POTSDAM -- A Clarkson University business student who was selected to introduce Gov. Andrew Cuomo at his visit there in February has been honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Matthew Turcotte of Clayton was chosen by the SBA’s Syracuse district office as the winner of their 2013 SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The 21-year-old was chosen for the award based on his North Country web site development company’s increase in sales and profits and his demonstrated long-term potential as a successful business owner.

At just 14, Matthew Turcotte developed his first web site and within two years had started North Shore Solutions, with his hometown of Clayton, its fire department, and the local opera house as clients. By the end of his junior year in high school, Turcotte’s business won the top prize at a local business concept competition for high school students and he published his first book, “From Main Street to Mainstream, the Essential Steps to Getting a Small Town Business Online.”

He was given Clarkson University’s first-ever Young Entrepreneur Award, where he was offered full tuition, office space and mentoring in exchange for a 10 percent equity stake in his business. The business’s revenues have risen to six figures, while he maintains a Presidential Scholar grade point average.

North Shore Solutions has expanded its services to offer logo design, web hosting and marketing for clients including 35 municipalities in upstate New York and businesses as far away as California. This year, Turcotte has expanded his horizons to real estate and purchased a commercial office building and U-Store of Watertown, a storage unit facility.

When Gov. Cuomo spoke at Clarkson early in February, emphasizing themes of entrepreneurship and business development, Turcotte was chosen to give a short speech introducing the governor to the capacity crowd in Clarkson Alumni Gym.

North Shore Solutions has offices in Potsdam and Clayton.