Northern Border Regional Commission Now Accepting Applications for up to $7 Million in Grants to Support the Forest-Based Economy in Northern Border Communities

The New York Department of State today announced the availability of up to $7 million in grant funding in FY 2023 for Northern border communities through the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) 2023 Forest Economy Program. Eligible organizations, including nonprofit and governmental entities (state, local & tribal), within the Northern Border region of New York State can apply for grants up to $1 million for each project to support the local forest-based economy and to assist in the forest industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models.

“New York’s forested lands are a huge contributor to our state’s economy and provide significant benefits to both residents and visitors,” said New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “This round of federal grant funding has the potential to help support, modernize and diversify this critical, but often overlooked, piece of New York State’s economy. I am thankful to the federal government for their continued support and for making this funding available.”

Funds will be awarded to support projects in the forest economy, which may include one (or multiple) of the following:

1. 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 climate resiliency.
2. Workforce training and development projects for the purpose of building the skills and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed for forest businesses.
3. Marketing/communication and education projects that promote the environmental and climate benefits of forest management and forest products in ways that strengthen markets for wood products.
4. Business planning and technical assistance projects that enhance the viability and sustainability of new and existing forest businesses.
5. Public infrastructure projects that directly support the forest industry, and/or that demonstrate the use of wood-based products in public infrastructure.

NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders said, “There is an intrinsic link between the northern forest and the economic success of communities across the NBRC region. The program we are announcing today places a renewed focus on supporting businesses and communities in Northern New England and New York as they seek out new and innovative markets for wood products.”

Potential applicants must submit Letters of Interest (LOI) to be considered for funding. LOIs will be accepted on a rolling basis with two deadlines for summer and winter award consideration. LOIs for summer award consideration are due by March 10th, 2023 by 5 p.m., and LOIs for winter award consideration are due by September 15th, 2023 by 5 p.m. LOIs must be submitted as one pdf file to fep@nbrc.gov with the email subject line of “FOREST ECONOMY PROGRAM LOI.”

LOIs will be evaluated by a 9-member Advisory Board, consisting of forest economy representatives from each of the four NBRC states. The Advisory Board will determine which applicants will be invited to submit a full application, due either April 28th for summer award consideration or November 3rd for winter award consideration. The application and required support documentation must be submitted via one email to fep@nbrc.gov with the e-mail subject line of “FOREST ECONOMY PROGRAM APPLICATION.”

For additional information, including the 2023 Forest Economy Program overview and timeline, please visit: https://www.nbrc.gov/content/FEP.

For those considering applications in 2023, please contact NBRC Forest Economy Program Manager Marina Bowie, New York State NBRC Program Manager Kyle Wilber or a Forest Economy Program Advisory Board member:

NBRC Forest Economy Program Manager
Marina Bowie
mbowie@nbrc.gov
(603) 369-3001

NBRC New York State Program Manager
Kyle Wilber
wilber@dos.ny.gov
(518) 473-3694                                                                     

Forest Economy Program Advisory Board New York Representatives
Carrie Tuttle
ctuttle@danc.org
(315) 778-8312

Daniel Berheide
dberheide@westelcom.com
(518) 461-3614

The Northern Border Regional Commission - a regional economic development partnership between federal, state and local government - includes portions of the States of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The Commission is composed of the Governors of the four Northern Border States and a Federal Co-Chair, who is appointed by the President of the United States.

The Northern Border region of New York State contains the following counties: Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Seneca, Sullivan, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Yates. The NBRC also covers counties in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

New York’s Northern Border Regional Commission is administered within the DOS Division of Local Government Services. For more information on programs administered by the Department of State’s Division of Local Government Services, go to https://dos.ny.gov/services-and-support.