Fourteen communities across Upstate New York will benefit from $12.3 million in federal grants, thanks to the latest round of investments from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The projects span a wide range of needs—from aging wastewater infrastructure to healthcare expansion, downtown revitalization, and housing development—marking another major win for rural and small-town development across the region.
Federal investment drives regional growth
U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, longtime champions of the NBRC, announced the funding and emphasized the program’s role in revitalizing economically distressed areas. The grants aim to create jobs, enhance quality of life, and support long-term infrastructure resilience.
“These federal investments will help create new jobs, strengthen infrastructure, expand healthcare, and boost quality of life,” said Senator Schumer.
Spotlight on key projects by region
Finger Lakes & Rochester Region
- Waterloo (Seneca County): $3 million for stormwater infrastructure, sidewalks, and curbing to prevent flooding and support downtown revitalization.
- Dansville (Livingston County): Nearly $2 million for sewer expansion, ADA-accessible playgrounds, and pedestrian enhancements.
- Livingston County Water & Sewer Authority: $1 million for regional water interconnection to improve resilience.
- Genesee Finger Lakes Planning Commission: $56K for a housing market analysis addressing gaps for seniors and low-income residents.
Central New York
- East Hill Family Medical, Inc. (Cayuga County): $1 million to open a new healthcare facility in Sennett, serving 4,500 additional patients.
- Town of Schroeppel (Oswego County): $80K for a feasibility study on long-term water infrastructure.
Capital Region
- Town of Hunter (Greene County): $1 million for a new community hall focused on workforce development and emergency preparedness.
- Village of Whitehall (Washington County): $1 million for vital upgrades to the Pine Lake reservoir and treatment plant.
North Country
- Lake Placid Center for the Arts (Essex County): $1 million to modernize a 52-year-old theatre, boosting cultural tourism.
- Plattsburgh (Clinton County): $100K for a wastewater system feasibility study supporting 150 new housing units.
- Lake Champlain-Lake George Planning Board (Essex County): $240K for workforce housing development work.
- Waddington (St. Lawrence County): $793K to replace deteriorated downtown water mains.
- United Cerebral Palsy Association (St. Lawrence County): $615K to expand pediatric healthcare services in underserved areas.
Mohawk Valley
- Town of Webb (Herkimer County): $485K to modernize aging wastewater systems and mitigate environmental risks.
What is the NBRC?
Founded in 2008, the Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership serving 30 counties in New York and additional regions in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. It supports economic revitalization through grants targeting:
- Infrastructure (water, broadband, transportation)
- Healthcare and childcare access
- Workforce development
- Housing initiatives
Future of the NBRC under threat
Despite its proven impact, President Donald Trump’s FY2026 budget proposes eliminating NBRC funding. Schumer and Gillibrand, who helped reauthorize the commission for another 5 years and increase funding to $40 million annually, are actively pushing back against the proposed cuts.
From 2010 to 2024, the NBRC has funded over 78 projects totaling more than $48 million in New York alone.
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