Projects in Massena, Ogdensburg and Potsdam received endorsements from the North Country Economic Development Council as part of their bid for pieces of $750 million in round five of state Regional Economic Development Council grants.

The council is including in their application:

• A capital improvement project at Ogdensburg’s Hoosier Magnetics

• Sawmill, wood pallet, shaving and briquette manufacturing at Massena’s Seaway Timber Harvesting

• Terminal expansion at Ogdensburg International Airport

• Phase two of the Development Authority of the North Country’s (DANC) North Country Redevelopment Fund

• Phase two of DANC’s North Country Value-Added Agriculture Program

• Robotic organic farming at Potsdam’s Agbotics, Inc.

• DANC’s North Country Transformational Community Tourism Revolving Fund

The council includes Clarkson University President Tony Collins as a co-chair, and other members from Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. There are nine other councils across the state.

The NCREDC’s most recent report outlines the region’s implementing strategies and projects since the first round of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative in 2011. The first four rounds resulted in $338.1 million in state funding to support 291 projects that are completed or in progress and have committed to create or retain 4,931 jobs in the region, according to a news release from the NCREDC.

“Our progress and success in the North Country can be wholly attributed to the diligence of so many people from our regional community who are coming together to build strong public-private partnerships," Collins said.

To continue building on the last four rounds, up to $750 million in state resources is available in round five. This fall, the region will also submit a strategic plan to compete for one of three $500 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) awards, which have been criticized as similar to a “Hunger Games” contest.

The Council created three new work groups to focus on the URI, which received feedback from “Big Ideas” brainstorm meetings.

Three Upstate winners of the URI will receive approximately $130 million each this year ($100 million in URI funding, and an estimated $30 million from round five of the REDC competition). Aside from those regions, three regions will earn “Top Performer” distinction in the REDC competition and will receive approximately $105 million each. Finally, the remaining four regions will receive approximately $90 million each through the REDC competition – which is more than the average amount awarded to the top place finisher in prior years.

NCREDC officials say they expect funding awards for round five to be announced by the end of the year.