The Northeast Gas Association (NGA) is a regional trade association that focuses on education and training, technology research and development, operations, planning, and increasing public awareness of natural gas in the Northeast U.S. NGA represents natural gas distribution companies, transmission companies, liquefied natural gas importers, and associate member companies. These companies provide natural gas to 14 million customers in nine states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont). NGA was established on January 1, 2003. Its predecessor organizations were The New England Gas Association (founded in 1926) and the New York Gas Group (founded in 1973). Its headquarters are in Needham, Massachusetts; its R&D entity, NYSEARCH, is located in northern New Jersey.