$1 Million State Award Advances Redevelopment of Bluff Point Campus

21 Aug 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Investment Will Help Clinton County Transform a Major Public Asset, Support Workforce Housing and Protect Its Long-Term Fiscal Health

CLINTON COUNTY, NY – Clinton County has been awarded $1 million through New York State’s County Infrastructure Grant Program to advance the redevelopment of the former Clinton Community College campus.

Announced today by Governor Kathy Hochul, the funding will support the planning, design and construction of essential water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure, along with roadway improvements needed to make portions of the property development-ready. The improvements are expected to support a proposed 96-unit workforce housing development while laying the groundwork for additional investment across the campus.

The award represents an important step in the County’s effort to transition the property from a publicly maintained campus into a productive, mixed-use asset. Preparing the site for redevelopment will help reduce the risk that the property becomes a long-term financial burden while creating opportunities for housing, private investment, job creation and an expanded tax base.

“Since Clinton Community College relocated, the County has been responsible for maintaining a large and complex property while working to determine its best future use,” said Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy). “Our goal is to ensure the campus does not become a long-term expense for taxpayers. This $1 million award helps us begin converting the property from a County obligation into an asset that can support housing, private investment and new tax revenue.”

Following Clinton Community College’s planned relocation, Clinton County and the County of Clinton Industrial Development Agency began evaluating the campus and its potential for reuse. The CCIDA funded a comprehensive feasibility study to assess the property, identify development opportunities and better understand the infrastructure and additional analysis required to support redevelopment.

That early planning allowed the County to move quickly when the County Infrastructure Grant Program became available and helped demonstrate that the proposed project was supported by a broader, realistic redevelopment strategy.

“The County has a responsibility to carefully manage its property and financial resources, and allowing a campus of this size to remain underutilized indefinitely would carry real costs,” said Clinton County Administrator Christine Peters.

“This $1 million award allows us to begin addressing some of the site’s largest infrastructure barriers with State funding. It is an important first step toward attracting private investment, reducing the County’s long-term carrying costs and returning the property to productive use.”

The former campus includes aging infrastructure and internal circulation challenges that limit its immediate redevelopment potential. Water pressure, sanitary capacity, stormwater management, utility conditions and roadway access must all be evaluated and improved before significant new development can occur.

The State award will not complete the redevelopment of the campus, but it provides a critical source of funding to begin advancing that work. Additional engineering, environmental review, market analysis and project-specific due diligence will be required as individual components of the redevelopment move forward.“The IDA’s decision to fund the feasibility study was an investment in getting this property ready for its next chapter,” said County of Clinton Industrial Development Agency Executive Director Molly Ryan. “That work gave us the information and strategy needed to compete for funding rather than asking local taxpayers to shoulder the full cost of redevelopment. Turning that initial planning investment into a $1 million State award is exactly the kind of leverage the IDA should be creating for Clinton County.”

Workforce housing is expected to be one of the first major components of the campus redevelopment. The proposed 96-unit project responds to an identified need for additional housing for employees, families and individuals who want to live and work in Clinton County. It also helped the County qualify for the program’s enhanced award of up to $1 million for infrastructure projects supporting the creation of at least 10 housing units.

“Access to quality workforce housing has become one of the most significant challenges facing employers across the North Country,” said Garry Douglas, President and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “This investment begins addressing two important regional priorities at once by creating new housing opportunities and preparing a major property for future economic activity. The Chamber was pleased to support the application, and we look forward to seeing this site become a productive part of Clinton County’s economy once again.”

The County will now work with its municipal, engineering, housing and economic-development partners to define the scope, schedule and next steps for the infrastructure project. Redevelopment of the larger campus is expected to occur in phases and will continue to be guided by technical analysis, market conditions, community needs and opportunities for public and private investment.

The $1 million award was part of more than $38 million awarded to 49 projects statewide through the second round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, which is administered by Empire State Development.