Today’s announcement that Alcoa will keep its operations in St. Lawrence County intact is nothing short of tremendous news for our region.  This agreement will allow hundreds of hardworking Alcoa employees to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing they can remain in their community and continue to provide for their families. 

But, this development is more than just good news for Alcoa’s employees—it’s good news for the entire North Country.  For decades, Alcoa has been a mainstay of St. Lawrence County, and this agreement will help us as we continue our work to grow the local economy and create good paying jobs for people in our region.

To say I’m pleased about this agreement is an understatement, and I would like to thank Governor Cuomo, Senator Schumer and our state’s other leaders for their quick attention to what could have been a devastating loss for our region. Thanks to their efforts, and the efforts of my colleagues, local officials, employees and community members, we can declare victory in the fight to protect hundreds of jobs that are so vitally important to the North Country.