BERLIN – U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) visited the Tri-County Community Action Program (CAP) office in Berlin to highlight provisions in the American Rescue Plan that will help provide relief for North Country families and communities in need.

“The Tri-County CAP has played a crucial role in delivering relief to those who need it most during this crisis. Since the beginning of the pandemic, staff at the agency have worked around the clock to help North Country families put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, access affordable child care and so much more,” said Senator Shaheen. “The agency deserves every possible resource to continue its essential work on the frontlines serving North Country communities, which is why I worked to secure provisions in the American Rescue Plan to strengthen critical Tri-County CAP programs residents rely on. I appreciated my conversation this afternoon with Mayor Grenier and Tri-County CAP staff and will continue to advocate for New Hampshire in the Senate to ensure it receives the federal support needed to recover from COVID-19.”

The Tri-County CAP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating poverty in Coös, Carroll and Grafton counties, providing services that address the employment, housing, nutrition and education needs of working North Country families. As one of New Hampshire’s five CAPs, the agency has played a crucial role in alleviating the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, but it needs further resources to continue its work on the frontlines. During the event, Shaheen met with Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier and leaders of the Tri-County CAP, and she heard more from participants on how this crisis has impacted their communities and discussed new relief for housing and homelessness, nutrition assistance, child care, small businesses, local budgetary shortfalls and more.

Senator Shaheen worked to secure the passage of the American Rescue Plan through Congress. The new law contains provisions that will to respond to the full scope of this public health and economic emergency and help struggling North Country families and communities. It includes just over $1.5 billion in funding through state and local aid, and nearly 600,000 Granite Staters will receive just under $1.5 billion in stimulus payments.

Over the past several weeks, Shaheen and the New Hampshire congressional delegation have announced initial installments of funding from the American Rescue Plan for New Hampshire communities, including $350.5 million to help schools safely re-open and support students, $20.2 million to help our community health centers expand access to vaccines and $40.9 million to help expand COVID-19 testing in Granite State schools. Earlier this week, Shaheen also announced an additional $30.6 million in vaccine administration grants from the December 2020 COVID-19 response package and the American Rescue Plan – funding that comes following Shaheen’s successful push to secure additional vaccine funding through the American Rescue Plan for small states like New Hampshire, which were previously shortchanged funding through a flawed formula from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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