NBRC Catalyst Program
Northern Border Regional Commission is making up to $50M available in federal resources through the Catalyst Program in 2025. The Catalyst Program will hold two funding rounds with up to $36M available in the spring round and up to $14M available in the fall round.
The Catalyst Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region.
NBRC encourages projects that take a creative approach to addressing an economic need or opportunity in the region, alleviate economic distress, and contribute to economic growth.
SCEC CAN HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Through a Pilot Project with NBRC, SCEC can assist eligible Washington County applicants with the pre-application and application process at no cost.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Peters, Director of Community Development:
Phone: 207-255-0983
Email: scec@sunrisecounty.org
Successful projects support a broad range of economic development initiatives such as, but not limited to, projects that modernize and expand access to public water and wastewater services, revitalize transportation infrastructure, establish workforce development programs and facilities, grow the outdoor recreation economy, and provide access to new childcare and healthcare facilities.
2025 NBRC CATALYST FAQs
What are NBRC investment priorities?
NBRC investment priorities include:
The Catalyst Program will prioritize funding for projects that demonstrate both readiness and projected direct impacts on the region’s economy and communities. All projects must be consistent with the economic development goals of the region and advance a combination of NBRC and member state economic development strategies . NBRC investment priorities include:
1) Projects that provide direct benefits to communities that have been underrepresented in past NBRC investments. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate direct benefits to rural communities with populations of less than 5,000 and underserved communities. NBRC identifies an underserved community as those who suffer from a combination of economic, health and environmental burdens, including high unemployment and poverty, basic resources, or conditions, such as standard housing, medical and educational facilities, and civil rights and vulnerable populations, including minority, low income, rural, Tribal, indigenous, homeless, and limited English populations.
2) 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.
3) Projects that adapt to changing climate 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 climate related impacts and disasters.
Who is Eligible?
● State governments of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York
● 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)
● Federally recognized Indian Tribes; § 200.54 Indian tribe: Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Chapter 33), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). See annually published Bureau of Indian Affairs list of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services.
● Non-profit entities: The non-profit entity must be able to demonstrate they have federal grant experience related to community and economic development.
How do I apply?
The application submission process is the same for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. The Catalyst Program will run two funding rounds in 2025, with pre-application deadlines before 5:00pm EST on February 28 and August 29, and full application deadlines before 5:00pm EST on April 11 and October 10, respectively.
Pre-applications are required for funding consideration. Pre-applications will be reviewed for eligibility, maximum award amounts (based on project classification as either infrastructure or non-infrastructure), and adherence to both NBRC agency priorities and state program priorities. Full applications will only be accepted from those entities expressly invited to apply at the pre-application phase and must be submitted using NBRC’s online application system.
Interested and invited applicants should refer to the 2025 Catalyst Program User Manual for detailed pre-application and application submission instructions. The
2025 Catalyst Timeline
Spring 2025
- Pre-Application (Required) Due on February 28, 2025 before 5:00 pm EST
- Application (By Invitation) Due on April 11, 2025 before 5:00 pm EST
Fall 2025
- Pre-Application (Required) Due on August 29, 2025 before 5:00 pm EST
- Application (By Invitation) Due on October 10, 2025 before 5:00 pm EST
Administration Assistance through SCEC
The NBRC Federal-State partnership is aided by a group of regional organizations called Local Development Districts (LDDs) that assist the NBRC in its outreach activities and administer NBRC investments for grantees. LDDs are knowledgeable about other Federal and State programs that help fund economic and community development projects.
Sunrise County Economic Council is an LDD.
Each Catalyst Program award is required to utilize an LDD for grant administration assistance unless they are an agency of State government, are an LDD, or have requested and received LDD waiver approval from NBRC prior to the submission of the Catalyst Program application.
LDDs are compensated for their administrative work, through a reimbursement process with the grantee, based on the formula of 2% of the NBRC award. LLDs can assist with:
- Quarterly Reporting: Ensure that the grantee files quarterly reports on time and enough information
to provide a meaningful outline of where the project is at in the process. - Reimbursement Requests: Provide guidance to grantees on filing reimbursement requests and ensure that reimbursement requests are accurate, within approved budget and contain all the necessary documentation to provide evidence of match and reimbursements that are expected to be paid by NBRC.
- Final Reporting: Ensure that the grantee has filed their final report and financial report in a timely manner after the project is complete.
- General Assistance: Be available to provide guidance to the grantee with other issues such as what their responsibilities are regarding procurement of goods and services and contractors. Have a general knowledge base about federal grant programs, specifically NBRC.