Business Assistance & Resources
A number of agencies and offices are available to provide help to existing or prospective Canton business owners. If you are interested in opening a business in Canton, please reach out to our Director of Economic Development, Leigh Rodriguez.
Canton Community Economic Development Office
The mission of the Canton Community Economic Development Office is to facilitate economic growth by working with major employers, small businesses, and local initiatives to enhance our community. We work directly with a wide range of local businesses –small and large, new and established– to maximize their engagement with Canton.
Our services include:
- Development Incentives & Financing
- Site Selection
- Grants for Job Creation or Retention
- Business Assistance
- Low Interest Business Loans
- Customer Research….and more
There’s never been a better time to launch, locate or expand a business in Canton. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a new entrepreneur, a big employer or a one-person shop – we can help you succeed in Canton. Call the Economic Development Office today to find out how we can help you.
Leigh Rodriguez, Director
Canton Municipal Building
60 Main Street
Canton NY 13617
(315) 386-2871 ext. 5
Canton Chamber of Commerce
The Canton Chamber of Commerce welcomes you. Canton, a college, industrial and farming community, is recognized as an educational center of Northern New York. The small college town atmosphere is enhanced by a picturesque village green opening on to a Main Street lined with restored, turn-of-the-century buildings. Canton’s uniqueness is in its people, community, culture and quality of life. We are an attractive community for:
- Young Professionals
- Niche Business Markets
- Technological & Communications Businesses
- Retirement Living
We are proud of our community and welcome you to join us. When you plan a move to Canton, information on realtors, utility companies, contractors, banks, insurance companies, etc., can be obtained through the Canton Chamber of Commerce office.
Tammy Mackin, Director
One Main Street
Canton, NY 13617
(315) 386-8255
cantonny.gov/chamber
St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce , Inc. plays an important role in maintaining the economic health of St. Lawrence County.
The primary purpose of the Chamber is to serve as the voice of business in improving St. Lawrence County. The Chamber also works on countywide tourism promotion and is the designated Tourism Promotion Agent for the county.
In addition, the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce provides many cost saving services to its members through a group health insurance program and membership discounts. The Chamber also assists local organizers of events and projects with reduced advertising costs through cooperative advertising under the New York State Matching Funds Program.
Ben Dixon, Executive Director
(315) 386-4000
101 Main Street
Canton, NY 13617
www.visitstlc.com
Canton Small Business Development Center
SUNY-Canton’s award-winning Small Business Development Center provides personal, confidential assistance with financial projections, loan preparation documents, and more. The Small Business Development Center offers many free services to Small Businesses.
The Small Business Development Center’s goal is to assist entrepreneurs, businesses and industries in the solution of their problems, which leads to increased productivity and profitability. By assisting new and existing small business firms, the SBDC contributes to the stability and growth of the small business sector of the economy of New York State.
Since their start in 1997, the expert advisors of the SUNY Canton SBDC have worked directly with 1,604 businesses, helping them to invest $13,812,646 in the area’s economy, who have created or saved 387 jobs.
Some of the Small Business Center’s regional specialties include working with manufacturing projects, SBA programs, microloan projects, veterans, women, minorities and Native Americans. They also partner with local, county and state agencies to identify the need for small businesses and to develop economic growth in St. Lawrence County. All services are available free of charge.
Dale Rice, Director
SUNY Canton
Wicks Hall 023
(315) 386-7312
CITEC Manufacturing and Technology Solutions
CITEC is a North Country consulting firm that provides business solutions and extensive services including grant applications, industrial marketing, cash flow analysis, business planning, produce development, human resources, safety programs, lean manufacturing, eBusiness solutions and much more. CITEC stands for “Council for International Trade, Technology, Education and Communication, Inc.”
CITEC is a not-for-profit economic development organization that assists Northern New York companies become more competitive and productive. They are described as “local people providing real solutions.” They can help large and small companies.
Steve Lockwood, Interim Executive Director
Box 8591 Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY 13699
(315) 268-3778
www.citec.org
St. Lawrence County One Stop Career Center
St. Lawrence County’s strong workforce development and training programs offer numerous sources of workers and funding to meet a full range of staffing needs. The center can help you in the following ways:
Reduce hiring costs
Job listing, referral, assessment, and job matching can save employers time and money in recruiting workers.
Reduce payroll costs
Subsidies and tax credits can reduce costs for employers.
Provide support services
Stable childcare, transportation, and medical assistance, as well as post-employment counseling can increase employee retention, reliability, and productivity.
Provide customized or subsidized training
Partnerships provide opportunities for underwriting some of the cost of training new workers or establishing customized training to meet employer needs.
The One Stop Career Center is a division of the County Economic Development office, and administers employment and training programs under the Job Training Partnership Act.
Larry Fetcie, Director
Canton Human Services Center
80 State Highway 310
Canton, NY 13617
(315) 379-9806
[email protected]
St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency
The St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency offers financing incentives from federal, state and local agencies to assist in starting or expanding a business in St. Lawrence County. Incentives include Industrial Revenue Bonds and long term/low interest loans and loan guarantees for the acquisition of property, construction of buildings and purchase of equipment. In addition, St. Lawrence County and New York State offer a variety of tax credits, deductions, and exemptions on real property and business income.
When you’re looking for a location for expansion, they can advise you on the programs, packages and incentives available that can lower your initial start-up costs. Additionally, the St. Lawrence County One-Stop Career Center will test, screen and refer qualified job applicants for your business- one more way to help you hit the ground running.
Patrick Kelly, CEO
19 Commerce Lane
Suite 1
Canton, NY 13617
(315) 379-9806
www.slcida.com
[email protected]
Development Authority of the North Country (DANC)
The Development Authority of The North Country (DANC) provides a variety of resources for businesses, including technical services and financing. The Authority administers several business loan programs in order to promote job creation and retention among small businesses in Northern New York including U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC), North Country Alliance (NCA), and the DANC Community Development Loan Fund (CDLF).
Michelle Capone, Regional Development Director
Dulles State Office Building
317 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-2593
www.danc.org
