"It was fantastic to have her here to see first hand the tremendous assets we have in the city of Ogdensburg," Assemblywoman Russell said following the tour.
She also shared the importance of agriculture products to the port's success and pointed out additional value added agribusiness, such as a soybean processing plant in the region, could add to the port's success.
"We really want to grow agribusiness in the North Country," Assemblywoman Russell, a member of the New York State Assembly's Agriculture Committee, pointed out.
Wade Davis, executive director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, concurred with that assessment. He said too many carriers drop product off at the port and then leave Ogdensburg empty handed for their next destination.
"Anything that is value added would be beneficial," Mr. Davis noted.
Lt. Gov. Hochul was also joined on the tour by State Senator Patricia Ritchie, St. Lawrence County Legislature Chairman John Burke, county legislators. Ogdensburg Mayor Wayne Ashley, several city councillors and members of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Board of Directors.
Mr. Davis led a tour of the port facility that included stops at the massive wind tower components that are headed to the Jericho Wind Farm project between Malone and Rouses Point.
The OBPA official also showcased buildings at the port that hold multiple agriculture products, an area that currently holds 20,000 tons of road salt with much more to come in before the next winter driving season and a ship registered in Amsterdam dropping off cargo at the port.
Mr. Davis said the port's major competitor is the Port of Montreal, not the port directly across the river in Prescott, Ontario, Canada.
"Our marketing effort is targeted just as much in Europe as it is here," he pointed out.
Mr. Davis said the port's recent success is a result of major investment in the port from the state, with strong support from Assemblywoman Russell and State Senator Ritchie.
He said the OBPA has seen a $6 million investment to improve its rail line over the past decade and plans call for an additional $2 million to be spent on additional improvements.
Mr. Davis said $3.2 million spent to construct a port access road allowed the port to handle the wind tower components, which will be transported from the port to Churubusco by truck.
“The road was built exactly for the oversize, over-dimensional cargo we have here today. It will meet our future needs,” he pointed out.
The next major expenditure at the port will be an $18 million project that will include dredging work to remove silt that has built up at the site since the 1960s and dock wall improvements.
Lt. Governor Hochul stepped back on the bus that took visitors on the tour of the port before leaving Ogdensburg and said she had been impressed by what she had seen. She pledged to tout the port's capabilities when she is representing the state in global trade initiatives.
"I feel really good about this port," she said, noting Governor Andrew Cuomo understands the importance in continuing to make investments upstate to assets like the port to help grow the region's economy.
She also stressed the importance of focusing on agribusiness to ensure the port's long-term success.
"We think there is room for tremendous growth, and it can literally become the bread and butter of this port in addition to the specialty products and salt that’s brought in more seasonally,” Lt. Governor Hochul said.
“If we can have a focus on agribusiness and even have processing here, it will give us new opportunities to create jobs and establish Ogdensburg as the premiere destination for shipping along the St. Lawrence Seaway," she added, pointing out Ogdensburg is the only American port on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, (right), discussed the importance of agribusiness during a tour of the Port of Ogdensburg. She is shown walking with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade Davis.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Longshoreman Kevin Tibbert discusses work at the Port of Ogdensburg with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (foreground right). State Senator Patricia Ritchie (back) and Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell were also involved in the conversation.
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade Davis stand in front of the Marsgracht, a vessel registered in the Netherlands.
Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade Davis (left) discusses port business with (l-r) Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, state Department of Labor Commissioner's North Country Regional Representative June O'Neill and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. The Ogdensburg-Prescott, Ont., international bridge looms in the background.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (center) poses for a photograph with Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (l) and State Senator Patricia Ritchie on Monday at the port of Ogdensburg.
Local, county and state officials toured the Port of Ogdensburg on Monday and posed for a photograph in front of a massive wind tower component. Pictured (l-r) in the first photograph are, front row: State Senator Patricia Ritchie, Lt. Gov. Hochul and Asemblywoman Addie J. Russell. Back row: Ogdensburg City Councillor Daniel Skamperle, Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade Davis, Ogdensburg, Ogdensburg City Councillor Jennifer Stevenson and OBPA board member Gavin Regan. The second shot includes additional OBPA board members, OBPA officials, members of the Ogdensburg City Council and St. Lawrence County legislators John Burke and Donald Hooper.
