BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

CANTON/POTSDAM — The towns of Canton and Potsdam are set to receive $1.12 million and $1.69 million in federal bailout money through the American Rescue Plan recently approved by Congress. However, it is still unclear how the money will be applied in the municipalities and local officials are still working out the details.

St. Lawrence County and its municipalities are set to receive more than $30 million in tax dollars from the federal government from the legislation, under the auspices of COVID-19 related aid.

Uses for the money are somewhat specific. Costs of responding to COVID-related public health emergencies or the pandemics negative economic impacts, financial aid to essential workers and to businesses employing essential workers and to municipal infrastructure improvements are allowed.

In a letter to the Potsdam town board, Potsdam Town Supervisor Ann Carvill said the money for Potsdam will be shared with the villages of Potsdam and Norwood.

“Senator Schumer told us that he worked hard to ensure that the American Rescue Plan monies went straight to municipalities – as opposed to being sent to NYS. He was concerned that there would be a bottleneck at the State level. Half of the monies should be received within 60 days,” Carvill wrote.

She said the Association of Towns will be guiding municipalities through the process of how the money can be applied.

“My gratitude goes to Senator Schumer and those who supported the American Rescue Plan. The infusion of revenues will help suffering Americans and assist in invigorating the US economy,” Carvill wrote.

The Potsdam supervisor told North Country This Week that she would update the publication with more details on how the money will be applied as she learns more.

Canton Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley told North Country This Week that the $1.21 destined for Canton is to be shared with the villages of Canton and Rensselaer Falls but it still needs to be determined exactly how much each municipality will receive from the dole.

“How the funds can be spent is another area that needs to be further clarified. Once the exact details are clear, the Town Board will take all of it into consideration. We will use this federal funding in a responsible way by following the established guidelines and continue to focus on the people as our priority. Municipal governance and management of public funds in providing direct services is complicated. There are several critical issues that we are addressing,” Ashley told the newspaper.

The Canton Town Supervisor praised Senator Schumer for his role in securing the funding for the municipality.