The St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency and the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency will sponsor two cross-border trade shows in October to attract Canadian investors and promote job growth in St. Lawrence County.

The events are part of an overall marketing campaign by the IDA and River Agency to promote the county.

On Oct. 10, a trade show in Ogdensburg will focus on cross-border exporting and importing. The province of Ontario and the new New Exporters to Border States program, an initiative informing businesses on the basics of exporting to the United States, will partner with the River Agency and IDA to present the program.

An 8,000-piece mailing was distributed recently in Ontario, inviting businesses representatives from the Ottawa region, many of whom will be bused to the event.

“We want to target potential businesses for which an investment in the United States makes sense,” Industrial Development Agency CEO Patrick J. Kelly said Thursday. “We have a lot of resources that sometimes Canadians and businesses aren’t aware of. We’re going to highlight and mark some of our strengths and reinforce to businesses that we’re easy to get to and have a lot to offer.”

Mr. Kelly said areas such as the Port of Ogdensburg, the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority’s Commerce Park industrial park and the Ogdensburg International Airport will be highlighted.

An event will also be held Oct. 18 in Massena in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and the U.S. Consulate in Montreal. A visit to the General Motors site is scheduled, Mr. Kelly said.

“Taken together, the purpose of the two events is to raise our profile, promote our resources as an attractive investment destination, encourage the educated Canadian firms to start up operations here and ultimately hire people in St. Lawrence County,” Mr. Kelly said.

The River Agency and IDA have allocated $73,875 for trade shows, direct mailings, seminars and site visits as part of the comprehensive marketing initiative with Clarkson University, Potsdam, and the state Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, he said.

The event is still in the planning stages, Mr. Kelly said, but businesses can contact the River Agency if they would like to attend at 379-9349 or info@slrvra.com.

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