New York Announces Funding Availability for Northern Border Region Projects New York's northern border region encompasses counties that touch Vermont, Massachusetts, Canada, Pennsylvania and Lake Ontario. (NYup via YouTube) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $4.6 million in grant funding is available to support projects related to economic development and infrastructure in the state’s northern border region. The area encompasses counties that touch Vermont, Massachusetts, Canada, Pennsylvania and Lake Ontario. Competitive funding is available for qualified projects within New York’s 28 federally designated Northern Border Regional Commission counties. Local government agencies and nonprofit organizations within these counties also are eligible to apply for these grants.