GREGG, SUNUNU: $643,900 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PLANNING GRANT TO HELP NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
North Country Council will use funding to help existing businesses, recruit new employers
Contact: Barbara Riley
WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu (R-NH) today (9/10) announced that the Bethlehem-based North Country Council will receive a $643,900 technical assistance and planning grant from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to help with economic recovery efforts following the paper mill closure in Groveton and paper mill slowdown in Gorham, New Hampshire. The EDA grant will provide immediate technical assistance to existing businesses in the area, as well as marketing and recruitment activities through the Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN). In addition, the State of New Hampshire Business Resource Center (NHBRC) will identify companies in New England and Senator Gregg stated, “This much needed EDA award will help the state and Senator Sununu stated, “Despite the economic pressures faced by New Hampshire’s North Country, particularly with the loss of jobs from the closures of the Wausau Paper Mill in Groveton and the slowdown at the Fraser Mill in Gorham, this region of our state continues to show its economic resilience. The North Country Council deserves credit for helping to build strength along the way, and this funding will play a valuable role in further economic development in this region. I am proud of the strong partnership of my office with the Council in helping to obtain this most recent round of federal funding.” Last month, North Country Council members joined Senator Sununu in hosting tours of current and prospective economic development projects in Coos, Grafton and Michael King, Executive Director of the North Country Council, stated "We are thrilled that the EDA has agreed to support the economic development of the Jon Freeman, President of Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC), stated, “Each of the components of the Sudden and Severe grant award is so important to the region and we are pleased to partner with North Country Council in this endeavor. As we consider the natural beauty, people, culture, activities and properties of -30-
302745 |