Rep. William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, is supporting a long-term reauthorization of the Northern Border Regional Commission that provides federal support for economically distressed communities in the Northeast.

Without congressional action, the NBRC’s authorization will expire at the end of fiscal year 2013.

Mr. Owens is co-sponsoring legislation that would extend the authorization for the NBRC for an additional five years.

The reauthorization would include $30 million annually. That would be a continuation of the funding authorization the NBRC has had since its creation in 2008.

The NBRC has supported various projects across the north country, including $125,500 to the Business Development Corporation for a Greater Massena to construct a rail spur on the CSX St. Lawrence Subdivision and $158,120 to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

“The northern Border Regional Commission supports New York communities and it is important that we continue this momentum moving forward,” Mr. Owens said in a press release.

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