King Urges Senate Leaders to Increase Funding for Northern Border Regional Commission

Press Release

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today urged the leaders of a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to increase funding to the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), a joint state-federal economic development effort that has helped some of the most economically distressed counties in Maine.

In his letter to the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, Senator King asked that the Subcommittee provide $15 million in funding and recommended it direct that competitive grant programs within NBRC specifically support projects seeking to address the decline in forest-based economies in rural Maine. He also noted that for NBRC has been able to leverage, on average, $5.96 in matching funds for each federal grant dollar awarded.

"Since rural economic opportunities cut across state lines, it is important that our region address these obstacles to economic recovery in a meaningful and targeted way. By utilizing local and regional development plans, NBRC will be able to effectively infuse federal funds into projects with broad economic benefits all across the region," Senator King wrote. "As Congress continues to work to revive our rural economy, it is imperative that federal resources support successful programs like NBRC to advance economic development and job creation in the most effective way possible. Given the significant return on investment and need for additional resources in the region, it is critical to support the NBRC with the requested increase in funding."

NBRC is a key partner in the multiagency Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) -- originally requested in March 2016 by Senators Collins and King -- supporting economic development strategies and efforts that help pave the way for job growth in a region experiencing economic distress. The January EDAT assessment highlighted the importance of the NBRC and its potential to leverage federal resources to support the viability of impacted mill communities and help grow Maine's rural economy.

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