The North Country Regional Economic Development Council has announced that the Town of Potsdam and the Village of Massena are receiving a combined $711,000 for housing rehabilitation.

The communities are among North Country groups with signed contracts for housing rehabilitation and community development projects and are moving forward with the first stages of awards from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Council initiative.

Potsdam is receiving $400,000 through the Community development Block Grant program, to renovate 12 homes of low and moderate-income residents in the town.

Massena will get $311,600 through the HOME program, to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 14 owner-occupied units and 6 renter-occupied apartments in the section of the village north of the Grasse River.

St. Lawrence County Administrator Karen St. Hilaire said, “This investment by the state in improving the quality of the housing in the region helps to improve not only the living conditions of persons currently residing in substandard housing, but helps stabilize and improve the long-term availability of decent, affordable housing within our communities. As New York State realizes its economic resurgence, it is comforting that the state recognizes that there remains an obligation to help those still challenged with meeting their basic needs, with safe and decent housing being one such need.”

“New York State’s economic renaissance depends as much upon the vibrancy of its small cities and rural communities as it does on its large cities,” said Clarkson University President and regional council co-chair Tony Collins.

“More than half of residential housing in the North Country was constructed before the 1950-59 decade. Renovations that upgrade safety and energy-efficiency create jobs as well as serve our working families and elderly residents,” Collins said.

“Our Regional Economic Development Plan recognizes that quality communities are essential to economic growth, especially in the North Country,” said Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce and Regional Council co-chair. “And having quality housing is essential to having quality communities, which is why we welcome this significant investment in our region's housing stock.”

To learn more about each regional council and their economic development plans, visit www.nyworks.ny.gov.