The Fall 2026 NBRC Funding Round is Now Open
Start Your Application Today!
If you are considering applying for Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) funding this fall, now is the time to get started.
Complete the questionnaire below to request free project coaching through the New Hampshire Technical Assistance Program, funded by the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA). Your responses will help our Coaching Team understand your project, identify opportunities to strengthen your application, and determine the technical assistance that will best support your success.
Why participate in coaching? The results speak for themselves.
Approximately 80% of all awarded projects over the past three years participated in technical assistance.Coaching helps applicants strengthen project readiness, develop competitive narratives, refine budgets, understand match requirements, and navigate the application process with confidence.
Whether you are applying for the first time or have previously pursued NBRC funding, our team can help you build a stronger, more competitive application.
Your next steps are simple:
Complete the project questionnaire below. Schedule your intake meeting with a Technical Assistance Coach. Starting early gives your organization the greatest opportunity to address project readiness, identify potential challenges, and submit the strongest application possible. We look forward to partnering with you throughout the application process and helping turn your project into a successful NBRC investment.For official program guidance, eligibility requirements, and funding announcements, visit www.nbrc.gov.
Before completing the questionnaire, please review the materials 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 2026. 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 applicant 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 for 2026 has been released.
The Map to the left shows the eligibility for FY 2026.
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's and entities’ locations solely determine eligibility. The full distress assessment can be found at Assessing Distress in NBRC Counties
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 2026. Coos County is classified as distressed and eligible for NBRC funding with a 20% match commitment.
Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Merrimack, and Sullivan 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.
- NBRC Applicant Resources
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