Press Releases

Washington, DC--- Congressman Hodes today secured $1.5 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission to create jobs in the North Country. This afternoon, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010, which provides the funding for the Commission. The Commission will provide federal resources to create jobs and promote economic development in economically distressed areas of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York.

"This will put real resources into North Country communities to create jobs and help our small businesses to prosper," said Congressman Hodes. "The Commission will put North Country residents to work rebuilding our infrastructure for the 21^st century, improving high-speed internet access, and tapping our renewable sources for energy production. I am grateful that the initial funding will soon reach our communities, and I remain committed to securing more help for the North Country to create new jobs and rebuild our economy."

Congressman Hodes introduced legislation to create the Northern Border Regional Commission in 2007, during his first term in office. New Hampshire’s northern-most areas have some of the highest unemployment rates in the state. With President Obama’s signature, the process of providing funding to the Commission for this upcoming year is now complete, and Congressman Hodes will continue to push for more future support. The Commission will now begin to invest in infrastructure improvements to roads, railways, and broadband internet throughout Grafton, Coos, Sullivan, and Carroll counties. It will also invest federal resources in job training, energy generation, and health care.

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