BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- O'Reilly Auto Parts has officially opened in the Ogdensburg Seaway Plaza.

The store is a welcome addition to Ogdensburg which, like many other municipalities, has struggled to fill  a growing number of retail vacancies.

Ogdensburg is the latest benefactor from the continued expansion of the auto parts giant which operates more than 65,000 locations in North and South America.

The company is publicly traded and the Ogdensburg location is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  On Sundays store hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

O'Reily joins a crowded but growing market which is already home to NAPA Auto Center on State Street and Advanced Auto Parts on Paterson Street.

A site plan proposed by AutoZone was also approved this summer and will located at the former DealMaker Auto location in Oswegatchie just outside the city limits.

Notably the AutoZone would be located outside the city limits, meaning the city would not benefit from sales tax generated by the new shop. Unlike other towns and villages in St. Lawrence County, Ogdensburg relies on sales tax generated within the city, rather than receiving a portion of sales tax collected throughout the entire county.

At this point AutoZone has not confirmed the project is moving forward and no time frame exists for when construction might begin, but the site plan was approved.

Recently Ogdensburg officials have set their sights on making the city a more attractive and easier place to do business.

Ogdensburg Economic Developer Tyler Park helped establish a partnership between the city and Small Business Development Corporation, which aims to help small businesses owners gain access to resources.

Park said the city has many businesses but few resources to support them in the city. He said this partnership is something that can remedy that imbalance.

Park said the SBDC has assisted the city in the past and has a solid track record of success.

He said that the support from SBDC should alleviate some of the frustration felt by local businesses.

He said a number of business owners he's dealt with have expressed a variety of complaints in dealing with the city, his goal is to bring some relief.

Meanwhile the city has other businesses on the horizon as well.

At a recent meeting Ogdensburg took action to serve as lead agency for two upcoming business construction projects including a new Ace Hardware Store and the Small City Brewing Project.

The declaration will allow the city to help both businesses clear necessary environmental review hurdles and allow the projects to move forward.

The practice is common and can help secure grant funding to further assistance with projects.

Although it’s unclear when the projects will move forward, clearing the environmental review process is a sign things are still progressing.

The declaration will allow the city to help both businesses clear necessary environmental review hurdles and allow the projects to move forward.

The practice is common and can help secure grant funding to further assistance with projects.

Although it’s unclear when the projects will move forward, clearing the environmental review process is a sign things are still progressing.

In a presentation to council earlier this year, City Manager Fonda Chronis said the path he sees for economic development includes long-term development strategy, investing in an economic developer and working on comprehensive planning. 

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