POTSDAM – The North Country Regional Economic Development council wants public input as it prepares a plan to help secure a chunk of the $1.5 billion in Empire State Development funding as part of the governor’s latest round of competitive economic development grants.

The North Country Regional Economic Development Council (NCREDC) is hosting several open forums this month, including one in Potsdam May 29.

At the meeting, county residents will have an opportunity to tell economic development officials what they think about the next round of competitive regional grants and the $1.5 billion Upstate Revitalization Initiative, described by some as similar to “The Hunger Games.”

The forums are in advance of the council’s application for millions of dollars in state aid up for grabs in the fifth annual round of regional competitions for the money, dubbed Gov. Cuomo’s “Hunger Games” by some critics.

An addition to the process is this year's $1.5 billion Upstate Revitalization Initiative economic development contest, which will pit seven of the 10 upstate regions against each other. Three regions with winning proposals will be awarded $500 million each, and the other regions will get less.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that "some upstate officials, however, say the Democratic governor’s proposal is more like 'The Hunger Games,' forcing them into a brutal faceoff where some will be cast out."

The NCREDC was named a “Top Performer” in earlier regional funding rounds in 2013 and 2012, in addition to their “Strategic Plan” being named a “Best Plan Awardee” in December 2011.

The state agency Empire State Development (ESD), which administers the program, is encouraging people, businesses, organizations, labor, and university representatives from the North Country to attend one of the seven public forums in the region for information about Round 5 and the Upstate Revitalization Initiative.

There will be time at the forums for attendees to offer comments, information and input, the press release from ESD said.

The Potsdam meeting is to be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. May 29 at Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena and Campus Center Barben Rooms. Cheel is building #12 on the university’s campus map at http://www.clarkson.edu/about/map.html.

Parking and registration information is available on the NCREDC website at http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/2015-ncredc-public-forum-registration.

The NCREDC’s Strategic Plan, Progress Report and other documents can be seen at www.ncredc.com. There is a section on how to submit comments and suggestions, particularly for those, who cannot attend one of the forums.

The seven-county North Country region, one of 10 such regions across the state, comprises St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

The co-chairs of the North Country council are Clarkson University President Tony Collins and North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas.

The council is also seeking proposals for priority projects for the competition. Those interested in submitting a project may find details at http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/genericcfa/north-country-priority-project-request-form.

Project proposals will be reviewed by the NCREDC based on their alignment with the council’s “strategic” plan and will be reviewed for technical correctness by the State Agency Resource Team. More info is at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/.