Shaheen, Hassan & Kuster Applaud $750K in NBRC Funds for Colebrook Water Infrastructure Project

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) today applauded the announcement that the Town of Colebrook has been awarded $750,000 in federal funding through the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support a comprehensive water infrastructure project that will clean out the community’s wastewater treatment facility lagoons for the first time in 20 years. Completion of the project will provide Colebrook’s wastewater treatment facility with additional depth capacity and promote economic growth by directly supporting increased production of nitrile gloves at locally-based American Performance Polymers (APP), which, with support from Senator Shaheen’s office, secured two federal contracts to ramp up production. Nitrile gloves are medical personal protective equipment that have been in critical demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding comes in addition to $250,000 in NBRC funding the delegation announced last month in support of this project.

“Water infrastructure is key to investing in the public health, well-being and economic vitality of Granite State communities. That’s why securing investments like this that allow our communities to repair and revitalize vital drinking water, storm water and wastewater infrastructure has been one of my top priorities in the Senate,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m very pleased to see this new funding awarded, which will keep Colebrook’s wastewater treatment facility in good working order and protect the health and safety of residents. Additionally, these funds will help boost economic growth and create jobs by supporting American Performance Polymer’s efforts to expand production of critical personal protective equipment. I’ll continue to fight to secure the federal resources the NBRC and the EDA need to empower Granite State communities.”

“Investing in water infrastructure strengthens public health and also provides the foundation for a healthy economy,” said Senator Hassan. “I am pleased to announce this federal grant for Colebrook to clean out their wastewater treatment facility. This funding will also support American Performance Polymers, and I was glad to hear directly from them in August about how NBRC funding will help them to expand. I will continue pushing for funding that invests in our North Country communities.”

“I’m thrilled the Town of Colebrook will be receiving these federal funds from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and Economic Development Administration (EDA) to promote clean water infrastructure and bolster economic growth,” said Representative Kuster. “I was able to visit the American Performance Polymers manufacturing site in August, and was thoroughly impressed by their operation and commitment to serving our state and our country as we combat the spread of COVID-19. I will continue working to deliver the support our Granite State communities need to thrive.”

The NBRC provides federal support throughout northern New Hampshire through grants that spur economic and community development in rural communities. Shaheen has led efforts in Congress that support and invest in the NBRC, and included her bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and expand the NBRC’s reach in the Farm Bill that was signed into law in 2018. With support from Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), the legislation expanded the NBRC to include Cheshire County and communities in Belknap County. Shaheen also worked to include language to ensure portions of NBRC funds be directed to assist rural communities affected by past mill closures, as well as support new markets and the infrastructure needs of the forest products industry. Last year, Shaheen led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers, including the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, in calling for the inclusion of dedicated funding for the NBRC in COVID-19 relief legislation. In the government funding legislation signed into law in December, Shaheen and Hassan helped secure $30 million for the NBRC, which was a $5 million increase above the FY2020 funding level and the highest the program has ever been funded. That legislation also included a Shaheen and Hassan priority of eliminating the non-federal match requirement on FY2020 NBRC awards and future awards related to COVID-19 recovery, reducing potential hurdles to increased participation among eligible communities. Last month, Shaheen announced that she helped secure $35 million for the NBRC in bipartisan funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2022 that passed the committee and will next be considered by the full Senate, which is a $5 million increase above the FY2021 funding level and the highest the program has ever been funded. Earlier this month, the delegation also announced that the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will receive $350,000 through the NBRC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support small businesses and promote economic growth in North Country Communities. 

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