Reauthorizing The Northern Border Regional Commission Would Unlock Federal Resources To Support Major Projects That Expand Housing, Child Care, Health Care, And Much More
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to announce that key provisions of her bipartisan Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act were included in the bipartisan Economic Development Reauthorization package that recently passed out of the Environment and Public Works Committee. These provisions would reauthorize the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), a federal-state economic development partnership that provides federal support for high-impact projects in 28 counties throughout Upstate New York that drive job creation and retention. The NBRC’s authority is set to expire on September 30th, and with an outdated program authorization and insufficient funding, the NBRC’s reauthorization through the Economic Development Reauthorization package would empower it to better address the unique needs of Upstate communities.
“The Northern Border Regional Commission has provided economic opportunities for rural communities across Upstate New York, and I am committed to ensuring that its vital programs remain in place for years to come,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With a proven track record of helping support projects that create jobs and modernize infrastructure it’s vital that we reauthorize the Commission to make sure we are keeping up with the needs of Upstate communities. I’m pleased to see that key provisions from my Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act were included in the bipartisan Economic Development Reauthorization package, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this important package passed and help boost the Upstate economy.”
Gillibrand’s bipartisan Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Commission and increase its capacity to meet the needs of rural counties in Upstate New York. The bill would modernize the NBRC’s economic development programs by empowering the Commission to address projects on rural housing, child care and health care facilities, and disaster resilience projects to support Upstate communities.
Since 2016, the Commission has invested more than $36 million in over 70 economic development projects in Upstate New York. The Commission is empowered to invest in a wide range of public and nonprofit projects that drive job creation and growth in predominantly small, rural counties that can be overlooked by traditional federal programs. The New York counties the NBRC provides federal support to are: 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.
A list of recent projects funded by the NBRC in New York is available here.