Companies Are Growing in Clinton County: Target Industries Benefit from Strong Business Ecosystems
Clinton County, New York, is where international companies land and U.S. manufacturers grow. This is a collaborative community where businesses are supported and provided with the financial incentives and workforce development programs required for growth.
Businesses, regardless of industry, benefit from our core advantages:
- Strategic border location + trade access. Situated on the I-87 (connecting New York City to Montréal), Clinton County serves as a natural gateway for U.S.–Canada trade and is a short 25 minutes to a 24/7 border crossing.
- Foreign Trade Zone & incentive flexibility. Businesses have access to FTZ benefits, custom incentives, PILOT programs, and tax breaks that reduce the cost to build or operate in Clinton County.
- Reliable infrastructure & utilities. Broadband, power, water/sewer infrastructure, and shovel-ready land are already in place and actively being expanded. Electricity and water rates are among the lowest in the Northeast.
- Manufacturing/training pipeline. The Institute of Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at Clinton Community College, CV-TEC, and regional higher education institutions support skilled-worker training in CNC, additive manufacturing, welding, and more. The veteran talent pipeline is also strong with service members transitioning out of Fort Drum.
- Shovel-ready sites. The CBIG industrial park has over 450 acres. Shovel-ready sites are available throughout the county.
- Collaborative local ecosystem. The County, CCIDA, regional agencies, and landowners work in sync (not in silos) to streamline approvals and align projects.
Company Expansions Highlight the Benefits of Growing in Clinton County
The CCIDA works with businesses to make it easier, faster, and profitable to work in Clinton County, New York. Recent expansion and relocation wins demonstrate a commitment to grow in Clinton County.
- Schluter Systems (tile installation systems/advanced manufacturing) has expanded multiple times in Clinton County. Expansions show momentum in advanced manufacturing sectors.
- Quebec-based Vortex Aquatic Structures opened a 50,000 sq ft U.S. facility in Plattsburgh.
- Alstom (train manufacturing) is expanding again after securing a multi billion project with the state of New Jersey.
- Amazon moved into the Champlain Industrial Park validating the region’s logistics attractiveness.
- Canadian-based Micro Bird doubled its production capacity with a $38M investment, opening a new 156,000-square-foot bus manufacturing facility in Plattsburgh, in September 2025.
- Monaghan Medical, a global leader in innovative, high-quality aerosol drug delivery and respiratory care products, expanded its Town of Plattsburgh plant with a $10 million investment on the former Clinton County airport site to boost production capacity.
- Norsk Titanium, a global leader in metal 3D printing, expanded its rapid part development and qualification capabilities in Plattsburgh.
Join these growing companies in Clinton County. Connect with the Clinton County IDA Team
Target Industries
International & Canadian Companies Expanding into the U.S.
Clinton County is an ideal U.S. landing point for international companies seeking a cost-effective way to serve U.S. and Canadian markets. Located just one hour from Montreal and offering FTZ benefits, Clinton County provides easy access to transportation corridors, is 25 minutes from the U.S./Canadian border, and provides connectivity to North American supply chains via I-87, rail, and the Plattsburgh International Airport.
Key Assets
- I-87 access directly to Montreal and New York City
- Foreign Trade Zone with flexible incentives
- Affordable operating costs and utility rates
- Strong cross-border business ecosystem
Why Clinton County
“We are a distribution hub; the largest marketplace for Canadian companies looking to expand their commodities market. Plattsburgh is the perfect access point; less than an hour away from anyone in Quebec, from Montreal down, and they don’t have to go into a big city.”
— Elizabeth (Betsy) Vicencio, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Northeast Group
“You're close to Canada, close to international ports. We have a lot of traffic. We have an airport, and we have a supportive Chamber of Commerce. We are a very pro-business community.”
— Christine Peters, County Administrator
“The C-BIG project involves 450 shovel-ready acres ready to go with broadband, water, sewer, power and road. All of the environmental tests have been done, too, so you can pretty much just walk in the door and build what you want.”
— Mark Henry, President, New York State Association of County Board Chairs
Advanced & Green Manufacturing
Clinton County has a legacy of manufacturing paired with forward-looking investments in clean technology and advanced production. The region supports OEMs, Tier 1-3 suppliers, and R&D firms serving the EV, aerospace, and green-energy sectors.
Key Assets
- Cluster strength: Alstom, Schluter Systems, Micro Bird and BETA Technologies
- 30,000-sq-ft Institute for Advanced Manufacturing for workforce training
- New power infrastructure supports manufacturing growth
- NYS clean-energy incentives and green-tech alignment
Why Clinton County
“We have a legacy of manufacturing in Clinton County. We never lost our manufacturing base.”
— Garry Douglas, President/CEO of North Country Chamber of Commerce
“The workforce here is very loyal.”
— Michael Carpenter, CEO/President of The Northeast Group
“People are what make our business. It’s definitely our competitive advantage, and the commitment to the organization is second to none, something you don't see in too many areas. And that's a huge thing internal to Clinton County, because you have a lot of dedicated, highly engaged people. It's not an area that people come in and expect to just keep taking, taking, taking and never giving anything. They want to work for it.”
— Andrew Sepcie, CEO of Monaghan Medical (the company invested $10 million in a recent expansion of their manufacturing plant)
“The C-BIG project involves 450 shovel-ready acres ready to go with broadband, water, sewer, power and road. All of the environmental tests have been done, too, so you can pretty much just walk in the door and build what you want.”
— Mark Henry, President, New York State Association of County Board Chairs
Distribution, Suppliers, and the Transportation Sector
With direct access to I-87 and proximity to both U.S. and Canadian population centers, Clinton County is an efficient hub for distributors and transportation-related suppliers.
Key Assets
- Strategic I-87 corridor connecting to the East Coast and Canada
- Rail access and Plattsburgh International Airport for multimodal logistics
- Affordable industrial park space for light assembly and parts production
- Amazon’s recent investment confirms the corridor’s logistics advantages
24/7 U.S./Canada border crossing with $170 million investment underway
Why Clinton County
“We’ve done the work to get the grants, bring them in.”
—Andrew Sepcie, CEO, Monaghan Medical
“The I-87 corridor goes straight up to Canada. All of the municipalities, for the most part, share a piece of that. Businesses can get to the border in 25 minutes or use I-87 to serve the rest of New York and the Northeast - it’s not congested here."
— Michael Cashman, current Plattsburgh Assemblyman and former Supervisor.
Residential Developers: Attainable & Workforce Housing
As business expands, so does the need for housing. Clinton County is addressing this head-on with projects that create new workforce and mixed-income options.
Key Assets
- Countywide housing deficit of 1,100+ units
- Plattsburgh planning 2,600 new units with state funding support
- Active DRI/NY Forward investments
- Public-private partnerships supported by the CCIDA
Proof Point
“We adopted a local law where we could see upwards of 2,600 housing units.”
— Michael Cashman
Specialized Food, Beverage, and Biotech Processors
Proximity to clean water, affordable utilities, and growing regional tourism make Clinton County attractive for craft beverage producers, food processors, and specialty biotech manufacturers.
Key Assets
- Existing producers: Valcour Brewing Co. and Elfs Farm Winery
- Strong regional brand identity tied to the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain
- Clean environment ideal for production requiring water quality assurance
Why Clinton County
“The town of Plattsburgh has invested $24 million in our water and wastewater and we have some of the lowest water rates in the Northeast.”
— Michael Cashman, current Plattsburgh Assemblyman and former Supervisor
“The C-BIG project involves 450 shovel-ready acres ready to go with broadband, water, sewer, power and road. All of the environmental tests have been done, too, so you can pretty much just walk in the door and build what you want."
— Mark Henry, President, New York State Association of County Board Chairs.
Feasibility studies indicate potential for growth in culinary and seasonal tourism to complement processing operations.
Suppliers and Service Companies Supporting Major Employers
Anchor firms in Clinton County rely on local suppliers for materials, packaging, logistics, and support services. Alstom, for example, supports a domestic supply chain of over 180 businesses. Co-location within Clinton County industrial parks allows businesses to shorten lead times and strengthen collaboration.
Key Assets
- Proximity to Alstom, BETA Technologies, Schluter Systems, and Vortex
- Utilities and transportation infrastructure already in place
- Veteran talent from Fort Drum bringing logistics and operations expertise
- Low electricity rates and tailored incentives
Why Clinton County
“We are a distribution hub… Plattsburgh is the perfect access point.”
— Elizabeth Vicencio, The Northeast Group
“The C-BIG project involves 450 shovel-ready acres ready to go with broadband, water, sewer, power and road. All of the environmental tests have been done, too, so you can pretty much just walk in the door and build what you want.”
— Mark Henry, President, New York State Association of County Board Chairs.
