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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

Saturday,ÊD ecemberÊ17,Ê2016

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www.SunCommunityNews.com

In SPORTS | pg. 18

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MVAC regular season begins

In opinion | pg. 6

Consider Standing Rock

Local teams take to the court

A guest viewpoint

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In OUTDOORS | pg. 17

Fatherly respect Tales from the outdoors

North Country nets $61m in state economic funds Award to fund infrastructure protects, start-up businesses across seven-county region By Pete DeMola

pete@suncommunitynews.com

ALBANY — The North Country landed $61.4 million in state economic development funds on Thursday. The Regional Economic Development Council funds, announced at the annual awards ceremony in Albany, will be used to

bankroll 77 projects across the region. Key Clinton County projects include building improvements to the North Country Veterans Association, production line expansions at SSF Production, renovation work at the proposed Keeseville Waterfront Park and funds to modernize elevators at the Plattsburgh Housing Authority. The windfall is part of $750 million made available from the state-sponsored initiative designed to offer a community-driven approach to stimulate economic growth. Since 2011, the North Country REDC has netted a total of $484 million.

‘SERIES OF FIRECRACKERS’ While the North Country REDC, one of 10 councils in the state, didn’t land the “top performer” designation that would have netted an additional $25 million, the pot will allow them to chip away at what the council flagged as a “community-minded” approach toward economic development. “We once again were right up there with several of the metro regions, earning valuable support for dozens of mostly small but important projects,” said Garry Douglas, CoChair of the North Country REDC.

The North Country is huge, dispersed and economically diverse, with no metropolitan center, he said. “Instead of big bangs, we promised a continuing series of firecrackers,” said Douglas. “It’s not about the size of projects, but about projects that are further building blocks.” The North Country REDC specifically sought $25 million for 27 priority projects. According to a report submitted to the state in October, the plan will leverage $77.6 million in private and other funding for total project expenses of more than $102.6 million. >> See REDC | pg. 19

Sun Editorial Board sits with Access, BeWild Our editorial board met with the two main stakeholder groups involved in the Boreas Ponds debate: Access the Adirondacks and BeWildNY

GETTING INTO THE SPIRIT: The 51st Minerva Christmas Bazaar was held Dec. 2 at Minerva Central. With a theme of Christmas Carols, the event drew a big crowd of vendors and folks who came out to enjoy the music, food, fun and chance to shop for Christmas. Hosted by the Minerva Community Scholarship Fund, the spirit and joy of the holiday was present throughout the evening. Photo by Mike Corey

The state purchased the Boreas Ponds and MacIntyre Tracts from the Nature Conservancy in May. Widely considered to be the final in a series of large-scale land acquisitions, the former timberlands in Newcomb and North Hudson are awaiting classification Bill Farber by the Adirondack Park Agency (APA), which is accepting public comment until Dec. 30. The APA has offered four official proposals on how the Boreas Ponds Tract, which has generated the most discussion, can be classified. That classification will determine how Willie Janeway >> See BOREAS | pg. 10


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