North Country Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, said improvements and the expansion of the Ogdensburg Airport demonstrate positive strides the North Country can take when local, state and federal officials work together on a project.

She said the same strategy that allowed the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority to complete an expansion project at the Ogdensburg Airport in three years rather than the typical 10 years for a project of the magnitude that now allows Allegiant Air to land its planes in St. Lawrence County can be used for other efforts to grow the North Country economy.

"We have a team assembled here that gets the job done. There is no arguing the sky is the limit in the things we can do and the time it takes us to get it done. This project should have taken 10 years. It was done in three years. We are our own best marketing team," Russell said.

The nonstop service from Ogdensburg announced by Allegiant Air will include flights to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the Orlando Sanford International Airport. The new flights will be offered year-round and operate twice weekly. Fares are expected to be as low as $57, according to the company. The flights are expected to be very popular in the Ottawa, Ont., market and draw Canadian travelers to Ogdensburg.

Speaking earlier this month when Allegiant Air Flight 644 became the first national carrier to land a flight at the Ogdensburg Airport from a destination outside the Northeast, Russell said the new air service provides a tremendous opportunity for the North Country.

"This is the economic opportunity of the century for this area. We're not just talking about being able to get people to Florida quickly and cheaply. This is about getting people to the St. Lawrence Valley quickly and cheaply," she stressed.

"It's time for us to make sure the rest of the world gets here. We have world-class attractions here," she said, referring to natural resources in the region including the fishery that has received national attention in recent years with the Bassmaster's Elite tournaments on the St. Lawrence River.

"We need to fully utilize all of the opportunities that lie ahead of us. This is a truly historic event, and I can't wait for us to make more out of this than we have already done," n Russell said.

She also acknowledged as the mother of two elementary-school children the low-cost flights also had a personal benefit.

"It has typically taken many of us a long time to get out of here for family vacations, a long car ride to the Syracuse airport with our kids over anxious to get there. Now we can get affordable flights to Florida after a short trip to Ogdensburg. It's the little things that matter," the assemblywoman from nearby Theresa quipped.

Sam LaMacchia, chair of the OBPA Board, also noted the project represented more than simply expanded air service to the region. He talked about the genesis of the airport expansion project that is expected to draw up to 40,000 passengers to the Ogdensburg Airport each year.

"Somewhere around 3 1/2 years ago, we were looking for for a project that could bring us hope, passion, something to make us proud. There's something great about North Country people. We showed when we believe in something we do something about it. This is something cool, grand and worthwhile. We have worked tirelessly to make sure all the steps were done correctly, and safety was our number one concern," he stressed.

The multi-million dollar expansion project included a 1,200-foot expansion of the airport’s runway that involved moving a portion of state Route 68.

The project was 95 percent funded by the Federal Aviation Administration with the New York State Department of Transportation and OBPA each supplying 2.5 percent.

The OBPA also invested $3 million in a 3,600 square foot terminal expansion to accommodate the 177-seat passenger planes landing at the airport and built a. 478-space parking lot.

"The region needs economic opportunity, and the Authority delivered. Now it us up to you," OBPA Executive Director Wade Davis had told the large crowd on hand for a celebration marking the landing of the first Allegiant Air passenger flight in Ogdensburg.