MASSENA – A Massena greenhouse business has benefited from the efforts of a number of local economic development resources, according to St. Lawrence County Industrial Development officials.

North Racquette Greenery, established in 1986 by Linda and Gary Pecore, has grown from a small, home-based business into one of the largest greeneries in the area. The Pecores have constructed a state-of-the-art garden greenhouse at the company’s new location on Trippany Road, which also offers more space for inventory, customer parking and unloading of freight. The greenery sells a large variety of annual and perennial plants, variety of shrubs and trees and flower arrangements. In addition, the greenery offers landscaping and planting services.

The Greater Massena Economic Development Fund partnered with the North Country Alliance to provide $100,000 in loan financing. The financing package was administered by the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Greater Massena Economic Development Fund and the North Country Alliance for lending us the money. I would also like to thank the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, the Small Business Development Center and Massena Town Supervisor Joe Gray for all of their help and support. Gary and I can’t believe the great response toward our new facility. Thank you all for believing in us,” said Linda Pecore.

Massena Town Supervisor Joseph D. Gray said, “North Racquette Greenery is a great success story. Here’s a family who started a home business in their garage many years ago, and as a result of hard work, dedication and a very responsible business model was able to expand and relocate to a beautiful new facility. It’s gratifying to see GMEDF monies put to good use helping a small local business grow and get even stronger.”

“The expanded greenhouse facility that North Racquette Greenery has undertaken is just the sort of financially sound and environmentally sustainable business that those of us with an interest in Northern New York’s economy are eager to support,” said Richard M. Kessel, president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA). The Greater Massena Economic Development Fund, for which NYPA provided the initial $1 million in funding, has proven to be a great resource for encouraging investments by a wide variety of businesses for growing the area economy and retaining and creating jobs. Economic development in the North Country is our highest priority at the Power Authority, in the utilization of low-cost hydropower from the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project and other resources, and the Greater Massena revolving loan fund is part of this.”

The Greater Massena Economic Development Fund (GMEDF) is a revolving loan established by the New York Power Authority to induce business enterprises to establish, maintain or expand plants, facilities or operations in the Town of Massena and St. Lawrence County. The primary goals of the program are to generate, retain or restore jobs and tax revenues for the Town and the County by inducing existing business enterprises to expand and by attracting new business enterprises to the area.