POTSDAM -- Potsdam Humane Society will be awarded $178,895 from the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund for the construction of an addition and renovation of the current shelter.

The project will replace heating/cooling units for ventilation improvements, make repairs and modifications to kennels, and install sound-reduction materials, said a press release from the governor’s office.

The project will also include the construction of a detached building for long-term shelter animals to improve daily life, the press release said.

The Potsdam Humane Society is one of 14 animal shelters and humane societies across the state which have been awarded funding through the fund totaling nearly $5 million, the press release said.

The Companion Animal Capital Fund is the first state-funded program in the nation to support critical improvement projects at New York shelters.

The fund provides matching grants to offset the costs associated with capital projects such as renovating dog kennels, improving medical facilities, or building more efficient shelters to reduce the cost of operation, said the press release. Funds can also be used to construct, renovate, rehab, or acquire buildings or equipment needed to house, treat, and care for sheltered dogs and cats.

Competitive grants were awarded to shelters based on need and the readiness of projects, the governor’s office said.

According to the New York State Animal Protection Federation, more than 150,000 animals annually are brought to non-profit and municipality-run shelters and humane societies.

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the Companion Animal Capital Fund.