The Catalyst Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region.
Donor Name: Northern Border Regional Commission
State: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/29/2025
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Catalyst Program supports a broad range of economic development initiatives that will modernize and expand the region’s basic infrastructure and revitalize communities to support and attract the region’s workforce.The NBRC invests in job-creating projects that reduce poverty, unemployment, and outmigration.
Priorities
NBRC investment priorities include:
- Projects that directly benefit communities that have been underrepresented in past NBRC investments will be prioritized. The focus is on rural communities with fewer than 5,000 people and underserved communities. NBRC has statutory authority to define areas within the region as distressed, according to 40 USC 15702, including high rates of poverty, unemployment, or outmigration. Communities that suffer from a combination of socioeconomic and environmental burdens, including high unemployment and poverty, basic resources.
- Projects that address multiple needs and how those needs align with Catalyst project categories. project fulfills multiple needs. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate efficiencies gained from meeting multiple needs in one project.
- Projects that adapt to changing conditions and extreme weather events. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate how they help communities prevent, reduce, withstand, and/or improve recovery from extreme weather.
Funding Information
- Through the 2025 Catalyst Program, NBRC anticipates making up to $87.5 million available for competitive awards. The Catalyst Program will run two funding rounds with $40 million available in the fall round.
- Infrastructure Projects: Projects classified as construction in support of infrastructure are eligible for awards of up to $1,000,000. Infrastructure projects may be eligible for up to an additional $2,000,000 in funding, for a total maximum award of $3,000,000, if the project meets one of the following criteria: 1. Construction takes place in two or more eligible communities/counties/states; or 2. Construction involves two or more infrastructure categories (basic public, transportation, or telecommunications).
- Non-infrastructure Projects: Projects classified as non-infrastructure projects are eligible for awards of up to $500,000. Feasibility projects have a maximum award size of $100,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- State governments of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York
- For 2025, 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
- 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). Nonprofit 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; § 200.54 Indian tribe.
For more information, visit NBRC.
