The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded an “Energy $mart Communities Program” grant for a program is to help residents, businesses and communities in a 10-county North Country region to take better advantage of NYSERDA’s energy programs.

The grant will be managed by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County in partnership the Potsdam-based Council for International Trade, Technology, Education and Communication (CITEC), with the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA), and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations in Lewis, Herkimer, Hamilton, Warren, Washington, Essex, Clinton, Franklin, and St. Lawrence Counties.

This partnership will provide energy education, outreach services and clean energy business development through implementation of NYSERDA’s New York Energy $mart Communities Program within the 10 northern counties of New York State.

Regional coordinators working out of ANCA, CITEC and county Extension offices will oversee and support local delivery of NYSERDA programs by trained energy specialists based in the region’s more densely populated rural communities.

Services through the Energy $mart Communities program include:

• Matching energy project needs with the available NYSERDA funding opportunities and other economic development resources.

• Creating partnerships to encourage the development and implementation of local energy projects.

• Educating home owners, community leaders, business owners, and the general public on the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable resources.

• Providing assistance to energy-related businesses and entrepreneurs through initiatives that increase awareness of local and NYSERDA business assistance services available to early-stage, clean-energy businesses.

• Building support for energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects by providing energy education forums to help achieve the energy savings necessary for successful development efforts.

• Helping organizations and businesses build opportunities and create jobs by providing access to job training and recruitment opportunities for local business partners.

• Building a network of local organizations and agencies that contribute to urban, suburban, and rural understanding of your project and its energy benefit to the community.

Additional information about the New York State Energy $mart Communities Program and other NYSERDA programs, resources, activities and events may be found at www.nyserda.org.