Assemblywoman Russell obtains funding for Sackets Battlefield monument

      Will be a speaker at this weekend's dedication

      Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell announced today that she will be a speaker at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site on Sunday August 3^rd to dedicate a new monument for which she obtained legislative funding. The monument commemorates the American Soldiers who died in the 2^nd Battle of Sackets Harbor occurring on May 29, 1813.  The monument dedication will be at Noon and will be part of the annual War of 1812 Living History Weekend.

      “I am so pleased that I could help with the funding of this important monument. The Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site is one of the top War of 1812 battlefields in the United States and it is very fitting that we honor our militia and regulars who fought to keep our country free,” said Assemblywoman Russell.

      Last year, a monument was erected to honor the British Crown Forces and Canadians that died at Sackets Harbor. “I attended the dedication last year and was honored to be part of that ceremony for our Canadian friends and British military. It is fitting that as the commemoration of the 200^th Anniversary of the War of 1812 concludes that we honor our military heroes as well.”

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Over $2 million in funding awarded to North Country projects

            Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced that over $2 million in funding for local economic development projects has been approved by the Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors. The projects, which are geared towards two of the North Country’s largest industries, agriculture and tourism, will spur economic development and are estimated to help create or retain at least 100 jobs.[1]

            A grant of up to $1,000,000 establishing a new regional revolving loan fund to develop agribusiness facilities in the North Country Region—the Value Added Agricultural Loan Fund – has been awarded to help farmers and other food industry producers develop new products and increase production efficiency.

            “I’m very pleased to see that this proposal will be funded and will provide North Country farmers and entrepreneurs with new opportunities to expand their businesses and add to their bottom lines,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This funding will help our farmers and businesses develop value-added products that can bring more dollars to our communities.”

            Value added products are products that have undergone change in the physical state or form (such as milling wheat into flour or making strawberries into jam), or are produced in a manner that enhances their value, such as organic produce. The customer base for these value added products is larger and typically a greater portion of sales stays with the producer.

            Additionally, a grant of $1,806,750 has been awarded to the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority as part of their Market NY Joint Marketing Initiative. The project seeks to leverage and expand the region’s existing tourism industry by engaging in a multi-county effort to draw Canadian visitors across the border to enjoy the North Country’s year-round recreational opportunities.

            “The remarkable natural beauty and the abundance of recreational opportunities in the North Country are assets unique to our area and will help drive job creation,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “Attracting more international visitors will inject new, outside revenues into our local businesses and municipal governments.”

            In December of 2013, the North Country Regional Economic Council, of which Assemblywoman Russell is a member, was named a top performer for the third year in a row securing $81.3 million in development grant money.

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[1] http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/themes/nyopenrc/rc-files/northcountry/nc-2013-PR.pdf

Russell bill creating St. Lawrence Wine Trail signed into law

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced that legislation she sponsored to support local vineyards and wineries by establishing the St. Lawrence Wine Trail has been signed into law (Ch.108 of 2014). The trail connects three wineries from Hammond to Winthrop and provides new opportunities for marketing and increased tourism. The Assemblywoman will visit Bella Brook Winery this evening.

            “Word is starting to spread that the North Country is producing some of the best wines in the state, and world” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This new wine trail literally puts these businesses on the map and will benefit other small businesses as it attracts more visitors to our communities. I will be delivering the good news to Bella Brook Winery tonight and am looking forward to visiting the other wineries.”

            The St. Lawrence Wine Trail starts near Black Lake’s Bella Brooke Winery in Hammond, extending to Lisbon’s River Myst Winery, and then to High Peaks Winery in Winthrop, enabling the companies to join together in marketing St. Lawrence County as a wine destination.

            “It is crucial that we support our local businesses by providing them with all the tools necessary for their success,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “With the 1000 Islands Wine trail already in place, this new trail will cement the North Country as a destination for wine enthusiasts and bring more customers to these businesses. I encourage everyone to get out and visit these fine wineries on the new St. Lawrence Wine Trail.”

            The creation of the St. Lawrence Wine Trail brings the total number of wine trails across New York State to seventeen. Located in every region of the state, these trails have played a significant role in promoting New York as one of the best wine producing states, contributing to a 40% rise in the number of wineries since 2011.

            As part of her commitment to supporting New York State’s wine industry, this year Assemblywoman Russell sponsored and helped pass legislation allowing on premises tastings at New York wineries and easing other burdensome regulations like food requirements for on premises tastings (A.10122).

            Further, in 2012, Assemblywoman Russell helped pass legislation would exclude those operating under a farm winery license or a farm distillery license issued by the State Liquor Authority from the obligation to file the otherwise-required annual information return with the Department of Taxation and Finance (A.9523).

 Eliminating these burdensome and antiquated regulations helps small wineries grow their businesses and create more jobs, Assemblywoman Russell noted. 

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