Letter to Ms. Sandra R. Walters, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development

Letter

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND CALL ON COMMERCE DEPT TO ENSURE NORTHERN BORDER REGIONAL COMMISSION GETS FAIR SHARE OF STIMULUS MONEY TO HELP SPARK JOB GROWTH IN NORTHERN NEW YORK

Schumer Joins Gillibrand, Snowe (R-ME) and Shaheen (D-NH) in Letter to Commerce Dept. Secretary Urging Her to Ensure that NBRC Receives As Much of the $50 Million Pot As Possible

Comprehensive, Regional Commission Directs Federal Resources For Oversight and Economic Development in Northern Border Communities in NY, ME, VT and NH

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Olympia Snowe and Jeanne Shaheen today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce requesting that they direct funding from the $50 million pot authorized by the recently passed stimulus package for regional economic development commissions to the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The funding would help the most economically distressed areas of New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont recover from the impact of the current economic conditions and would help these states capitalize on their respective region's assets to build a stronger economic future.

"Despite its critical role in the regional and international economy, too often, the Northern Border is a neglected after-thought in our policy and funding decisions," said Senator Schumer. "Fully funding the Northern Border Regional Commission will allow the people who know the area best to implement strategies to create growth, improve aging infrastructure and spur job creation."

The goal of the commission is to address economic distressed areas along the Northern parts of these states. The counties in Upstate NY that will benefit under the commission include Cayuga, Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence. In an effort to ensure that the Northern Border communities in Upstate New York as well as New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, receive funding, Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, Snowe and Shaheen sent a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandra R. Walters urging her to direct the funding to the NBRC.

The 2008 Farm Bill authorized the establishment of the Northern Border Regional Commission to help address the community and economic development needs of the most severely distressed portions of the Northeastern United States.

The northern parts of New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont share many common economic challenges stemming from relative geographic isolation, aging infrastructure, population loss and a loss of natural resource-based industry that has historically been an economic engine. The already distressed region has been hit especially hard by the recession: The 36 counties that comprise the Northern Border Regional Commission have poverty levels above the national average, median household income that is more than $6,500 below the national average, persistent unemployment fed by constant layoffs in traditional manufacturing industries, and a significant out-migration and loss of younger workers.

The Northern Border Economic Development Commission invests in economically distressed communities and works to create and implement regional economic development plans to reduce poverty, address changing land use, and improve the quality of life for residents. The Commission provides funding for projects that stimulate economic development and promote the historic character, sustainable development, and industries of the region.

Since establishment, the NBRC has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support because of its effective use of taxpayers' money to leverage public and private investment in economic development projects that improve regional infrastructure, offer sustainable energy solutions and present new job opportunities.

Schumer noted that a key aspect of the Commission is that it is designed to give local authorities the lion's share of power to decide how to utilize the financial grants to spur local development.

Today, to ensure that the northern areas of New York, Main, New Hampshire, and Vermont receive funding, Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, Snowe and Shaheen sent a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandra R. Walters urging her to direct funding to the NBRC. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorized the Economic Development Agency to transfer up to $50 million dollars to regional economic development missions. The assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development has the authority to direct the funds.

In the letter they wrote, "During these difficult economic times, it is important that the Northern Border Regional Commission receive funding so that it can get to work for our states. Funding this Commission will provide new and important economic development tools that our state leaders, communities, economic development experts and local stakeholders can utilize together to promote solutions to our shared regional challenges."

A full copy of the letter is below

Ms. Sandra R. Walters
Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230-0002

Dear Ms. Walters:

As you know, the American Recovery and Reinvest Act of 2009 expressly authorized the Economic Development Administration to transfer up to $50 million to regional economic development commissions.

We respectfully request that you exercise your authority to direct funding to the Northern Border Regional Commission, which would help the most economically distressed areas of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont recover from the impact of this recession and capitalize on the region's assets to build a stronger economic future.

The Northern Border Regional Commission was authorized within the 2008 Farm Bill and is based on the highly successful Appalachian Regional Commission model. This effective public-private partnership model has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support because of its effective use of taxpayers' money to leverage public and private investment in economic development projects that improve regional infrastructure, offer sustainable energy solutions and present new job opportunities.

The northern parts of our states share many common economic challenges stemming from relative geographic isolation, aging infrastructure, population loss and a loss of natural resource-based industry that has historically been an economic engine. The 36 counties that comprise the Northern Border Regional Commission have poverty levels above the national average, median household income that is more than $6,500 below the national average, persistent unemployment fed by constant layoffs in traditional manufacturing industries, and a significant out-migration and loss of younger workers. This already distressed region has been hit especially hard by the recession.

During these difficult economic times, it is important that the Northern Border Regional Commission receive funding so that it can get to work for our states. Funding this Commission will provide new and important economic development tools that our state leaders, communities, economic development experts and local stakeholders can utilize together to promote solutions to our shared regional challenges.

Thank you for your consideration of our request to help bring desperately needed jobs and economic development to the northern border regions of our four states.

Sincerely

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen
U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe

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