CANTON -- SUNY Canton is slated to receive a $111,326 grant to purchase and renovate the vacant former Jubilee Grocery Store in downtown Canton to create what officials call an "entrepreneurship accelerator."

The funding will be part of a series of Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) grants for for infrastructure projects around New York’s 21st Congressional District, announced St. Lawrence County's Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21).

SUNY Canton’s plan for the money will involve a $312,500 rennovation of the old Jubilee store which has sat vacant since it closed in 2000.

The new entrepreneurship accelerator proposed by the college will provide entrepreneurs from the campus and the broader community with resources, mentoring, and space to start their own businesses.

Another grant in the series announced by Stefanik will help fund a $373,130 project planned by the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) to create the Adirondack North Country Center for Businesses in Transition.

The center will establish a regional network of public, private and nonprofit partners in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

St. Lawrence County's Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) announced a series of Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) grants for infrastructure projects around New York’s 21st Congressional District.

The center will provide the soft infrastructure to supply matchmaking, resources and services for transferring ownership to help the more than ten thousand businesses in the North Country currently owned by Baby Boomers looking to retire over the next several years, said a press release from Stefanik’s office.

The Center is hoping to reach over 4,800 businesses and retain approximately 1,440 jobs, Stefanik said.

“I am pleased to announce significant grants from the Northern Border Regional Commission that will go a long way toward improving our North Country infrastructure.” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Infrastructure is critical to creating jobs and increasing economic opportunity, and I applaud the NBRC for their announcement. In Congress, I will continue working to improve our local infrastructure and advocating for funding for the NBRC.”

Other grant awards included:

• $250,000 to Jefferson Community College (JCC), in partnership with Lewis County to help fund construction of the 22,000-square-foot Lewis County Education Center on a 56 acres property;

• $352,000 to the Town of Inlet to construct a communications tower connecting portions of the Town, as well as nearby Towns of Raquette Lake, Eagle Bay, and Big Moose, that do not have cell service (including neighboring areas) and improving service quality for all local businesses, residents, and tourists; and

• $500,000 to the Town of Crown Point to help relocate their Sewer District Number 1 collection and wastewater treatment system for Sewer District 1.