IDA backs power request tied to 50 drone manufacturing jobs in Massena
The St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency's Local Development Corporation has endorsed defense contractor Ombra's application for a 2-megawatt St. Lawrence County Economic Development Power allocation to support a Massena expansion expected to create about 50 jobs.
By the ClickNNY North Country Desk
MASSENA — A defense contracting firm's plan to open a drone manufacturing operation in Massena has cleared an early hurdle, with the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency's Local Development Corporation voting to support the company's request for low-cost hydropower.
The company, Ombra, is seeking a 2-megawatt allocation of St. Lawrence County Economic Development Power. The expansion is projected to create roughly 50 jobs at a drone manufacturing facility, according to the presentation given to the board.
The LDC's action does not grant the power. IDA Director Patrick Kelly said the agency's role in the program is to make a recommendation, and final approval rests with the New York Power Authority.
Kelly said the project would pair research and development with assembly and power-computing work.
Ombra is headquartered in Tampa and owned by Massena native Michael Fields. The firm currently keeps offices on Market Street in Potsdam and does contracting work primarily for the U.S. military and other federal agencies, developing products in fields including biometrics, space technologies, artificial intelligence, machine learning, power and energy, chemical detection and undersea systems. The company has ties to Clarkson University.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.
ClickNNY Guide · Fort Drum
Fall foliage on Fort Drum and in the North Country: what to know
Fall color is on display across Fort Drum and the North Country, with recreation access rules, trail information and seasonal updates available for visitors.
ClickNNY Guide · Thousand Islands
Fishing the St. Lawrence River after summer: a fall and ice fishing guide to the Thousand Islands
When the tour boats leave, the St. Lawrence becomes a different river. Here's what's biting in the fall, how ice fishing works, exactly what to bring, how to stay safe, and where to stay, whether you're visiting for the first time or have lived here all your life.
ClickNNY Guide · Fort Drum
Your first North Country winter: a survival guide for Fort Drum soldiers from the South
Never driven on snow, owned a snow blower or felt a February morning at Fort Drum? Here's what to wear, what to keep in your car and how to get through your first lake-effect winter.