Development Authority Of The North Country

What Development Authority Of The North Country does

The Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) is a New York State public benefit corporation chartered in 1985 by the state legislature to develop and manage infrastructure supporting the reactivation of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum and to serve the common interests of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Headquartered in Watertown, NY, DANC operates as a revenue-based entity independent of state operational funding, governed by an unpaid 13-member Board of Directors. The organization is unique among New York public authorities in the breadth of its activities, operating six distinct divisions: Administration, Regional Development, Engineering, Materials Management, Water Quality Management, and Telecommunications.

DANC's core infrastructure includes the Open Access Telecom Network (OATN), a carrier-class fiber optic middle-mile network spanning over 2,100 miles with 32 Central Offices connecting the region to carrier collocation facilities in Syracuse, Albany, and New York City; a regional solid waste landfill on 1,543 owned acres in Rodman, NY with a 154-acre permitted footprint; approximately 45 miles of water and sewer pipelines; and contract operations for 26 water treatment and 16 wastewater treatment facilities. Supporting technical services include GIS hosting via an Internet Mapping Application, SCADA monitoring systems, engineering project management, and municipal studies. The Authority also administers multiple business and housing loan programs and a Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant (6.4 MW capacity) developed with Archaea Energy.

DANC generates revenue through a diversified mix of streams: landfill tipping fees ($31-$200/ton depending on waste type), recurring telecom transport fees from 16 carrier customers, managed services contracts for water/wastewater operations, professional/technical services fees to municipalities, and interest on regional development loans. Pricing is publicly disclosed in detailed fee schedules. Customers span municipal governments, telecom carriers (Verizon, AT&T, Slic, Westelcom), the Fort Drum military installation, healthcare facilities (105 connected via telemedicine), schools (70 connected), libraries (40 connected), and waste haulers. DANC's distribution is exclusively direct — government procurement, municipal service contracts, and carrier agreements — with no traditional retail or e-commerce channels. The Authority secured $14.5M in NTIA Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant funding in June 2023, partnered with National Grid and Northland to build ~350 additional miles of fiber.

Name

Development Authority Of The North Country

Legal name

Development Authority of the North Country

Website

https://danc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) is a New York State public benefit corporation operating water, wastewater, fiber optic telecom, solid waste, and regional development infrastructure across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties, serving municipalities, Fort Drum, telecom carriers, and community institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL), State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration (BPAIABAK)

Keywords

• Public utility services
• Telecommunications transport services
• Regional waste management
• Municipal engineering services
• Community development lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Landfill Operations: The Authority operates a regional landfill facility accepting non-hazardous solid waste from permitted haulers. Revenue is generated through tipping fees (gate rates) charged per ton of waste received. The landfill serves Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties.
2. Water Quality Management Services: The Water Quality Division operates and maintains approximately 45 miles of water and sewer pipelines serving Fort Drum and western Jefferson County. Services are provided to municipalities through full-service operation and maintenance contracts.
3. Telecommunications Transport Services: The Authority's middle-mile telecommunications network provides transport services for telecommunications carriers. Currently providing transport service for 16 different telecommunications service providers. Revenue is generated through carrier network access fees.
4. Regional Development Loan Programs: The Authority administers several business and housing loan programs including the Community Development Loan Fund, North Country Economic Development Fund, and North Country Transformational Tourism Loan Fund. Revenue is generated through interest on loans.
5. Fee-Based Technical Services: Authority staff provides fee-based technical services to municipalities including infrastructure capital project management, grant-writing and administration, asset management planning, Geographic Information System hosting, and SCADA system access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) is a New York State public benefit corporation that owns and operates regional infrastructure facilities including a 2,100+ mile fiber optic telecommunications network, a regional solid waste landfill, water and wastewater treatment systems, and engineering, GIS, and SCADA services. It also administers business and housing loan programs and provides fee-based technical and shared services to municipal governments, carriers, healthcare facilities, schools, and businesses across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

Product overview

The Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) is a New York State public benefit corporation operating a multi-divisional infrastructure services organization rather than a single unified product. The portfolio consists of six distinct operating divisions: Administration, Regional Development, Engineering, Materials Management, Water Quality Management, and Telecommunications. The core infrastructure products include the Open Access Telecom Network (OATN), a 2,100+ mile fiber optic middle-mile network serving carriers and anchor institutions; the Regional Landfill with integrated Landfill Gas-to-Energy plant (6.4MW); Regional Recycling and waste diversion programs; Water Quality Management with water/sewer pipeline operations; and Regional Development comprising business funding loan programs and housing development initiatives. Supporting infrastructure services include GIS hosting via Internet Mapping Application (IMA), SCADA monitoring systems, engineering project management, municipal studies, and Fort Drum compatibility planning. The Telecommunications division also delivers specialized networks for healthcare (telemedicine connecting 105 facilities) and education (70 schools, 40 libraries).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Open Access Telecom Network (OATN): The Authority's extensive telecommunications network spanning over 2,100 miles of fiber optic cable across the top part of New York State, connecting to carrier collocation facilities in Syracuse, Albany and New York City.

Products and services

• Open Access Telecom Network (OATN) A carrier-class middle-mile fiber optic telecommunications network spanning over 2,100 miles across northern New York, providing transport services to telecommunications carriers and connecting the region to carrier collocation facilities in Syracuse, Albany, and New York City.
• Regional Landfill (Materials Management Facility) A double-lined solid waste management facility located in Rodman, NY, permitted to construct and operate a 154-acre landfill on 1,543 acres of owned land, serving Jefferson, St. Lawrence, and Lewis counties with tipping-fee-based waste disposal.
• Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant A 6.4 MW power generation facility at the landfill that converts methane gas from waste decomposition into electricity, owned and operated by Archaea Energy, generating enough power for approximately 5,000 homes.
• Regional Recycling and Waste Diversion Waste diversion services including household hazardous waste collection events, mattress and tire recycling programs, and coordination of a tri-county Local Materials Management Plan to reduce landfill waste.
• Water Quality Management Services Operation and maintenance of approximately 45 miles of water and sewer pipelines serving Fort Drum and western Jefferson County, plus contract services for 26 water treatment facilities and 16 wastewater treatment facilities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Hosting GIS hosting service for municipalities to track assets including water/sewer infrastructure, sidewalks, culverts, road signs, trees, and municipal electric, with a public Internet Mapping Application (IMA) portal.
• SCADA Monitoring Services Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition services for monitoring and controlling water and wastewater plants in real time, offered to municipalities to prevent regulatory violations and improve system management.
• Business Development Funding Programs Multiple loan programs including the Community Development Loan Fund (up to $250,000), North Country Economic Development Fund (up to $500,000), and Transformational Tourism Loan Fund (up to $250,000) for regional business growth.
• North Country Housing Development Programs Affordable Housing Program, Community Rental Housing Program, and North Country HOME Consortium providing housing development assistance and funding coordination for developers in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
• Engineering and Environmental Services Fee-based technical services including infrastructure capital project management, grant-writing and administration, asset management planning, water/sewer rate structure review, and Brownfield redevelopment for municipalities.
• Municipal Studies Studies including dissolution studies, efficiency studies, and municipal consolidation assessments for communities including Chaumont, Clifton/Fine, Hermon, Morristown, Tupper Lake, Harrisville, and Richville.
• Telemedicine Network Connectivity High-speed broadband connectivity services delivered over the OATN network, connecting approximately 105 healthcare facilities in the North Country for telemedicine applications.
• Education and Library Network Connectivity Broadband connectivity services delivered over the OATN network linking approximately 70 schools through BOCES networks and 40 libraries through the North Country Library System.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6.4 MW capacity Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant generates enough electricity to power about 5,000 homes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National GridcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2023Partnership for NTIA Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. National Grid partnered with DANC and Northland to build nearly 350 miles of fiber optic infrastructure to connect underserved communities in Upstate New York.
• NorthlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2023Partnership for NTIA Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. Northland partnered with DANC and National Grid to build nearly 350 miles of fiber optic infrastructure to connect underserved communities in Upstate New York.
• Archaea EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate developer partnership to build a Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant at the landfill site that converts methane gas generated by landfill waste into electricity. Archaea Energy owns the power plant which has capacity to generate 6.4MW of electricity.
• North Country AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDANC serves as the fiscal agent for the North Country Alliance's Regional Revolving Loan Fund. The NCA is a not-for-profit local development corporation comprised of public and private sector businesses focused on economic well-being of the region.
• North Country Regional Economic Development CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of ten councils created by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2011 to bring public and private sector representatives together to create regional economic development plans. DANC participates in the North Country council's initiatives.
• Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDANC partners with the Chamber in marketing the resources of the North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), which provides bid-matching for firms looking to do business with the federal government.
• Fort Drum GarrisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDANC works in partnership with Fort Drum Garrison and surrounding communities to enhance land use compatibility. The Authority entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2017 to provide three-county community planning coordination and communication.
• NYS Department of Environmental ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership to host household hazardous waste collection events throughout the region at no cost to residents. DANC cooperates with regional county partners and NYS DEC for these events.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Empire State Development: New York State's primary economic development agency. Like DANC, it is a New York State public benefit corporation with a mission-driven economic development charter, providing infrastructure and business incentive programs though at statewide scope.
• New York Power Authority (NYPA): Largest state public power organization in the US and a New York State public benefit corporation operating large-scale infrastructure. NYPA is a direct funder of DANC through the North Country Economic Development Fund, demonstrating comparable public infrastructure authority model and partnership track record.
• Long Island Power Authority (LIPA): Long Island Power Authority is a New York State public benefit corporation providing utility services. Same legal entity type and governance structure as DANC, operating as a regional infrastructure provider under state legislative authority though with electric utility focus.
• Battery Park City Authority: New York State public benefit corporation that owns and operates infrastructure within a defined district (Battery Park City). Closely comparable to DANC in legal entity type, governance, and revenue-based infrastructure operations under state legislative charter.
• Northland Communications: Regional fiber and telecom provider operating across Upstate New York. Direct partner alongside DANC in the NTIA Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant, building 350 miles of fiber to connect underserved communities; comparable business model and rural upstate NY market.
• Slic Network Solutions: Regional telecom carrier serving northern New York that uses DANC's Open Access Telecom Network. Comparable provider of telecommunications services in the same rural geographic region, demonstrating the carrier ecosystem that depends on the Authority's middle-mile infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Casella Waste Systems: Regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management company operating across the northeastern US including New York. Directly comparable in landfill operations and materials management, though structured as a publicly traded company with broader geographic reach and diversified services.
• Waste Management Inc. Largest waste management company in North America. Comparable landfill operations and materials management capabilities though at far greater scale and as a private-sector publicly traded incumbent across the broader waste industry.
• Crown Castle: Nationwide provider of telecom infrastructure including fiber and small cell networks. Comparable in its carrier-class fiber network serving multiple telecom providers, though much larger in scale with tower/wireless focus and a fiber business as part of a wider portfolio.

Emerging players

• Conexon: Consulting and construction firm specializing in rural broadband deployment including middle-mile fiber networks. Comparable focus on addressing rural connectivity challenges and partnering with electric cooperatives on broadband buildouts, similar mission to DANC's telecom division.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Development Authority Of The North Country