POTSDAM -- The North Country Economic Development Council will meet Monday, Sept. 12, at 12:30 p.m. in Barrington Student Union at SUNY Potsdam.

Earlier, the meeting was expected to begin at 10 a.m.

All individuals, businesses, organizations, and university representatives from the North Country are welcome to attend the open meeting portion. However, those planning to attend are asked to visit www.northcountryopenforbusiness.com to register for the public portion of the meeting.

Created by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the ten Regional Economic Development Councils in the state represent a fundamental shift in the state's approach to economic development—from a top-down development model to a community-based approach that emphasizes regions' unique assets, harnesses local expertise, and empowers each region to set plans and priorities.

Co-chairs of the North Country council are Tony Collins, president of Clarkson University in Potsdam, and Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce in Plattsburgh.

The council is serving as a single point of contact for economic activity in the region. Through their strategic planning process, the councils will identify and expedite priority projects that demonstrate the greatest potential for job growth. As part of the initiative, up to $1 billion in state resources will be accessible to eligible economic development projects through existing program grants and tax credits.

Each regional council is drafting a strategic plan for the development of their region, which will provide a regional vision for economic development, address critical issues and opportunities, and lay out an implementation roadmap for future growth. The state will work with the regional councils to align state resources and policies, eliminate unnecessary barriers to growth and prosperity, and streamline the delivery of government services and programs to help the Regional Councils carry out their plans for development.