Economic-development projects involving Watertown Public Square, a boost for the Drum Country NY marketing program, and a Potsdam business renovating an adjacent building were among those National Grid helped fund last year. The energy company said it invested a total of more than $2.6 million in economic-development funding in 2021 in Central and Northern New York aimed […]
Economic-development projects involving Watertown Public Square, a boost for the Drum Country NY marketing program, and a Potsdam business renovating an adjacent building were among those National Grid helped fund last year.
The energy company said it invested a total of more than $2.6 million in economic-development funding in 2021 in Central and Northern New York aimed at growing the regional economy.
National Grid has a portfolio of economic-development programs to restore vacant buildings, “revitalize” commercial corridors, and remediate brownfields to spur new business, expansion, and job growth.
“National Grid is more than just an energy delivery company,” Alberto Bianchetti, regional director for National Grid, said in a release. “We contribute to the engine powering the local economy by incentivizing projects that remediate and revitalize brownfields and vacant storefronts, promote entrepreneurship, and keep businesses in Central New York. These investments fuel economic growth, job creation and retention, and new business opportunities that have a positive impact on everyone living in the region.”
Watertown Public Square project
A renovation project on Court Street in Watertown’s Public Square is converting a vacant building to a multi-purpose space. Developer S&J Properties, LLC is renovating the buildings located at 168-170 Court St. to house a restaurant and event space. Upper floors will have market-rate apartments.
The structure, built in the 1870s, is one of three projects on Court Street and a half-dozen on the Public Square to receive support from National Grid. Funding for the project is provided by the Main Street Revitalization program, National Grid said.
Drum Country NY marketing program
The Drum Country NY Coalition has created marketing tools to support its ongoing external outreach for a business-attraction campaign. The Drum Country NY Coalition includes the Development Authority of the North Country, Lewis County Economic Development, the Jefferson County and St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agencies, Ft. Drum Regional Liaison Organization, and National Grid.
Funds from National Grid and the federal Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation were used to redesign the Drum Country website, create new collateral materials and deploy a social-media campaign. The agencies used more than $33,000 from the Strategic Economic Development Outreach program. The program supports expertise and capacity for research, marketing, and sales efforts to attract new businesses to the region, National Grid said.
Potsdam building renovation
Summit Storage and Business Solutions of Potsdam renovated a vacant building adjacent to its property in Potsdam into an energy-efficient workspace and secure document-shredding facility. The project added 10,250 square feet of self-storage units to its business.
The vacant building was gutted, renovated, and crews built a new building façade and entryway. The project also added a roadside LED (light-emitting diode) sign.