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CANTON, N.Y. -- The North Country is seeing its fair share of tough times, but one elected official says supporting education will boost the economy.

Congressman Bill Owens was in Canton Monday meeting with St. Lawrence University's president and taking a look around campus. SLU alone provides $275 million to the Canton area.

Owens says he recognizes the impact colleges have all over the country and says education needs to be supported.

"The students are here spending lots of money so they're helping our sales tax revenue. They're doing construction work, construction projects," Owens said.

"They eat in restaurants, shop at all the local merchants and subscribe to all the local services," SLU President William Fox said.

The 100-plus independent colleges and universities in New York State contributed about $54 billion to the state's economy in 2009.