OGDENSBURG – The Department of Labor held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday in celebration of their new office space at 1031 Paterson St.

North Country Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, toured the Department of Labor's new office space prior to the ceremony.

Russell’s 116th “River District” includes all towns along the St. Lawrence River plus the St. Lawrence County towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and part of Jefferson County.

The Department of Labor's Ogdensburg office had been located at 1020 Park St. in space leased from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES for several years, but BOCES officials informed the state they were not going to renew the lease because they needed it for their own needs.

There had been some concern that the Department of Labor might choose to centralize its St. Lawrence County operations at its Canton and Massena locations.

But the Department of Labor announced late this summer it would be relocated to the mall on Paterson Street on property previously leased to Farrand's Flowers.

Russell reiterated her gratitude to Department of Labor officials for their work in finding a new location in Ogdensburg.

"It's a victory for North Country workers and job seekers. As big as St. Lawrence County is, it's important to make sure there is access to these types of services for all residents of the region. It would have been a tremendous hardship for residents of this region if the Ogdensburg site had closed," she said.

"We shared our concerns about the importance of keeping office space in Ogdensburg early on, and the responsiveness of the Department of Labor's North Country staff, in particular June O'Neill, to ensure that was the case was magnificent," according to Russell.

“They listened to our concerns and kept our office up to date as they moved through the site selection process. We have a great outcome for those people in the Ogdensburg area that need to be able to access important job search resources without having to travel an additional 30 to 60 miles,” she said.

Russell said she was also pleased New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon travelled to Ogdensburg Wednesday to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new office site.

"I appreciate the commissioner coming up here and her commitment to make sure the department is properly serving the North Country. It was great to hear her pledge that the Department of Labor will continue its presence in Ogdensburg for years to come," Russell said.