St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency
Mission Statement
Reviewed and Reaffirmed in Public Session on February 27, 2014
The mission of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency is to promote, encourage,
attract and develop job opportunities and economically sound commerce and industry in St.
Lawrence County. To accomplish its mission, the IDA constructs and owns industrial sites and
buildings, administers loan packaging and industrial revenue bond financing and provides a variety
of tax-reduction incentives.
Performance Goals

To create new employment opportunities for St. Lawrence County citizens through the attraction of
or the creation of new businesses

To create new employment opportunities for St. Lawrence County citizens through the expansion of
existing businesses

To retain existing employment opportunities

To leverage the greatest level of private investment in St. Lawrence County businesses

To educate County businesses, elected officials and community representatives regarding available
economic development resources

Act as a liaison with businesses and government to help coordinate economic development services
and reduce bureaucracy

Work cooperatively with area economic development agencies to market County assets and
economic development resources to potential new or expanding businesses

Ensure a transparent and accountable operation with responsibly-managed Agency assets
2014 Performance Review (January 2014 – December 2014)
In 2014, the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency (“SLCIDA”) provided assistance to
a number of employers, communities and stakeholders throughout St. Lawrence County.

As part of our Public Authority Law compliance program, we conduct annual reviews of our policies
regarding Property Disposition, Investment of Funds, and Procurement. The SLCIDA has also
created a policy to formally identify criteria which will assist in evaluating project performance
and determine the appropriateness of recapturing, limiting or terminating a contract with a
recipient of IDA benefits. Performance reports and Board evaluations for 2013 were also reviewed
in 2014.

Through our ongoing retention efforts, staff made nearly 1,900 contacts with approximately 500
existing and prospective firms and organizations in 2014. This includes site visits to business
customer locations as part of our annual reporting process to New York State, as well as our regular
outreach program to local firms.

2013 Independent Audit reports were approved by the SLCIDA in March of 2014. Legislators have
been provided the reports electronically. In addition, the reports are available on our website at
www.SLCIDA.com.

A PILOT reopener clause enabled the St. Lawrence Gas Company to include additional properties
as part of the build outs portion of its Gas Line Expansion Project to Franklin County. Additionally,
and in connection with project cost increases, the Company had requested provision by the SLCIDA
of additional financial assistance in the form of additional sales and use tax exemptions.

DeFelsko Corporation and Beamko LP received financial assistance from the SLCIDA in the form
of Sales and Use Tax Exemptions and a PILOT relative to the companies’ expansion project in
Ogdensburg. The project is expected to create at least 15 new jobs over the next three (3) years.

Corning Property Management Corporation applied to the SLCIDA for financial assistance in the
form of Sales and Use Tax Exemptions and a PILOT relative to its expansion project at its plant in
the Town of DeKalb. This project is expected to create 40 new jobs over the next three (3) years.
Additionally, this project will assist Corning in strengthening its Canton plant operation as well as
Corning’s significant presence in New York State. The project will enable Corning to secure a
long-term contract for work at the Canton facility, providing additional stability and security for
the local plant.

Maxam North America, Inc. received assistance from the SLCIDA in the form of a sales and use tax
exemption and partial real property abatement as the Utah-based company opens a plant within
the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority’s industrial park. The project involves the construction
of a rail spur within OBPA’s park, along with construction of an approximately 4,800 sq. ft.
production building, silos for storage of raw materials and prefabricated tanks. The oxidizer
manufacturer services construction and mining markets throughout North America. The project is
expected to create 12 full time jobs.

Additional Sales and Use Tax Exemption benefits were authorized for ACCO for its Ogdensburg
project. ACCO has exceeded its job creation goal of 30 jobs at its combined Distribution and
Manufacturing facility in Ogdensburg.

SLCIDA amended a lease agreement with St. Lawrence Brewing Company, Inc. and authorized an
installment sales agreement for filtration and canning equipment, as the Brewery works to improve
its margins by bringing the canning operation of their products in-house.

The SLCIDA continues to provide space within the IDA’s Potsdam Commerce Park building to
enable St. Lawrence County to store pallets of emergency food rations.

The SLCIDA is facilitating discussions between the Town of Gouverneur and St. Lawrence Gas
Company in an attempt to extend natural gas service along Route 11 on the southside of
Gouverneur.

The SLCIDA formalized its support of proposed legislation to enable certain surplus St. Lawrence
Psychiatric Center properties to be transferred to the City of Ogdensburg for future development.

The SLCIDA continues its work on expanding the Canton Industrial Park. The SLCIDA received a
$470,000 grant award for the Park through the 2012 Regional Economic Development Council.
Design and engineering services for the extension of Commerce Lane, along with utilities
infrastructure in the Park has been completed. On June 26, 2014, the SLCIDA authorized a contract
in the amount of $544,000 with Acts II Construction (Gouverneur, New York) to proceed with the
expansion work. Infrastructure included in this project will be potable water, fire hydrant
installation, sanitary sewer complete with a necessary pump station and approximately 780 feet of
asphalt road construction. These infrastructure improvements will create shovel-ready building
sites in the new Canton Park.

The SLCIDA authorized execution of the Payment In Lieu of Taxes Agreement for the St. Lawrence
County portion of the Newton Falls Rail line.

The “clearing” portion of Phase I of the Newton Falls Rail Rehabilitation project is complete and
we expect to have “draft” construction bid documents by March of 2015. The engineer has, so far,
identified no major bridge issues. The SLCIDA has submitted expenses (through January 2014) to
New York State for reimbursement through the SLCIDA’s 2011 Regional Economic Development
Council award.

The SLCIDA staff continue to actively participate in the Regional Economic Development Council
process as evidenced by a co-leadership role in the REDC’s Global North Country Committee, and
by membership roles in the Opportunity Agenda Working Group, the Priority Project
Implementation Committee, the Workforce Committee, the Transportation & Infrastructure
Committee, and the Small Business/Community Development Committee.

The SLCIDA assisted the Town of Massena with an application for proposed funding through the
US Economic Development Administration’s 2014 EDAP funding program. The project will create
infrastructure and bring utilities and services to Horton Road, designed for development of a
commercial/light industrial park. The Town of Massena and the SLCIDA have worked closely with
Alcoa over the past several years to transition approximately 140 acres of land suitable for a new
park. The Massena Industrial Park is too small to permit large expansions and there are very few
lots left for development. Although the County has vast available land, there is very little available
with services that can accommodate projects requiring larger parcels.

The SLCIDA staff completed Consolidated Funding Applications for a number of projects, including
an infrastructure application for the Horton Road property in Massena and the gas pipeline
extension along Route 11 for the Town of Gouverneur. Additionally, a Northern Border Regional
Council application for the Horton Road property was submitted June 30.

The SLCIDA submitted a grant application to the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Program on
behalf of Tri-Town Packing to help fund a feasibility study and transition plan. SLCIDA is working
with Tri-Town to try to assist the Company in resolving its issue with the USDA inspection process.

The SLCIDA held its Annual Meeting on June 26, 2014. Brian W. Staples was reelected Chairman,
Ernest J. LaBaff was reelected Vice-Chairman, and Lynn Blevins was reelected Secretary. Patrick
J. Kelly was reappointed as Chief Executive Officer and Thomas J. Plastino was reappointed Chief
Financial Officer. The law firm of Silver & Collins was retained as Legal Counsel.

SLCIDA Chief Executive Patrick Kelly, representing the North Country Alliance, was appointed to
the board of the North Country Economic Development Fund, a $10,000,000 fund capitalized by
Alcoa for the benefit of the North Country. Mr. Kelly also serves on the New York State Economic
Development Council’s Board of Directors. The NYSEDC is the State’s principal organization
representing economic development professionals. The purpose of NYSEDC is to promote the
economic development of the state and its communities, encourage sound practices in the conduct
of regional and statewide development programs, and to develop education programs that enhance
the professional development skills of NYSEDC members.

The SLCIDA held an open house to celebrate the dedication of the “Ernest J. LaBaff Industrial
Building” in July of 2014.

The SLCIDA entered into agreement with the New York State Department of Labor to provide
Occupational Safety and Health Training Services to businesses in St. Lawrence County free of
charge as a result of a grant in the amount of $4,962 issued by the Hazard Abatement Board. The
grant funds expired July 31, 2014.

FY2015 budgets were approved for the SLCIDA.

The SLCIDA also continued aggressive marketing efforts, as follows:
o Outreach of select Canadian businesses in Ontario and Quebec to generate interest and
possible expansion into St. Lawrence County through trade shows, events, and advertising.
o Outreach of select businesses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in
conjunction with trade shows to generate interest and possible expansion into St. Lawrence
County including over 3,400 direct mail pieces. Coordination with local colleges to outreach
alumni in those geographic areas to encourage them to visit our booth at trade shows and
consider a business location in St. Lawrence County through a combination of email and direct
mail communications.
o Direct mailing to Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania companies either
in the electronics or paper industry highlighting availability of buildings, such as the former
Newton Falls Fine Paper facility in Newton Falls and ACCO Brands facility in Ogdensburg.
o Continued to promote advantages of low-cost power available through the NYPA Preservation
Power and St. Lawrence County Economic Development Power programs through a series of
mailings, advertisements, trade show displays, site visits and other outreach activities.
o Facilitated three Countywide Economic Developers’ Marketing meetings to ensure
coordination of marketing efforts, strategic objectives and general operating activities of the
local, county and regional developers.
o Maintained memberships in Canadian trade organizations to facilitate access to events and to
maintain key contacts with Canadian companies and multiplier organizations.
o Since 2007, the SLCIDA has partnered with the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization,
DANC, Jefferson County LDC and Lewis County Economic Development to undertake a
regional marketing initiative. The SLCIDA agreed to extend this commitment through CY2016
and committed $5,000 annually to the initiative.
o Advertising and media promotion pieces created and utilized, including placements in Ottawa
Technology Magazine, Ottawa Business Journal, Multiview Media, North Country This Week,
Watertown Daily Times, St. Lawrence County Newspapers (including the 2014 Bassmasters
Fishing Guide) and GardenShare Local Food Guide. Strategic media placement and emarketing highlighting attendance at tradeshows including Montreal Gazette, MCI Magazine
(Quebec City), National Post Montreal Edition, and CANSEC show guide.
o The SLCIDA co-sponsored National Manufacturing Day, held at SUNY Canton, whereby
leaders from local industry share details on the career opportunities that will support
tomorrow's manufacturing needs. Attendees rotate through three activities: robotics
presentation by Clarkson University, displays by local manufacturers and a tour of the college's
Manufacturing Technology Center.
o The SLCIDA was approved for a $50,000 grant application to National Grid’s Strategic
Economic Development Outreach program to enhance our Canadian marketing efforts from
June 2014 through June 2015.
o Attended the first “Resource Fair” at St. Lawrence University’s New Faculty Orientation and
shared a booth with the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. With the vast majority of
the 36 faculty members being new to the North Country and SLU, opportunities and incentives
were discussed with potential entrepreneurs (faculty, traveling spouses or companions) for
starting or relocating a business in St. Lawrence County. This is part of a continuing effort to
build strong partnerships with the colleges and to leverage them as drivers of economic
development in the County.
o Distributed information to alumni at SUNY Potsdam’s Alumni Weekend, encouraging them to
bring their business to St. Lawrence County.
o The SLCIDA staff are involved in monthly business attraction calls, working to develop a
pipeline of prospects in Canada, as part of the Centerstate CEO Canadian Marketing Initiative.
o In support of Agricultural & Agribusiness in St. Lawrence County, SLCIDA co-sponsored an
Ag Tour, informing County, State and Federal Officials of the economic importance of
agriculture in St. Lawrence County. The SLCIDA staff also actively participate in the County
Ag and Farmland Protection Board meetings.
o Sponsorship, coordination and/or attendance at 15 trade shows/marketing events in New York,
New England and Canada:
March 2014
 Presentation of Marketing Plan to Massena Rotary
 Women’s Business Bootcamp at SUNY Canton
 FABTECH, Toronto
 BIOMeDevice/Plastec/Design & Manufacturing/Electronics New England, Boston
April 2014
 3-D Printing Tradeshow, New York (in addition to other 3-D printing workshops attended
throughout the state this year)
 All-Energy Canada Exhibition, Toronto(staff presentation on International Trading)
 EpTech, Montreal
 North Country Business Expo/The Really Big Show, Potsdam
 Canadian Environmental Conference & Tradeshow (CANECT), Mississauga
 Ottawa Business Summit, Ottawa
 North County Symposium, St. Lawrence University
 Senator Gillibrand with Chair of Export Import Bank of U.S. presented North Country
Business Expansion Opportunities in the Overseas Market.
May 2014
 Mfg4, Hartford
 Montreal Manufacturing Technology Show (MMTS), Montreal
 Canadian Defense Security Tradeshow (CANSEC), Ottawa
 AmCham: Workshop “Expand Your Business in the U.S.”
June 2014
 Atlantic Design & Manufacturing Tradeshow, New York
 North Country Clean Energy Conference, ANCA in Lake Placid
September 2014
 AmExpo, Mississauga
 Global North Country Roundtable (FDI, Exporting, Regional & International
Connections), Plattsburgh
October 2014
 Salon Industriel de Quebec, Quebec City
 Women’s Business Bootcamp, SUNY Canton
 EpTech, Ottawa
 Small Business Development Center: Matchmaker Event (SUNY Canton)
 Centerstate CEO 2014 B2B Marketplace, Syracuse
 AmCham: “North American Competitiveness and Innovation” participation in the
NACIC 2014 Ministerial Conference, Toronto
November 2014
 Secure Tech, Ottawa
 Design & Manufacturing (PackEx), Montreal
 Congressman Owens: “Doing Business Across the U.S. – Canada Border”, Plattsburgh
 Access to Capital for the Food, Beverage & Agriculture Industry (SUNY Canton)
December 2014
 North Country Cross-Border Roundtable with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik,
Plattsburgh
 Canadian Empire State Development Representatives, Plattsburgh
St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency
Additional Questions
1.
Have the board members acknowledged that they have read and understood the mission
of the public authority?
ANS: Yes – the Board members reviewed and approved (by formal resolution) the mission
statement and performance measures of the board.
2.
Who has the power to appoint the management of the public authority?
ANS: Management is appointed by the board members of the authority.
3.
If the Board appoints management, do you have a policy you follow when appointing the
management of the public authority?
ANS: The board of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency appoints its Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Executive Officer appoints
management and staff.
4.
Briefly describe the role of the Board and the role of management in the implementation
of the mission.
ANS: The Board, with assistance of management, works to develop the authority’s mission, and
evaluate the authority’s goals and performance.
Management ensures that the Board’s mission and goals are carried out in a manner which
achieves the intended public purpose - a process involving program evaluation, reporting,
feedback and recommendation.
5.
Has the Board acknowledged that they have read and understood the responses to each of
these questions?
ANS: The Board acknowledges its understanding of this document by formally approving the
document in public session.