2024 ADI Symposium Success

The Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ADI) would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of our symposium. The thought-provoking panels and inspiring keynote speakers provided us with valuable insights on how to reflect and move forward. Being in community with so many wonderful individuals continues to inspire our commitment to fostering a more welcoming and inclusive North Country. 

Thank you to the community leaders whose sponsorship support made the Adirondack Diversity Initiative Symposium possible and accessible for all.

You Can Help Build Our Strategic Plan

ANCA’s updating our strategic plan, and we want to include your needs and perspectives in the process. Last updated in 2020, ANCA’s strategic plan guides our work. Your honest, candid insights to our 5-10 minute survey will form the backbone of our next plan as we work to build partnerships, leverage resources, and support a North Country economy that works for all.

Ideas Change Everything

Last month's Tedx Tupper Lake event at The Wild Center represented the deep knowledge, passion and leadership embodied in community leaders across the Adirondack North Country. We are so proud of ANCA's Climate Justice Fellow Keeley Jock, who was among 13 presenters at the event. Congrats Keeley, and well done!

Check out the event coverage in the Adirondack Explorer, where you can also find links to watch all 12 presentations on The Wild Center's YouTube channel.

Shop Small This Season

ANCA celebrates the Season of Small Business. Before you order online or head to your local big box, check out your local Chamber of Commerce, downtown or hamlet center, or neighborhood business for gifts and holiday needs. Our support for our small business community during the busiest shopping season of the year is critical!

Supporting a small business this season can improve your local economy, do less harm to the environment, keep your community unique, and financially help your neighbors.

Featured Business for Sale: The Good Bite Kitchen

In this short video, learn how Kate Billerman turned her passion for cooking into a thriving business that provides nutritious Heat-and-Eat meals as well as a limited Ready-to-Eat menu for local and visiting customers in Lake Placid, New York.

Kate is looking for another local food enthusiast and entrepreneur to operate her unique small business — The Good Bite Kitchen — in this bustling Olympic village.

REAP ADK+: Federal Grants for Energy Projects

Through ANCA's new REAP ADK+ initiative, qualifying businesses and farms can now receive assistance applying for USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants. REAP provides funding to small businesses and farms for high-efficiency and renewable energy projects like the installation of heat pumps, insulation, solar panels, and energy-efficient lighting. The program reimburses up to 50% of the costs of each project. Eligible applicants include agricultural producers, small businesses, cooperatives, rural electric utilities and tribal corporations. 

If you think your business or farm could benefit from this program, contact Jon Ignatowski at jignatowski@adirondack.org to learn more.

Booklet Features Current Programs

At the ADI Symposium, the ADI team was happy to share a new booklet we designed to highlight current programs and partnerships aimed at making our region more welcoming and inclusive for all. This booklet allows the team to harness the true potential of our collective effort.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month–a time to honor and celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American and Alaska Native communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.

Learn more by visiting the Native American Heritage Month website or watching one of the many documentaries suggested by PBS that share the diverse experiences of Native Americans.

Municipal Grant Opportunity

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is sponsoring a grant for municipalities and school districts to reduce food waste.

Contact Jen Perry for more information or to receive a copy of the RFP.

The North Country Community Composting Coalition Has Been Busy!

Here are some updates from around the North Country:

• North Country Compost hosted a Pumpkin Smash event in Canton giving new life to pumpkins.
• The Cook Family Farm was awarded a manure spreader through an American Farmland Trust grant to spread their high quality compost on their fields improving the quality of their grazing.
• The Whitten Family Farm hosted a compost operator training session at their state of the art, timber frame, aerated static pile system that was attended by 60 community composters from across the North Country.
• River Valley Regeneratives is growing! They have added Peru Central School and the Town of Chesterfield to their list of food scrap collection sites.
• Loving Earth Compost wrapped up their 2024 Saratoga Performing Arts Center summer contract and are working on a contract with Skidmore College.

Last Famers' Market of the Season

The High Peaks Farmers Market will host their last market before Thanksgiving and will be off November 30th. Come find them on December 7th at the Winter Village where they will have vendors at both 28 Broadway and the Hotel Saranac.

Heat Pump Dryer Rebates

NYSERDA recently launched the Appliance Upgrade Program, which offers residents rebates for heat pump clothes dryers, as well as any electrical upgrades needed to install the dryers.

Heat pump dryers use about 30% less electricity than conventional electric dryers. Visit the program website to learn more and apply for a rebate.

Clean Energy Communities Portal Closed

As of November 7, NYSERDA closed its High Impact Action Portal for submitting actions for its Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program.

Municipalities can still submit grant applications if they have received a grant notification email from NYSERDA. Contact ANCA's CEC Coordinators with questions about the process: energy@adirondack.org. We are here to support North Country communities and assist with CEC grant applications prior to email notifications.

Climate Listening Sessions

The Adirondack Climate Outreach & Resilience Network (ACORN) is hosting climate listening sessions across the region. These listening sessions aim to gather insights about challenges, as well as existing strengths, of our communities as we are faced less predictable, and more severe weather that affects our roads, homes, businesses, jobs, safety networks, economy, and our regional way of life. 

The final North Country session will take place Thursday, December 5, 2:00-5:30 p.m. in Potsdam.

Visit our jobs page for openings with member and partner organizations and regional nonprofits:

• Director of Development: Craigarden
• Government Grants Advisor: Cloudsplitter Foundation
• Assistant Director of 4-H Afterschool Programs, Watertown: CCE Jefferson County
• Food Systems Educator, Warrensburg: CCE Warren County
• Building Auditor: Heat Keepers

Have an opening you want to promote? Send a web link to jobs@adirondack.org.