Potsdam, NY, Nov 16, 2010 — Some three years ago, the New York Power Authority set up a $10 million venture capital fund for St. Lawrence County. The money is part of the settlement for operating the Moses-Saunders power dam on the St. Lawrence River.

It's called the Seaway Private Equity Corporation, or SPEC. Its president, Tony Collins, says SPEC invests in promising ideas to create jobs in the region.

"Where you have an idea, generated perhaps by a research project, and then there's an early investment," says Collins, "which is what SPEC has been able to provide, with outside investment in the ratio of 2 to 1, and then we grow and support these companies."

Tony Collins is also president of Clarkson University in Potsdam.

SPEC has invested in nine startups so far, using 6 of the $10 million. Those firms have created some 70 jobs, almost all of them at Fused Solutions, a call center in Potsdam. Collins says Fused would have been bought up and moved elsewhere without SPEC's involvement.

None of the others have yielded big returns for the region yet. Collins told David Sommerstein these kinds of investments are long-term. He says just that all nine still exist is good news.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Oct 04, 2010 — Across the North Country, economic development leaders say broadband internet access is one key to building more jobs and new prosperity.

But the infrastructure for broadband is expensive, often requiring miles of expensive fiber-optic cable.

Groups across the region have been asking for help from the Federal government to help offset the cost.

As Brian Mann reports, they met with mixed success - with some areas still struggling to find funding.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Sep 15, 2010 — A Clarkson University artist spent this summer in Minnesota studying a river, the logging industry and the human element. Dave Beck directs the Digital Arts and Sciences Program at Clarkson University. His new show, titled "Continuation," includes sculpture, video and a 20-foot tall projected 3D animation. Beck was an artist-in-residence at the Science Museum of Minnesota and worked with biologists and park rangers to gather images, video and data on the St. Croix River. But he says the exhibit also connects with his hiking and paddling experiences in the Adirondacks. The show opens Thursday in the Gibson Gallery at SUNY-Potsdam. Todd Moe toured the exhibit with Beck and gallery director April Vasher-Dean.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Aug 25, 2010 — A Clarkson University student is balancing his academic studies with running a campus charity that's supporting a school in west Africa. In our occasional series, Moving the...  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jun 02, 2010 — The St. Lawrence County Arts Council has run out of room at its storefront headquarters in downtown Potsdam. Faced with the challenge of offering more art classes and...  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Apr 09, 2010 — Songs, poetry and stories that depict pivotal events of the past century are part of An American Journey being presented Saturday night (7:30) in Potsdam. Women's...  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Oct 13, 2009 — Back before health car reform took over Washington, energy independence and efficiency were top priorities for the Obama Administration and Congress. Lawmakers and the...  Go to full article