St Lawrence County IDA

What St Lawrence County IDA does

St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is a New York State public benefit corporation established in 1971 under the New York Public Authorities Law, headquartered in Canton, New York. It operates as the county's designated industrial development authority, with a statutory mandate to support economic development within St. Lawrence County through tax abatements (PILOT agreements), tax-exempt and taxable bond financing, and direct lending programs. The agency is overseen by a board chaired by Brian W. Staples (in the role since 1983) and led day-to-day by CEO Patrick J. Kelly (since 2012) with CFO Kimberly A. Gilbert (since 2015); staffing sits in the 11–50 employee range. Its core customer base consists of employers and project sponsors (manufacturing, industrial, commercial, and increasingly small-business and workforce-oriented initiatives) seeking to locate, expand, or remain in St. Lawrence County.

The agency's service stack spans financial-incentive administration, small-business and community lending, workforce development, and business-development advisory work. To execute this mandate, the IDA operates through a multi-entity structure: the IDA itself (founded 1971), the IDA Local Development Corporation (IDA-LDC, founded 1986) which runs a revolving small-business loan fund, the IDA Community Development Corporation (IDA-CDC, founded 2010) focused on community and small-business lending, the St. Lawrence County Planning and Development Committee (SLC PDC), and the Regional Veterans' Resource Development Alliance (RVRDA). Together these entities provide an integrated suite of industrial development, community development, workforce, and veterans' services across the county. The IDA does not sell products or earn conventional revenue; it operates as a public authority funded primarily through project- and financing-related fees, with its cumulative ten-year project activity reaching approximately $300 million.

St. Lawrence County sits in rural northern New York along the Canadian border, an economically distressed region where the IDA plays a central role in attracting, retaining, and expanding employer activity. Its business model is incentive-driven rather than revenue-driven: each financed project, tax abatement, or loan generates administrative fees that fund the agency's operations, while broader economic impact (jobs retained or created, capital invested) is the primary public-policy metric of success. As a government entity with a statutorily defined monopoly on its core functions, the IDA competes on execution quality and stakeholder relationships rather than on price.

Name

St Lawrence County IDA

Legal name

St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency

Website

https://slcida.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Lawrence County IDA is a New York State public benefit corporation, established 1971 and based in Canton, NY, that administers tax abatements, bond financing, and loan funds for businesses locating or expanding in St. Lawrence County, operating through affiliated entities (IDA-LDC, IDA-CDC, SLC PDC, RVRDA).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business financing incentives
• Industrial revenue bonds
• Workforce development training
• Tax abatement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax Abatement Programs: Real property tax abatements through Payments-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes (PILOT), sales and use tax exemptions, and mortgage recording tax exemptions administered by the IDA for new or expanding businesses
2. Bond Financing: Industrial revenue bond financing for companies with strong financial positions proposing projects that create jobs and invest capital - negotiable tax-exempt or taxable bonds for acquisition, construction, or reconstruction
3. Loan Funds Administration: Various loan funds including SLC IDA Local Development Corporation Business Venture Fund (up to $400,000), Microenterprise Program, Greater Massena Economic Development Fund (up to $200,000), and regional loan funds

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency is a New York State public benefit corporation that administers economic development programs to attract, retain, and expand businesses in St. Lawrence County. Its offerings include real property tax abatements (PILOT), industrial revenue bond financing, revolving loan funds, low-cost hydropower allocation, and direct business development assistance covering site selection, workforce recruitment, and connection to local business networks.

Product overview

St. Lawrence County IDA is a public benefit corporation that offers a portfolio of economic development services organized around financing incentives, business development assistance, and workforce training. The core offerings include Tax Abatement Programs, Bond Financing, and various Loan Funds (Business Venture Fund up to $400,000, Microenterprise Program, Greater Massena EDF up to $200,000). The agency also administers hydropower and power programs through RVRDA (20 MW low-cost power), NYPA programs (Preservation Power, ReCharge NY), and the Northern New York Economic Development Fund. Business Development Assistance provides site location, workforce recruiting, and connections to local business leaders. Workforce Development Services include recruitment, on-the-job training, and customized programs through the One-Stop Career Center. Property Assistance helps businesses find commercial and industrial sites. These services work together to support the full lifecycle of business attraction, expansion, and retention in St. Lawrence County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Abatement Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 55% power cost savings compared to Province of Ontario rates
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency (RVRDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Power supply contract authorized in 2012 by NY Governor Andrew M. Cuomo between NYPA and Massena Electric Department, making available up to 20 MW of low-cost hydropower plus $16 million in funding for economic development and job growth in St. Lawrence County.
• St. Lawrence County Local Development Corporation (LDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Established in 1986 to administer revolving loan funds and stimulate private sector employment growth. Makes low-interest, subordinated loans for real estate acquisition, building construction/rehabilitation, and machinery/equipment acquisition.
• New York Power Authority (NYPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest state electric utility in the nation with 16 generating facilities and over a thousand miles of transmission lines. Provides Northern New York Economic Development Fund and low-cost power programs supporting St. Lawrence County business attraction and retention.
• Empire State Development (ESD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York State economic development agency providing tax-based incentives, partnerships fostering innovative technologies, and financial support for business growth in the North Country Region.
• Development Authority of the North Country (DANC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides technical services for communities, telecom infrastructure, and loan funds to support business growth. Operates Open Access Telecom Network capable of delivering advanced telecommunications including Ethernet, Optical Transport, and SONET services.
• Clarkson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally ranked research university offering programs in business, engineering, science, and technology. Home to Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP) and Shipley Center for Innovation for inventors and entrepreneurs.
• St. Lawrence UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate liberal arts university highly regarded for flexible education tailored to each student. Named one of the best 'hidden gem' universities in New York State.
• SUNY CantoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeader in technology education, home to Small Business Development Center and CREST workforce development training. Students may cross-register with Clarkson, St. Lawrence University, and SUNY Potsdam.
• SUNY PotsdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of America's first 50 colleges founded in 1816, oldest in SUNY system. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music.
• St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard of Cooperative Educational Services providing quality, cost-effective programs and services that prepare students and adult learners to meet workforce needs.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides no-cost programs and technical assistance services to start and grow small businesses, hosted at SUNY Canton.
• St. Lawrence County One Stop Career CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects job seekers to job opportunities and provides services to help employers find and train employees. Offers priority of service to veterans and their spouses.
• St. Lawrence County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes member businesses and leads tourism efforts as designated tourism promotion agent for St. Lawrence County. Administers STLC Kiva providing 0% interest business loans of $1,000 to $15,000.
• North Country Alliance (NCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of economic development and business leaders providing business advocacy, loan funds, and resources for the North Country region.
• Adirondack Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free business planning, technical assistance, training, and access to commercial loan funds for businesses.
• Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeverages investments and partnerships to create a vibrant, resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Adirondack North Country region.
• Pursuit LendingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-focused lender providing loan programs and advisory services designed to help businesses succeed.
• Massena Electric DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal electric department one of 47 in New York State, covering 131 square miles with over 9,000 customers. Key partner in RVRDA power programs.
• Liberty UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas utility provider for St. Lawrence County businesses.
• National GridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectric utility provider offering economic development grants in clean energy programs, energy infrastructure, energy efficiency and productivity.
• SLIC Network SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationLocal broadband company providing fiber networks in Canton, Massena and Potsdam. Equipment creates Passive Optic Network (PON) with endless capacity.
• CSX TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRail system providing freight services to all five major communities in the County.
• Ogdensburg Bridge and Port AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Ogdensburg International Airport and Port of Ogdensburg, providing Foreign Trade Zone qualified port access to Great Lakes and world markets.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers research, education and demonstration in Food and Ag Systems, Rural Stewardship, and Youth Development.
• Workforce Development Institute (WDI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides training and education funding to upgrade worker skills in preparation for new technologies in the workplace.
• Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps businesses navigate contracting with federal, state, and local governments.
• CITEC Consulting GroupmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides consulting and training solutions that help businesses plan, perform, profit and grow.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Empire State Development (ESD): ESD is New York State's principal economic development agency providing tax incentives and innovation funding. SLCIDA partners directly with ESD to deliver state-level programs, making ESD the most directly comparable counterpart at state scale rather than county scale.
• CenterState CEO: CenterState CEO is a Syracuse-based business leadership and economic development organization serving the broader Central New York region. It represents a larger-scale comparable organization providing business attraction, retention, and workforce development services.

Direct peers

• North Country Alliance (NCA): NCA is an alliance of economic development and business leaders across the North Country region providing business advocacy, loan funds, and shared resources. It is a documented SLCIDA partner and addresses the same regional economic development mission.
• Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency: Jefferson County IDA is a neighboring county IDA in northern New York providing financing, incentives, and business development assistance using the same NY state IDA framework. It is the closest direct peer in mission, structure, and service area dynamics.
• Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency: Saratoga County IDA is another New York county-level IDA operating under the same state framework to provide tax incentives, financing, and business development services. It is directly comparable structurally despite serving a higher-growth suburban county.
• Adirondack Economic Development Corporation (AEDC): AEDC provides free business planning, technical assistance, training, and access to commercial loan funds for businesses in the broader Adirondack/North Country region. As a documented SLCIDA partner, it offers a directly comparable regional development finance function.
• Lewis County Industrial Development Agency: Lewis County IDA is another small rural NY county IDA that delivers tax abatements, financing, and business assistance under the same NY IDA legal framework. It is comparable as a peer of similar scale and rural setting in the North Country region.
• Development Authority of the North Country (DANC): DANC is a sister NY public benefit corporation serving the same North Country region. It provides telecom infrastructure and community services and is a documented active partner of SLCIDA, making it directly comparable as a regional economic development authority.

Others

• New York Power Authority (NYPA): NYPA is the largest state electric utility in the US and a Core strategic partner of SLCIDA. While NYPA is not a peer IDA, it is materially relevant as the infrastructure enabler behind the 20MW hydropower allocation and the funding programs the IDA distributes.

Regional players

• Greater Rochester Enterprise: Greater Rochester Enterprise is a public-private economic development organization marketing the Rochester/Finger Lakes region of New York for business attraction. It is comparable as a regional EDO pursuing the same capital-investment-attraction mandate, though in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SLC_IDA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGRJCTUCyJIH2Yw97SI3Vug
• Facebookfacebook.com/StLawrenceCountyIDA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-lawrence-county-industrial-development-agency
• Instagraminstagram.com/stlawrenceida

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about St Lawrence County IDA