(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS), and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) alongside Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) welcomed a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the town of Jaffrey to build a water treatment plant and transmission lines as part of the Cold Springs Water System project. As Chair of the CJS subcommittee, Shaheen oversees funding for the EDA. Shaheen was a strong advocate for this project. The Senator worked closely with Jaffrey town officials and sent a letter with other members of the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation urging the EDA to award this funding.
The funding will go toward establishing critical infrastructure to support the expansion of the local manufacturing sector in the region. This EDA grant will be matched with $2.3 million in local funds and is expected to create 100 jobs and generate $40 million in private investment.
“I’m thrilled that the Economic Development Administration chose Jaffrey for this award, which provides a significant investment to Cheshire County by spurring job creation, prioritizing water infrastructure updates and investing in the economic vitality of Monadnock communities,” said Senator Shaheen. “As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the EDA, I’ll keep working to see that the agency has the resources it needs to support important local projects like this in New Hampshire and across the nation.”
“The Town of Jaffrey is very grateful to receive the $2.3M grant from EDA for the Cold Stone Springs water project. This grant represents the final piece of a very complex funding puzzle that keeps this project moving forward,” said Jon Frederick, Town Manager of Jaffrey. “We have been working with the Town of Peterborough since 2018 on this project and with EDA on this grant since 2020. EDA joins five other funding partners that bring this unique, collaborative project closer to its finish. We would like to express special gratitude to Senator Shaheen’s office and the EDA for their efforts making this $2.3M grant a reality.”
“President Biden is dedicated to supporting our manufacturers and providing communities with the resources needed to grow and diversify their economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA grant will provide the infrastructure that Jaffrey needs to help local businesses expand and create jobs, supporting economic resiliency in the region.”
“Investing in local manufacturing has an economic ripple effect, making a positive difference in Granite Staters’ lives and our economy,” said Senator Hassan. “Today’s federal funding to the town of Jaffrey will not only help build a new water treatment plant and improve transmission lines, but it will also create manufacturing jobs and generate private investment. That is why I pushed for these federal dollars, and I will continue to work to invest in local manufacturing in order to strengthen New Hampshire’s economy and help Granite Staters thrive.”
“This Economic Development Administration award is an exciting opportunity for Jaffrey, especially as the town works to upgrade its essential infrastructure,” said Representative Kuster. “These federal resources will help Jaffrey to build a water treatment plant and transmission lines, creating jobs and making a long-term investment in the growth and progress of communities across Cheshire County. I will continue pushing to strengthen our Granite State infrastructure and ensure it remains resilient for generations to come.”
“Ensuring our communities have safe, modern water infrastructure is critical to our families and local businesses,” said Representative Pappas. “I’m pleased to see these funds coming to our state to modernize our water infrastructure, support Granite State manufacturing, and spur economic growth. I remain committed to supporting projects like this that make badly-needed improvements to our infrastructure and invest in our future.”
As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies that funds the EDA, Shaheen has long supported securing resources for the agency. As part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the EDA invests in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. During negotiations for government funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2022, Senator Shaheen secured $373.5 million for the EDA.
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