The NBRC region is primarily made up of rural communities, scattered villages, and natural landscapes. Because of the rural nature of the four-state region, communities vary widely in size, staffing, fiscal capacity, and administrative resources. Many smaller towns rely on part-time staff and volunteer leadership, even when tackling complex infrastructure or economic development projects. Others may have full-time staff, but may also have multiple projects to pursue simultaneously, making coordination of planning, funding and implementation critical. For this reason, local and regional technical assistance providers are a vital asset in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. NBRC is charged with working alongside these entities, called Local Development Districts (LDDs).

LDDs range from regional planning commissions and economic development corporations to councils of government who are dedicated to building rural capacity and support community and economic development. Beginning in 2023 NBRC created the LDD Partnership Program to improve relationships and support with LDDs. 

With this program, NBRC provides grant administration resources to support the LDDs as they assist our grantees. This partnership program holds both NBRC and LDDs accountable to a high standard of service to applicants and grantees, with special attention to the historically underserved communities within our service area.  

To be considered an active LDD, the organization must opt in on a yearly basis, attend required trainings and maintain internal capacity to administer NBRC grants. 

Our goal is for grantee partners to learn from the LDDs over the course of the performance period and develop a strong relationship with their regional partner. LDD’s expertise related to managing and administering federal funds, when shared with the grantee, will have long term value for the communities we all serve.  

2026 LDD Partnership Program Goals 

In conjunction with continuing to operate the opt in/out process for an up-to-date list of LDDs providing grant administration and hosting required training for our LDDs, NBRC will strive to: 

• Provide hands-on, in-depth training in the navigation of NBRC’s Grants Management System. 

• Build internal capacity within our distressed communities and low-capacity awardees. 

• Provide insight and guidance on how to teach grantees grant administration skills. 

• Utilize feedback from LDDs to improve processes. 

• Continue to add to the best practices resources for the LDD network, including a resource library. 

• Regularly gather feedback from LDDs and grantees through anonymous surveys and project meetings, focusing on efforts to strengthen the partnership, identify resource gaps and improve grant administration performance.

What are the expectations of participating in the LDD Partnership Program? 

• Attendance at all required trainings put on by NBRC. 

• Familiarity and comfort explaining and sharing NBRC’s Compliance Manual, policies, and procedures with grantees. 

• Familiarity with NBRC’s Grants Management System, specifically related to roles for grants administration and processing and troubleshooting.  

• General assistance related to federal funding structure and operating procedures (for example, reimbursement structures, BABAA, NEPA, etc.). 

• Hosting a Project Kickoff Meeting for each new NBRC grantee in a timely manner. 

• Maintain staff capacity at your organization for the entirety of the performance period of the award to ensure the following key NBRC grant milestones are met: 

• Notice to Proceed (Partial and/or Full) Documentation (assisting in the accurate and timely filing of NBRC Form 1002 Match Commitment and LDD Contract). 

• Quarterly and Annual Reporting (assisting in the accurate and timely filing of common forms SF-425 and SF-PPR). 

• Reimbursement Requests (assisting in the accurate and timely filing of SF-270 and guiding grantees in establishing organized systems to maintain invoices and documentation related to project expenditures). 

• Closeout Reporting (assisting in the accurate and timely filing of all required closeout documents, including the GPRA Form). 

• Contract or Grant Amendments (assisting in the accurate and timely filing of amendment documentation and support material). 

How does an LDD opt in or out of the LDD Partnership Program? 

The opt-in/opt-out process happens at the end of each calendar year. The objective is to get a real-time sense of which LDDs have the capacity to administer NBRC investments for the upcoming year. NBRC wants to ensure the LDD list on our website is an accurate resource for our grantees. Opted-In LDDs agree to the expectations that are listed above. 

It is important to note, since our awards period of performances are three years, that the opt-in process applies to providing grant administration help to any potential new grantees for that year’s grant awards. If you are currently under contract with projects awarded in past years, you are not opting out of those current contracts. Opting out signals to NBRC that you do not have the capacity to take on any NEW grantees. LDDs who opt-out one year are welcome to opt back in to the program in following years.