Naturally Lewis: Lewis County Economic Development

Lewis County, NY

Located in the Northern section of New York State, scenic Lewis County is comprised of the historic Black River Valley, in between the Tug Hill Plateau to the West, the Adirondack Foothills to the East.

Strategically located just a short drive from many of the country's major cities, Lewis County is centrally located to where you need to go. Close to Canadian borders, Lewis County residents and businesses have easy access to Montreal and Toronto, Canada, just a few of the major cities to the North, and state interstate highways easily connect Lewis County to cities in Southern New York, such as Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and New York City, making Lewis County an ideal place to live, work and play.

In the early days of development, the Black River served as a primary transportation corridor and hydropower source. As a result, a majority of the county's commercial and industrial facilities were built within the Black River Valley. Today, abundant resources, thriving industry clusters and a desirable quality of life have fostered the ideal balance of people, prosperity, and planet.

We Are the North Country.

We, as the North Country, have worked to create ourselves as a leading destination in New York State and the North East of the United States. Governour Cuomo challenged us to see ourselves differently. First, to see ourselves as a united region that, through collaboration and sharing, could reach economic destinations not previously attainable. And then—together and in unprecedented partnership with the state—to identify those economic places we wanted to go, including:

A DESTINATION for 21st-century tourism, with the accommodations and attractions that can sustain the North Country’s special tourism economy for generations to come
A DESTINATION for international commerce and foreign direct investment, maximizing our special Canadian connection with growing links around the world
A DESTINATION for employers engaged in Advanced Manufacturing, with the programs and tools to both prepare and attract a ready workforce
A DESTINATION for millennials and others attracted by vibrant, quality downtowns throughout the North Country
A DESTINATION for renewable energy development and those investing in it
A DESTINATION for manufacturers engaged in transportation equipment and aerospace
A DESTINATION for sustained investment in our nation’s defense through Fort Drum