NOTE: The 2025 NBRC Catalyst Program timeline is now available.
The 2025 Program is expected to be similar to the 2024 Program. We encourage you to complete the questionnaire below to get a head start. This will help us understand where you could benefit from technical assistance with your funding application.
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 is a federal-state partnership supporting community and economic development projects within eligible counties in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York. Its primary program is the Catalyst Program, which, beginning in 2024, it will accept applications in spring and fall for infrastructure or non-infrastructure projects. In 2024, infrastructure projects are eligible for up to $1,000,000 in funding, and non-infrastructure projects up to $500,000 in funding.
Application materials and more information on key dates are now available on the NBRC's website.
Eligibility - 2024
Currently, Coos, Carroll, Grafton, Sullivan, Cheshire, and Belknap Counties are eligible for NBRC funding. However, by statute, 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 map to the right provides an overview of eligible funding areas in 2024. Coos, Sullivan, and Cheshire Counties (dark green) are classified as areas of distress and eligible for NBRC funding with a 20% match commitment. Carroll and Belknap Counties (light green) are classified as transitioning and eligible for funding with a 50% match commitment. Grafton County is classified as attainment and not eligible for funding. However, municipalities determined to be areas of distress within Grafton Country (purple) are eligible for funding with a 50% match commitment.
Please see the NBRC's Catalyst Program website and manual for more detailed information on whether your project is eligible for NBRC funding.
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.