Northern Border Regional Development
(12 counties in Maine, 4 counties in New Hampshire,
The region has had chronic and contiguous long-term economic distress.
The NBRC, led by a Federal Co-Chairman and the governors of each participating state, seeks to eliminate these negative economic conditions.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2012: Due to recent funding cuts, the NBRC only awarded six (6) grants for FY12., in the total amount of $1,105,067. These federal dollars were matched by $1,243,024 of other public and Private funds. It is estimated that approximately 200 jobs were created and/or saved. Fiscal Year 2013: Awards have not been made yet. Fiscal Year 2014: Budget has not yet been established.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Congress has mandated that the NBRC invest its grant resources in seven major areas, namely, transportation infrastructure; basic public infrastructure, including water, waste water, gas, and electric infrastructure; telecommunications infrastructure,; job skills and employment education, as well as, entrepreneurship, technology and business development; basic health care and other public services for those areas that are severely economically distressed and underdeveloped; resource conservation, tourism, recreation, and preservation open spaces in a manner consistent with economic development goals; and, development of renewable and alternative energy.
Only direct costs will be allowable costs; indirect costs are not eligible.
Staff working directly towards the completion of a project are eligible costs, but, overhead costs, such as rent, insurance, etc.
are not.
The NBRC federal grant program is only available to participating member states, local governments (towns, cities, counties), non-profit entities, and Native American entities, for projects within the NBRC region, or serving the NBRC region.
Eligible entities may not be conduits for private-sector entities.
No financial assistance will be authorized to assist relocation from one area of the region to another, except with NBRC approval, nor to attract business from outside the NBRC region into the NBRC region.
NBRC federal grant funds cannot be used to "supplant" existing federal streams, but, can be utilized to math other federal funds.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
No additional information.
Beneficiary Eligibility
No additional information.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The application review process begins with the assistance of Local Development Districts that are serve the counties of the NBRC region.
The applications are then forwarded to each if the State"s designated department to rank/score the applications.
The top projects are then submitted to each Governor for his/her certification to the NBRC Board, indicating their two top priority projects, wherein the NBRC Board considers them for approval.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. No additional procedures.
Award Procedures
The NBRC Board, consisting of the Federal Co-Chairman and the four governors, upon determination by the Federal Co-Chairman that the project satisfies the requirements for assistance under the Act, will approve a grant, by a vote of the Board.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
The 2008 Farm Bill, Public Law 110-346, 122 Stat. 2230.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
No other approval information.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 50.%. Those programs located in "distressed" counties, or serve "distressed" counties are eligible for up to 80% grants. Those grantees located in, or serving "transitional" counties, are eligible for up to 50% grants. Projects that assist two or more states are eligible for grants up to 90%.
"Distressed" county and "transitional" county designations are determined every fiscal year at the beginning of the application process, utilizing prescribed economic distress criteria.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The grant agreement stipulates the time period for completion of the project. Anytime during the project phase, the grantee may request a "no additional funding" time extension to complete the project. The NBRC will make a determination as to whether or not such a request will be granted.
All projects must be completed within five years from the date of the grant award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grantee submits periodic Requests for Reimbursement (SF-270) during the project phase, with 10% withheld until receipt of final closeout papers.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantee submits
Quarterly narrative reports are required , which indicated work that has been accomplished, perceived problems and solutions, and what is scheduled for the next quarter.
When submitting Requests for Reimbursement, grantee must furnish accompanying back-up information.
See Program Reports comments.
See Cash Reports comments.
Performance Monitoring is accomplished via the Quarterly Reports.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Federal awards will have a single or program-specific audit depending upon whether or not the grantee expends more than $500,000 a year or less, in Federal Awards.
Records
Project files should be saved for a period of three years.
Financial Information
Account Identification
57-3374-2-0-000.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 12 $1,105,067; FY 13 Estimate Not Available; and FY 14 Estimate Not Available
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range 50,000-200,000
Average $110,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Published in October,2010, the NBRC Grants Administration Manual.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Sandford Blitz Margaret Chase Smith FOB, Suite 21100
202 Harlow Street
, Bangor, Maine 04401 Email: sblitz@nbrc.gov Phone: 202-590-6650
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Does the project meet the objectives of a regional, state, or sub-state economic development strategy within the NBRC region? How much match and leveraging dollars does it contribute to the completion of the project? How many jobs will it save and/or create? What other economic distress fact will it reduce or eliminate? What will the overall positive impact of the project be?.
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
The Social Innovators of 2014
For 2014, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has recognized 37 individuals for their outstanding work in the field of social enterprise.
