Over $900,000 in U.S. Department of Education Student Support Services Program grants will be awarded to three St. Lawrence County colleges.

There will be $309,458 for SUNY Canton, $332,515 for SUNY Potsdam and $317,461 for Clarkson University.

The Student Support Services Program, one of the federal TRIO programs, is designed to increase college persistence and completion for low-income and first-generation college students. These funds awarded to institutions of higher education will support opportunities for academic enrichment, career counseling, and supplemental financial assistance for program participants, according to a statement from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, who represents St. Lawrence County in Congress.

“I have stayed in close contact with our North Country colleges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are in critical need of funding to support students, faculty, and staff as they safely return to campus this Fall,” said Congresswoman Stefanik.

“These TRIO awards will help our higher education institutions as they work to ensure low-income and first generation college students remain on track to graduate amidst the many challenges created by the pandemic. Significantly more funding is needed, and I will continue to advocate for direct federal funding for our North Country colleges and students in order to help them recover from the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”