United Helpers receives $25,000 grant from National Grid

Wayne Ladoucer, President of the United Helpers Management Board of Directors; Stephen Knight, CEO, United Helpers; Assemblywoman Addie Russell, District 116; Rick Pirie, director of buildings and grounds, United Helpers; Joe Russo, economic development & corporate citizenship, National Grid; Gerry Hanlin, National Grid; and Michele Montroy, Mosaic program administrator, United Helpers.

National Grid and United Helpers Wednesday announced a $25,000 Main Street Revitalization Program incentive to help offset construction costs associated with the renovation of a vacant structure in the mall area of downtown Ogdensburg into revitalized, usable space.


United Helpers is a not-for-profit organization that provides services to over 1,500 elderly and disabled patients in Northern New York.

United Helpers recently completed the second phase of renovations at the former vacant structure, located at 100 Ford St., now renamed the Mosaic Complex. The facility will house its Mosaic program to provide living options and services for patients with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and chronic or persistent mental illnesses.

“National Grid is dedicated to the revitalization of central business districts and commercial corridors right here in Northern New York,” said Melanie Littlejohn, regional executive of National Grid Central New York Division. “Through the company’s Main Street Revitalization Program, we are pleased to aid worthy organizations like United Helpers that provide a valuable service to patients and positive impact to our region.”

A $760,000 investment in the project by United Helpers will help to retain or add 25 jobs for employees who deliver or administer Mosaic services and other United Helpers training programs, as well as help to make business processes more efficient and expand services.

“The National Grid grant was critical to our ability to continue the Mosaic Complex Renovation Project,” said Stephen Knight, CEO, United Helpers. “The completion of the new facility greatly benefits United Helpers’ staff and residents in many ways.”United Helpers is not only helping to grow its operations with the new Mosaic Complex, but expects to further contribute to economic development, job retention and growth in downtown Ogdensburg.

Since the inception of National Grid’s Main Street Revitalization Program in 2003, the company has awarded 122 grants totaling over $5 million to projects that rehabilitated and occupied vacant commercial and mixed-use buildings on Main Streets and commercial corridors across upstate New York.

Construction of the Mosaic Complex was completed in two phases. The first phase included the renovation of the building structure, while the second phase incorporated the redevelopment of previously unused space with the addition of a fully accessible, developmental and therapeutic gymnasium for residents and meeting rooms for public use.

National Grid’s funding helped United Helpers to offset construction and renovation costs of the second phase. Additional renovated space will be used as a secure room to house confidential medical records, an improvement over former practices where patient records were stored at nearly 12 different work sites.

Through National Grid’s Main Street Revitalization Program, United Helpers can grow, improve efficiencies and offer expanded services as part of the company’s suite of Shovel Ready economic development programs for upstate New York.

National Grid’s Main Street Revitalization Program strives to stimulate investment in the rehabilitation and occupancy of vacant buildings in downtowns, on Main Streets and in commercial corridors in upstate New York communities. National Grid Economic Development staff work with municipalities, local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and private developers to identify eligible projects.

For more information on the program and other eligibility requirements, please visit www.shovelready.com.