Internet training for the jobless, expanding Tri-Town Packing in Brasher Falls, promotion of robotic farming and creation of a regional arts training program could soon become reality in St. Lawrence County.

Those are among priorities submitted by the North Country Regional Economic Development Council in its latest progress report and list of nearly $32 million worth of priority projects for the next round of state aid grants.

Among the projects with stakes in St. Lawrence County are:

• $100,000 for a multi-county program of workforce development internet training for 30 unemployed or underemployed people

• a Regional Arts and Interactive Learning revitalization project, a collaboration between the St. Lawrence County Arts Council and North Country Children’s Museum, based in Potsdam, which are asking for $3 million in state money and $30 million in private investment to provide training in business technical training, artists business incubators, a changing exhibition gallery featuring local and regional artists, professionally equipped art studios with arts instruction, multi-use spaces for performing arts classes, Creative Café with local farm-to-table options, a welcome center, green space for outdoor learning, community festivals and regional events.

• help to upgrade and expand Tri-Town Packing in Brasher, one of the only remaining meat packers in the regions, with $426,000 in public money, plus $85,200 in owner equity and $340,800 in bank financing

• a project based in Potsdam to promote robotic farming for local food production, for which the council is asking for $250,000 in state money and $500,000 in private investment

The report asserts that the council’s work has helped the region overcome “various boundaries that formerly limited its economic opportunities, including past state approaches to economic development which did not align with North Country circumstances. It also refers to the region's strong success in building economic links across the border with Canada for the benefit of the entire State,” a news release from the state’s Empire State Development office said.

The report includes a description of the council’s tracking of projects awarded in the previous three rounds of the Regional Council initiative through the seven-county region, which encompasses St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Franklin, Lewis, Hamilton, Essex, and Clinton counties.

NCREDC provided a list of the 25 priority projects they have endorsed for the fourth round of the Regional Council competition, totaling $31,751,000 in grants inn tax credits.

The North Country region has been declared a “top performer” in the presentation of its plan in all three previous rounds of funding, entitling it to more funds for its projects and programs.

The 115-page progress report, “Without Boundaries,” can be found on the North Country Regional Council’s website at www.northcountryopenforbusiness.com.