The Forest Economy Program is designed to support the forest-based economy, and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the 4-state NBRC region.
Donor Name: Northern Border Regional Commission
State: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/27/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
For the purposes of this program, “locally sourced” means sourced, where possible, within the four state NBRC region.
- Community development projects that support the diversified use of forests within the Northern Border Regional Commission’s service area for economic activity to include wood products and advanced materials manufacturing, as well as for other economic activity that utilizes northern border forests sustainably and demonstrates planning for extreme weather readiness.
- Workforce [re] training and development projects for the purpose of building the employee skills and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed for forest businesses.
- Business planning and technical assistance projects that enhance the viability and sustainability of new and existing forest businesses.
- Public infrastructure projects (defined by Congress in NBRC’s authorizing language to be inclusive of transportation, water and wastewater, telecommunications, and energy) must directly support the forest industry, and/or demonstrate the use of wood products in public infrastructure.
- Marketing/communication and education work (MUST BE PAIRED with at least one other project category).
Funding Information
- NBRC anticipates making up to $4 million available for competitive awards.
- Forest Economy projects are eligible for an award up to $1 million.
Geographical Areas
Only projects within the NBRC’s service area are eligible for funding under. For 2026, the NBRC service area is:
- Maine: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington counties
- New Hampshire: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coös, Grafton, Merrimack, and Sullivan counties
- New York: Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Seneca, Sullivan, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Yates counties
- Vermont: all counties within the state.
Eligibility Criteria
- State governments of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York
- Local governments and secondary and career technical centers (village, town, city and county)
- Other political subdivisions of states (regional planning commissions, authorities of the state)
- Non-profit entities: Designated 501(c) and exempt from taxation under 501(a). Non-profit entities must be able to demonstrate they have established operations in a member state, and they have federal grant experience related to economic development.
- Federally recognized Indian Tribes; Indian tribe.
For more information, visit NBRC.
