DHCR Grants Bring New Jobs and Investment to North Country

ALBANY, NY (05/14/2009)(readMedia)-- The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced two grants totaling more than $600,000 that will help bring more than new 100 jobs with health care benefits and $3 million in private investment to the North Country.

The grants, from the NYS Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) program, were awarded to Clinton County on behalf of Spencer Assembled-Rite Limited (Spencer ARL) and B3CG Interconnect, two Canadian firms seeking to build facilities in the US. The two firms are "spin-offs" which provide support and supplies to the Nova Bus assembly plant, and are locating here because of Nova's decision last year to open a manufacturing facility in the Town of Plattsburgh.

Governor David A. Paterson said "Last year, when I announced that Nova Bus was coming to Plattsburgh, I said our investment in the company would pay dividends for years to come. In addition to creating jobs, Nova Bus is now helping us to bring new business ventures to our state, creating more good jobs and attracting new investment."

DHCR Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen said today's awards "provide an immediate benefit for Clinton County, but more importantly, they clearly demonstrate that the wise investment of state resources can lead to effective, sustainable job growth and new private investment in our communities."

Spencer ARL will lease a 42,000 sq. ft. facility in the former military base and will sub-assemble and sequence major components for Nova Bus. B3CG will lease a 20,000 sq. ft. facility and will be the cable and harness supplier for the firm.

Spencer ARL will receive $405,000 in NYS CDBG funds which is expected to leverage approximately $1.5 million in private investment. The project will create 36 new jobs with employer-sponsored health care benefits, 22 of which will be made available to low and moderate income persons.

B3CG will receive $217,000 from the NYS CBDG program, which will help in leveraging approximately $1.4 million in private investment. B3CG will create 70 new jobs with employer-sponsored health care benefits, 61 of which will be made available to low and moderate income persons.

Commissioner VanAmerongen will join local officials to tour the facilities next Tuesday, May 22. She will also tour downtown Plattsburgh to see other projects that have benefited from grants from the NYS CDBG and Main Street programs.

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