BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority another step closer to establishing a childcare center.

On Monday the OBPA was awarded $954,000 from the North Country Regional Economic Development council adding to previous grants the OBPA has raised about $4 million for the $4.6 million project.

To help run the facility the OBPA is planning to partner with The Arc Jefferson- St. Lawrence, a non-profit membership association dedicated to full inclusion and integration for persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

In August, OBPA Executive Director Steve Lawrence offered appreciation to Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand as well as Congresswoman Elise Stefanik who helped secure an additional $1 million toward the project. Federal representatives had previously secured about $2 million prior to this announcement.

At that time Lawrence said the project was estimated at about $4.6 million and was hopeful work could begin as early as 2025 should funding be secured.

The newest grant puts the OBPA in striking distance of the project.

Lawrence said the need for childcare in the area is very real. On top of only a small number of providers in the area, the high cost of childcare can impact people’s ability to enter the workforce because they may only break even after paying for the service.

Lawrence said that the project would also incorporate early development education and would not just provide daycare services.

The project will consist of a 15,000-square-foot childcare center for the residents of St. Lawrence County to provide daycare, an integrated preschool program and other childcare services. He estimated it would provide service for more than 100 children.

Last year, Schumer secured over $2 million to support the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority child care center project.

“On behalf of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, I wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the NBRC and Senator Charles Schumer for their invaluable support in selecting the OBPA childcare project as a recipient of the $1 million dollar grant award. This substantial support underscores our shared commitment to nurturing quality childcare services and will undoubtedly shape a brighter future for the children of our community,” Lawrence said at the time.