MORRISTOWN, NY - The State's Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet has released the second draft list of all proposals submitted to the task force for stimulus fund requests.

Where the first draft list contained no proposals from St. Lawrence County and was just a few pages long, this massive document is 774 pages and includes a significant number of projects in the North Country totaling just shy of $1 Billion in requested funds. 

The submitted projects have been forwarded to the appropriate New York State Agencies for review to determine funding eligibility and the next steps required towards funding the proposals.

Included in this round of proposals area considerble number of DOT projects for road resurfacing, sidewalk replacement, and bridge maintainence and repair, as well as more ambitious projects such as the proposed upgrade to the Newton Falls Rail Line to a Class III rail system.

Likewise, there are a large number of projects under the Dormitory Authority of New York, which governs construction projects for public and private universities, hospitals, and institutions which serve the public good.   Under this heading are renovation projects for various municipal buildings, town garages, and the like which range from a modest $62,000 to replace a town hall roof to a $22,000,000 request for a new emergency room at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

Under the administration of the Office of Homeland Security, a large number of St. Lawrence County fire departments applied for renovations or replacements to fire halls in various towns and villages including Parishville, Hopkinton, Richville, Potsdam, and others.  Additionally, at least one municipality proposed upgrades to the existing police station currently located in the basement of the town hall and not handicapped-accessible.

Several Broadband Development projects were listed including proposals from Cranberry Lake, Ogdensburg, and Clifton-Fine.

Canton, Massena, and Gouverneur requested funds for expansion or creation of Industrial Park areas.  

Gouverneur put forth proposals to the NYPA for an extension to the St. Lawrence natural gas line at a modest $85,000 which would provide service to at least 12 businesses and 20-25 additional residences.  They also submitted grant proposals to rehabilitate the Hydroelectric plant which serves the town and village.

Within the proposals to the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation is Waddington's Clark House project - a proposal to turn an 1883 hotel into four senior apartments and a 9 bedroom Victorian Bed and Breakfast hotel, conference center, restaurant, and 'living museum'.  Additional OPRHP projects include expansion of the trail system, greenbelt redevelopment projects, and rehabilitation of the Crossover Island Lighthouse.