Thursday July 2, 2020
Hello Chamber Members and Partners,

Here are the latest updates and resources for businesses and employees during this uncertain time.

Send us any questions or updates you may have, we are here to help provide information, connect the dots and assure those in the North Country that we will get through this together.

Onward and Be Well!
Governor Cuomo Announces Testing is Available to All New Yorkers
The governor announced yesterday that New York State will expand its testing criteria to all New Yorkers statewide. Meaning that all NYers can be tested if the choose.
Adirondack Coast Kicks Off Their Summer Coasting Challenge
Local support for the Adirondack Coast and its businesses is needed now more than ever, so we thought we would try adding a little extra challenge to your summer #adkcoast adventures.

From now until September 4, 2020, we will be awarding over 20 prizes to participants of the #adkcoast Summer Coasting Challenge!

Here's how you play:
  • Download your Summer Coasting Challenge form
  • Complete at least ONE activity per category - SIX total!
  • Post a photo of you completing each of the SIX activities on your social media using #adkcoastingchallenge and tagging the Adirondack Coast!
  • Email or drop off your completed form to the North Country Chamber of Commerce - there is a black mailbox out front.

*Winners will be chosen randomly and announced every Thursday beginning July 9th on the Adirondack Coast Social Media Pages!*

Let's show our businesses some LOVE. Ready, set, ADVENTURE!
Update on the Global Search for a Coronavirus Vaccine
As coronavirus cases increased in at least  35 U.S. states   and the global number of cases surpassed 10 million, the question at the front of everyone’s minds is: When will a vaccine be ready?

Scientists, industry, and the academic community are moving at unprecedented speed to identify a viable vaccine candidate, and progress is being made every day.
There are currently  17 vaccine candidates  in the clinical stages of development, with another 132 under preclinical evaluation. So who leads the way?
The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca are currently conducting a Phase III trial to test the efficacy of their novel coronavirus candidate. As the number of cases in the UK decreased, the University of Oxford recently embarked on clinical trials in  South Africa and Brazil  to test the vaccine’s efficacy in countries where people have a higher risk of exposure to the coronavirus. They are also set to begin a large-scale Phase III trial in the U.S., following a $1.2 billion commitment by the U.S. government to invest in the vaccine as a part of Operation Warp Speed.

The innovative biotech company, Moderna, is close on the heels of the University of Oxford in the race to develop a vaccine. Moderna, which received widespread media coverage following the release of Phase I data in May, will begin Phase III trials for its COVID-19 candidate in 30,000 participants in July. Just last week,  Moderna announced  a partnership with Catalent to prepare an initial 100 million doses of the vaccine, which could be distributed as early as October, should the vaccine receive FDA approval.

Governments, the biopharmaceutical industry, and the academic community recognize that a vaccine can’t come soon enough. The unparalleled level of public-private collaboration will help ensure that at least one – if not multiple – coronavirus vaccines should soon be available, which will place the global community on the path to a return to work, health, and the new normal of life in a COVID-19 world.
Live Music Returns When ‘Curbside At Harborside’ Opens July 4
“Curbside at Harborside” will be bringing live music to the waterfront in the City of Plattsburgh starting On July 4 at 7:30 p.m. Kicking it off will be The Adirondack Jazz Orchestra performing big band jazz classics and patriotic favorites, with fireworks to follow, in celebration of the nation’s birthday on the city’s portable bandshell, following the format utilized at drive-in movie theatres.

Concerts will continue at this site on Saturday evenings throughout the months of July and August, and into the beginning of September.

Schedule Includes:
  • July 11th: Rose Chancler, saxophonist Daniel Gordon, violinist Marilyn Reynolds, and percussionist Jane Boxall
  • July 18th: North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame inductee Gretchen Koehler and pianist Daniel Kelly
  • July 25th: 4 Blues Hall of Fame member, Joe Louis   
  • August 1st: Singer-songwriter Dan Berggren
  • August 8th: The Revenants - Bluegrass
  • August 15th: Beartracks, bluegrass and country music
  • August 22th: the Wickmoore Jazz Trio — performing blues, funk, and smooth jazz tunes.
  • August 29th: High Peaks Opera Studio artist George Cordes & pianist Elizabeth Cordes

The season will end in September, with a performance of traditional music from the time of the Battle of Plattsburgh, led by folk musician Stan Ransom.
All of the concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., with tickets available (cash only) each evening on a first-come, first-served bases. All attendees must wear a face mask and practice social distancing measures. to wear whenever they exit their vehicles. 
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: DFCU Donates in Big Way
Heroes have shown themselves in many different forms during the coronavirus pandemic. Some help patients in hospitals, some treat them in an ambulance, some serve groceries or packages, and others donate when they can.

Dannemora Federal Credit Union has taken to donate in a big way. DFCU has donated $40,000 to support multiple non-profit organizations in the North Country focusing on COVID-19 relief.

Funds received by the recipient organizations will be used for support services for individuals/families facing financial hardship due to the pandemic and patient/healthcare support.

The complete list of recipient organizations include:
  • $20,000 to the United Way of the Adirondack Region Emily Fund
  • $10,000 to the Foundation of Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
  • $2,500 to the UVM Health Network - Alice Hyde Medical Center, Office of Philanthropy
  • $2,500 to the Adirondack Health Foundation
  • $1,000 to the Elizabethtown Community Hospital
  • $1,000 to the Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Foundation
  • $1,000 to the Massena Memorial Hospital Foundation
  • $1,000 to the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation
  • $1,000 to Wilderness Health Care Foundation (Clifton-Fine Hospital)
To help the North Country reopen safely and meet the state and local mandates, The North Country Chamber of Commerce has created a comprehensive list of resources to navigate state and local requirements. Check out the home page for details. There is also a series of webinars available for businesses to help educate and provide answers to common questions.
QUICK LINKS:

  • Forward NY: Official State Website for opening procedures and guidelines.

  • Looking for Supplies: If your business is looking for hard to find protective products, we have created a list of businesses offering hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, masks and other items.


  • Now Hiring: Whether you are hiring or looking for work, we have a page dedicated to helping pair potential employees with employers.

  • Webinars: Did you miss one of our webinars, you can find them all here.

  • SCORE: Visit Scores Coronavirus page for webinars and useful articles for small businesses.
Have Questions? We're here to help!

North Country Chamber of Commerce
518.563.1000