible for funding with a 50% match commitment. Grafton County is classified as attainment and not eligible for funding. However, eligible applicants in “Isolated Areas of Distress” within Grafton Country are eligible for funding with a 50% match commitment. A “Waiver of Significant Benefit” request is also an option.
This is just a summary. Please see the NBRC's Catalyst Program website and manual for more detailed information on whether your project is eligible for NBRC funding.
We hope to “see you” on one of the virtual workshops and after you schedule an intake conversation at
Additional Resources
The NBRC, NH BEA, and their partners have developed several additional resources to help you submit a competitive funding application.
- The Monitoring & Evaluation Guidebook will provide guidance for developing measurement and evaluation metrics for your application.
- NH BEA NBRC Orientation Presentation Slidedeck and Recording