MASSENA -- The New York Power Authority (NYPA) Board of Trustees has approved a funding award of $200,000 to support Kingston Pharma’s $2.2 million expansion project.

The expansion of its 33,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Massena, in the former Alcoa laboratory at 5 County Route 42, is expected to create 45 new full-time jobs over the next three years and support the retention of 12 existing jobs, according to a statement from the power authority.

Kingston Pharma specializes in the development, manufacturing and marketing of consumer healthcare products. The 10,000-square-foot expansion will allow for the addition of packaging machinery, equipment and warehousing space to increase production capabilities, improve work process flow, reduce manufacturing costs and to better meet demand.

The funding award applies net earnings from unutilized hydropower from Massena's St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project to county businesses and institutions. The Northern New York Power Proceeds Act, which was authorized by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2014, allowed NYPA to deposit the net earnings from the market sale of unutilized electricity from the 20 megawatt St. Lawrence County Economic Development Power program into a fund, which can then be used to support economic development projects in St. Lawrence County.

“The Power Authority’s power proceeds program leverages low-cost hydropower from our St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project support in a multitude of economic development opportunities in the North County,” said Judge Eugene L. Nicandri, NYPA vice chairman and Massena resident. “NYPA is proud to support Kingston Pharma as it continues to grow in Massena and expand in the region.”

The Northern New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board makes regular funding recommendations on economic development projects in St. Lawrence County to the NYPA Board of Trustees. Eligibility criteria and application instructions may be found at the proceeds board’s website at www.nypa.gov/NNYPPAB/.

The power proceeds board members, appointed by Gov. Cuomo, are Chairman Patrick Kelly, CEO of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, in Canton; Robert McNeil, partner in McNeil Accounting Services, in Lisbon; Theresa Phalon, president and CEO of North Country Savings Bank, in Canton; Roger Sharlow, principal of RJS Consulting, in Waddington; and Ian Maxwell, technical sales manager of DeFelsko Corporation, in Ogdensburg.

In addition to funding from NYPA, Kingston Pharma’s growth in Massena has been supported by programs provided through the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency.

“NYPA and its low-cost power and economic development programs are a huge asset to our communities,” Massena Town Supervisor Steve O’Shaughnessy said. “The creation of the Norther New York Power Proceeds and funding for Kingston Pharma is another example of NYPPA’s efforts to work with our community to promote the local economy and put people to work.”

“It is great to see the funding from the Northern New York Power Proceeds being utilized to facilitate expansion at a Massena business with 45 new jobs,” Massena Mayor Tim Currier said. “NYPA continues to be a valuable partner in efforts to help attract new business and supporting economic development opportunities for existing companies.”

New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board Chairman and St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency CEO Patrick J. Kelly said, “By supporting an innovative and committed local company like Kingston Pharmaceuticals, the IDA, River Valley Agency and NYPA are working together to help build and diversify our economy. The financing and incentives provided for this project are creating jobs by enhancing Kingston’s ability to manufacture products in Massena for markets nationally and around the globe.”

“I am pleased to see that Kingston Pharma will be utilizing $200,000 in funding from the Northern New York Power Proceeds Program to support an expansion of the plant in Massena,” Sen. Joseph Griffo said. “The addition of 45 new full-time jobs over the next seven years and the retention of 12 existing jobs as a result of this funding is welcome news for the Northern New York region, and I am proud to have worked on getting the Northern New York Power Proceeds Act established in law in 2014.”

“Helping businesses to grow and create new jobs in St. Lawrence County has been my top priority as a member of the New York State Senate,” said state Sen. Patty Ritchie. “I want to thank the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, New York Power Authority and the Power Proceeds Allocation Board for their efforts to encourage companies to expand in the North Country.”

“The hard work of the Kingston Pharma team is clearly paying off with the need for this expansion,” Assemblywoman Addie Jenne said. “It once again demonstrates the skill of the North Country workforce and their dedication to producing high-quality work. I congratulate Kingston Pharma on their growth, and I commend NYPA for being an important part of their success story.”