BY PAUL MITCHELL

North Country This Week

CANTON – The public now has information at their fingertips as to what projects are taking shape in the Town of Canton.

Director of Economic Development Leigh Rodriguez informed members of the Canton Town Board Wednesday night that her office has developed a “Project Page” on the town’s website.

“The Community Plans and Projects page on the municipal website was updated to add project information about two weeks ago. There is a lot going on in Canton right now, so we wanted to provide a means for the public to easily access information about all of the exciting projects happening in the community,” Rodriguez remarked.

“This project page is really good,” said Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley.

The page highlights several projects and funding opportunities currently underway.

The projects with brief narrative include:

The Bent Beam Brewery 

The Village of Canton has received $610,000 from the Empire State Development Corporation’s Restore NY grant fund to assist St Lawrence Suds in the Rehabilitation of a vacant 101-year-old barn into the Bent Beam Brewery brew pub. The completion of this project will enhance the area around 41 Main Street by saving the original building and providing a food and beverage option that is sorely lacking in the community.

Community Development Block Grant – COVID Relief

The Village of Canton has received funding from the New York State Office of Community Renewal (OCR) in the amount of $1,186,974 through the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CDBG CARES) Program to provide small business assistance, and to assist the Society of United Helpers, Inc. in expanding mental health services. 

Culverts Project

The Village of Canton will be upgrading portions of its stormwater system by replacing culverts on Crescent Street. Inadequate drainage is adversely affecting private properties as well as flooding the roadway. In the winter months, surface icing has made some sections of the street extremely dangerous. The project will help prevent flooding and make sure the roads remain usable and safe. Funding for this project is provided in part by an EPF Title 15 Climate Smart Communities Project Grant.

Midtown Plaza Project

The Village of Canton, together with SUNY Canton and several interested developers, is working to rehabilitate the current Midtown Plaza to a mixed-use development offering diverse housing options, working and business space, and the SUNY Canton Entrepreneurship Center. SUNY Canton has secured around $4 million toward the project, and the Village was awarded a $2 million Restore NY grant to support demolition and hazardous material abatement. Additional funding has been secured through a financing agreement with Community Bank, and committed funds from developers.

Miner Street Trail Connector and Willow Island Park Enhancements

The Town and Village of Canton are working to implement the Canton Grasse River Waterfront Revitalization Plan and the Canton Master Trail Plan, by enhancing Willow Island Park along the Grasse River and widening Miner Street Road. 

New York Main Street Project

The Village of Canton has secured a $500,000 grant through the 2020 round of the New York Main Street Program (NYMS) that is administered by the NYS Office of Homes and Community Renewal (OCR). Funds are being used to provide rehabilitation assistance to property owners within Canton’s historic downtown business district, including sections of Main Street and adjacent side streets. These projects will contribute toward a vital and vibrant downtown economy, and leverage and encourage private investment by transforming vacant or underutilized second floor space to business or residential use, improving aesthetics through façade improvements that make downtown unique and attractive, encouraging upkeep and efficiency of these historic buildings, and encouraging projects that enhance secondary access to retail stores and businesses from municipal parking areas.

Oswegatchie River LWRP

Part 1 of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the Oswegatchie River has been developed in partnership with the Village of Rensselaer Falls, Town of Dekalb, Village of Richville, Town of Oswegatchie and Village of Heuvelton. 

Pyrites Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA)

Step 1 of a Brownfield Opportunity Area Nomination has been completed for Pyrites. 

Secondary Water Source Project

Safe drinking water is critical infrastructure. In order to replace the outdated Grasse River Water Filtration Plant, the Village has considered options and concluded that a new water source within the Village limits would best improve water source capacity. The Village has drilled a production well and will develop a new groundwater source on East Main Street. A new control building will be constructed to house a small lab area and restroom, mechanical/HVAC room, disinfection room, and a treatment area.

Stiles Ave Project

The Town of Canton is working on the preparation of a conceptual architectural and engineering design and planning for 12 Stiles Avenue. The property is adjacent to the existing Town barn, and could be utilized to co-locate the Village of Canton’s Department of Public Works and the Town Highway Department. This would allow for the consolidation of services such as sand and salt storage, fuel storage, snow storage and melt area, and would improve safety for equipment and materials movement on and off the site. The result of this project will be a planning document that the Town and Village can utilize to move forward with more efficient operations. This project is supported in part by a grant of $25,000 from the New York Department of State’s Local Government Efficiency program.