Thursday July 1, 2021
SBA's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Update
The North Country Chamber of Commerce is pleased to report that, after a long delay, many North Country businesses and nonprofits who applied for a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program received word this week that they were approved. We congratulate them on their awards and hope that this funding will provide some well-deserved relief moving forward. 

For those who have applied but have not yet received word on the status of their application, the SBA has indicated that applicants will be notified of any changes to their application status via email so we encourage you to check and keep a close eye on the email address that you used to create your SVOG portal account.

For those who have not yet applied, as of today (July 1, 2021), the SBA is still accepting applications for the SVOG program. If you qualify, we encourage you to consider submitting an application. 

The Chamber can assist you in determining your eligibility, gathering documentation, and with the application process for the SVOG and many other COVID-19 related financial assistance programs - if you are interested in this assistance or learning more, please contact us at (518) 563-1000. 
Bassmaster Elite Series Returns to Lake Champlain - Next Week!
The Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau and the City of Plattsburgh are excited to welcome the Bassmaster Elite Series back to Lake Champlain, July 8th to July 11th!⁠
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Catch the excitement at 3pm each day at the Plattsburgh Waterfront on Dock Street as pro anglers compete for $100,000 and qualifying points towards the Bassmaster Classic!⁠
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Be sure to wander around the Bassmaster Expo before the Saturday and Sunday weigh-ins! Expo opens at noon.

B.A.S.S. sponsors’ displays and activities include:⁠⁠
  • Toyota⁠
  • Yamaha⁠
  • Power-Pole⁠
  • Garmin⁠
  • Boat demo rides by Nitro/Ranger/Mercury and Skeeter/Yamaha⁠
  • Buy official Bassmaster Merchandise⁠
  • Sign up to join B.A.S.S.⁠
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Saturday is Military and First Responders Appreciation Day! Show your military or first responder ID to the DJ at the DJ stage and get a FREE Bassmaster hat!*⁠
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Sunday is B.A.S.S. Member Appreciation Day! Show your B.A.S.S. member card to the DJ at the DJ stage and get a FREE Bassmaster hat!*⁠
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*Limited to the first 100 people.⁠
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Can't make it to the weigh-ins live? No worries! Watch the excitement at bassmaster.com!⁠
State Lawmaker Calls for 'Unilateral' Canadian Border Reopening
A Democratic state lawmaker on Monday urged President Joe Biden's administration to take "unilateral" action and reopen the U.S. border with Canada, pointing to the economic havoc the continued closure has caused in New York's North Country region.

The statement from Assemblyman Billy Jones is the latest sign of frustration among local, state and federal officials on both sides of the aisle over the border remaining closed as new COVID-19 cases ebb in the U.S. and more people are vaccinated.

Still, unvaccinated people remain a cause for concern amid the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus. Officials in the United States and Canada this month announced the border would remain closed through mid-July, though guidelines for quarantining for vaccinated people would be eased.

"This is simply not enough to help those who live in border communities like the North Country," Jones said. "Meanwhile, those who can afford to fly to the United States from Canada are permitted to do so, creating an unfair and unjust policy that excludes most Canadians who can only afford to drive to cross the border."

Billions of dollars in trade and activity flowed between the two countries prior to the pandemic. And upstate New York in particular relies on Canadian tourism in the summer months. The bipartisan frustration, from lawmakers like Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins, have underscored the growing impatience with the closure.

“Enough is enough. I have been calling on both sides of the border repeatedly to use a phased approach towards reopening the border so that families can be reunited and property owners may return to their properties but our federal governments continue to not make reopening the border a priority," Jones said. "The suffering of North Country families should not be ignored, and it is time for President Biden to make reopening the border a priority and take unilateral action towards reopening the border."
Chamber Salutes Tony Collins as He Announces His Retirement Next Year
"In my almost thirty years at the Chamber, I have had the pleasure of working with many outstanding colleagues and partners, but the opportunity to know and collaborate with Tony Collins has been an exceptional experience. In 2011, Governor Cuomo asked Tony and I to be the first Co-Chairs of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council. We hadn't known each other before taking on that shared mission, but I very quickly came to deeply admire Tony for his vision, his optimism, his leadership and his innovative spirit. He constantly sees pathways forward when we need to find them, and embodies what I would call the power of partnership"

"Under his leadership, Clarkson has risen to new levels of excellence and recognition in the academic world and, importantly, has become an active partner in economic development across the North Country, including in the Plattsburgh area, with our Chamber, Clinton Community College, and a number of our manufacturers, among others. In our eight years co-leading the REDC, he was indispensable in drawing over $800 million in state investment to dozens of projects from broadband to advanced manufacturing to hospitality and agriculture."

I feel privileged to regard Tony Collins as not only an esteemed partner but as a friend. And I know he can't stop innovating and achieving, so we can expect plenty of continued collaboration in the year ahead. Thank you, Tony, for all you have done and for being all that you are.

Onward and upward!"

Garry Douglas
President/CEO
North Country Chamber of Commerce
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.
Today's Dose is Generously Supported By:
QUICK LINKS:
  • NYS Vaccination Updates: Official Site for making an appointment to get the COVID-19 Vaccine.
  • Forward NY: Official State Website for opening procedures and guidelines.
  • NYS Travel Advisory: Stay up to date on the latest NYS Travel Advisory Updates.
  • 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.
  • SCORE: Small business owners are resilient and can power through this challenging time, with SCORE by their side.
Have Questions? We're here to help!

North Country Chamber of Commerce
518.563.1000