Shaheen Secures Additional Economic Development Funding for Northern New Hampshire in Funding Bill

**Shaheen’s effort rebuffs President Trump’s budget which proposed eliminating the Northern Border Regional Commission**

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has secured additional funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) in a government funding bill approved by the appropriations committee this week. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018 provides $15 million for NBRC, a $5 million increase over the previous year. NBRC provides economic development assistance to Coos, Grafton, Carroll and Sullivan counties, as well as other economically distressed areas of the Northeast. The bill also includes Shaheen's language ensuring that NBRC funds be used to address the needs of rural communities impacted by forest product plant closures. 

“This additional funding would be a win for jobs and economic development in Northern New Hampshire communities,” said Shaheen. “President Trump’s proposed elimination of the Northern Border Regional Commission was mindless and ignored the economic needs of Northern New Hampshire. Recent Commission investments have brought important employment and infrastructure developments to the community and provided funding for treatment and recovery services to help battle the opioid epidemic. I’m very pleased that there’s bipartisan support for my request for additional funding for the Commission, and I look forward to continued work across the aisle to ensure this additional funding is signed into law.”