Two St. Lawrence County hospitals have been awarded nearly $11 million in Rural Development Grants from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg received $857,067 to reimburse healthcare-related lost revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gouverneur Hospital was awarded $10 million to assist the St. Lawrence Health System, led by Gouverneur Hospital, to implement a comprehensive St. Lawrence County-wide Electronic Health Record (EHR) system across all hospitals, clinics and services in the local rural area, establish an inter-facility Transport Coordination Center, and provide training for emergency medical services staff.

“Today, I am announcing over $12 million in taxpayer dollars will return to our district to support our rural hospitals as they overcome unique challenges,” Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said Wednesday, Oct. 12. “This significant investment will help bolster rural hospitals in Upstate New York and the North Country after lost revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic, help address the physician shortage, and ensure these hospitals can continue to meet our community’s healthcare needs.”

River Hospital Inc. in Alexandria Bay was awarded $778,490 to reimburse healthcare-related lost revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adirondack Medical Center in the Town of Harrietstown received $535,027 to help offset the costs of upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

Carthage Area Hospital Inc. in Carthage received $773,166 to reimburse healthcare-related lost revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.