Anna Kuzmic
Anna Kuzmic is a Senior Research Analyst at McAllister & Quinn. She connects clients with funding opportunities through targeted research and strategy. Anna co-founded a nonprofit that delivers leadership training to high school students.
NBRC Opens CATALYST Program Funding for 2026 Applications: New Infrastructure and Workforce Development Funding Opportunity for New York, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) has opened the CATALYST Program funding grant to invest in economic development, expand infrastructure, and support the region’s workforce. Nonprofits, career and technical centers, health centers, and municipalities in New York, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont are eligible to apply. See the chart below to see if your county is eligible.
The NBRC is particularly interested in funding rural communities and areas that have experienced extreme-weather-related disasters. Projects should focus on uplifting the local or regional economy.
This $30 million grant program can support transportation or water and wastewater infrastructure; telecommunications; workforce development; healthcare facilities; resource conservation; and childcare facilities. Grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements are the most common awards, often partnered with a workforce development element.
Examples of 2025 NBRC CATALYST-funded projects:
Awardee: HealthFirst Family Care Center, Inc.
Project: Expand a health center in Franklin, NH, improving access to primary care, behavioral health, and medication-assisted treatment for underserved populations.
Grant Amount: $1,000,000.00 | Total Project Amount: $3,811,169.00
Awardee: Associated General Contractors of Maine
Project: Expand the Maine Construction Academy Immersion Program, providing workforce training for at-risk youth in rural counties.
Grant Amount: $497,961.00 | Total Project Amount: $664,106.00
Awardee: Village of Dansville, NY
Project: Construct a public sewer extension, pedestrian infrastructure, and ADA-accessible playground equipment, improving community health and economic development. This project will provide wastewater service to Noyes Memorial Hospital and the planned YMCA, facilitating expansion and workforce growth, while new sidewalks, a walking trail, and a pedestrian bridge will enhance accessibility and safety.
Grant Amount: $1,979,586.00 | Total Project Amount: $2,474,483.00
Application for Northern Border Regional Commission CATALYST Grant Program
The pre-application is due February 27, 2026, and the final deadline (invite-only) is April 17, 2026. NBRC encourages applicants to review their respective state’s plan:
Click Below to Review your State’s Economic Development Strategy:
