New Hampshire’s northern counties have been awarded $2.2 million for local economic development projects by the Northern Border Regional Commission.
Some of the projects funded include improvements to wastewater treatment in the town of Whitefield, the restoration of historic buildings in Claremont, and an expanded drug addiction treatment center in Bethlehem.
In 2011, the commission awarded less than half a million dollars in federally-funded grants. The amount awarded has steadily increased since then.
One grant will go to the nonprofit Global Awareness Local Action, to help build a maker space in Wolfeboro. Josh Arnold is executive director of the nonprofit, and says the idea behind the project "is to foster an entrepreneurial leadership and build skills that are suited to existing and future business needs, and also increase job opportunities."
Funding for the commission will go up for renewal with the Farm Bill in 2018.