New Economy News | September 2023 | |
Hot of the Press: ANCA's 2022 Annual Report | | |
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We invite you to read our 2022 Annual Report — where you'll find impacts and stories from ANCA's collaborative work across the Adirondack North Country.
This report shares key milestones and success stories from each of our program areas. Stories of small businesses and farms, community leaders and grassroots efforts. Stories of people who are building a strong and equitable economy in our region.
We also want to thank you — our members, donors, partners and constituents — for your support and engagement over the past year. We could not do this work without it.
Feel free to share with your networks. We hope you enjoy the read!
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Annual Meeting Thanks
Thank you to all who joined us for our Annual Meeting on September 8. Over 70 people gathered at the Tug Hill Estate in Lowville, NY to network with each other and learn from guest speakers about their perspectives on building belonging for the benefit of all who engage with our region's businesses, communities and outdoor spaces.
Special thanks to our guest presenters: educator Tamara Jolly (pictured above), radio reporter Emily Russell (below) and coffee entrepreneur Scott Gilbert.
And thank you to our Meeting Sponsors: Community Bank & National Grid.
We look forward to following up with more collaborations centered on advancing welcoming and belonging in our region.
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Adirondack Diversity Initiative | |
Expo Features Business Welcoming Microcredential
You're invited to join small businesses from around the region for the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Tri-lakes Business Expo. David Epstein-HaLevi and Tiffany Rea-Fisher of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative will introduce our new Business Welcoming Microcredential for businesses and organizations looking to create spaces that are welcoming of diverse staff and clientele.
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What: Tri-lakes Business Expo
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When: Thursday, September 28, 2-5 p.m.
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Where: Saranac Lake Civic Center
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Honoring John Thomas, Respected Citizen
Thank you to all who came out to Onchiota on September 16 to celebrate the sign unveiling and renaming of an Adirondack brook and to honor its new namesake — John Thomas.
“This name change is not erasing history,” said Paul Smith’s College professor and historian Curt Stager. “This is recovering history that has been erased.”
Learn more about the effort to replace an offensive geographic name and the "respected citizen" whose legacy has been elevated in the renaming of John Thomas Brook.
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Photo of ADI Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher speaking at the sign unveiling event, courtesy of our partners at John Brown Lives! | | |
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Does your community have blighted properties that you’d like to bring back into service?
ANCA is partnering with the Northern Forest Center and New Jersey Institute for Technology's Technical Assistance for Brownfield Communities program to offer a Brownfields 101 virtual workshop that will explore what brownfields are, the brownfield redevelopment process, funding & technical assistance resources, redevelopment case studies, and more.
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What: Brownfields: The Basics
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When: October 25, 2023 12-1:30 p.m.
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Where: Virtual
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Local Food, Farms & Compost! | |
Gearing Up for Bike the Barns
This year's Bike the Barns — complete with peak fall foliage, stunning views, engaging farm stops, a museum tour, delicious food and drink, and live music — is right around the corner. We are ready to roll on Saturday, October 7 through the Ausable and Champlain Valleys of northern New York.
We want to extend a big thank you to the businesses and organizations who are sponsoring this year's event. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to building awareness and support for the farms and food producers who strengthen our communities by providing healthy food, caring for agricultural lands, and supporting local economies.
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Free Fall Composting Workshops | |
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Want to learn how to build healthy soils by composting and be a part of a growing network of businesses and community members working to advance composting opportunities in the region? Join Compost for Good and partners for one or more of these upcoming free composting events.
Contact Organics Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Perry for more information: jperry@adirondack.org.
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Compost Tea & Extracts Workshop
When: Friday, October 13, 1-3 p.m.
Where: 23 Bills Lane, Jay, NY
A hands on workshop to learn about compost tea and extract techniques and benefits.
Contact Jennifer Perry to learn more and to register: jperry@adirondack.org.
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Waste to Resource Workshop
When: Monday, Oct 30, 5:30-7 p.m.
Where: Lake Placid Pub and Brewery
When: Thursday, Nov 2, 5:30-7 p.m. Where: St. Joe's Food Pantry, Plattsburgh
Join Compost for Good and the Center for Ecotechnology to learn about opportunities for food waste reduction and diversion.
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Soil Health for Vegetable Growers Workshop
When: Wednesday, November 1, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Whallonsburg Grange Essex, NY
Presentations, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations focusing on soil health concepts and best practices for vegetable growers. Topics include tarping, maintaining soil health in high tunnels, cover cropping, reduced tillage, compost microbiology, and more. 1.75 DEC pesticide recertification credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 23.
Register here by October 27.
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Compost Site Operators and Food Waste Haulers Gathering
When: Saturday, November 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Paul Smith's College VIC
Potluck gathering of North Country Compost Site Operators and Food Waste Haulers to share stories, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.
Contact Jen to learn more and to register: jperry@adirondack.org.
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Igniting Small Business Projects | | |
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Creative Haven in Saranac Lake
We are happy to announce the newest project on Ignite! — ANCA's crowdfunding platform that supports small projects that make a big difference for North Country entrepreneurs.
Check out the Ignite! page to learn more about Tori Vasquez, owner of Main Street Exchange in Saranac Lake, and her plans to create a Creative Haven at her consignment shop — a welcoming community space for people to work on DIY, fashion and other creative projects.
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Survey: CPR Feedback & Next Steps
Did you participate in programs or services offered through ANCA's Center for Pandemic Response?
As the ANCA CPR program comes to a close, we'd like to learn about your experiences with it and the kinds of services and opportunities you would like to see in the next chapter of our small businesses programming.
We value your feedback! Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey.
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Take a Tour of Businesses for Sale
Love the water? You could own a waterfront business in northern New York — like Essex Marina, located on the shores of Lake Champlain. This small business, like dozens of others across the region, is ready to welcome aspiring entrepreneurs for a Familiarization Tour of their operation and local area.
Contact transitions@adirondack.org to learn more and to participate in the tour program.
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Become an Energy Navigator
The North Country Clean Energy Hub is seeking volunteers to serve as Energy Navigators in their communities. Navigators help family, friends and community members learn how they can reduce energy use, save money and create safer and more comfortable homes. Each volunteer receives nine training sessions that cover different aspects of energy efficiency, funding programs, incentives, and more.
New training schedules are available for Fall 2023 and 2024 sessions.
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Clean Energy Communities
Congratulations to the following communities that are earning credit toward clean energy project grants while reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions! These three communities adopted a policy to benchmark their municipal buildings:
- Town of Inlet
- Town of Wilmington
- Village of Massena
Congrats to these communities that recently earned CEC designation and $5,000 grants:
- Town of Inlet
- Town of Moriah
- Village of Carthage
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LED street lights in downtown Carthage | |
Entrepreneur Bootcamp
September 16- November 1
Virtual
It's not too late to sign up for this course, where AEDC and expert partners will share skills and tools to launch or grow your small business.This 60-hour comprehensive hands-on training course is designed for new and existing business owners to give their business ideas the best chance to succeed.
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Common Ground Alliance Forum
October 20, 2023
Gore Mountain, North Creek
CGA's annual forum convenes hundreds of participants who work as equals to identify and resolve issues of common concern. The result is a focused, annual action plan called Blueprint for the Blue Line, developed from the discussions at the Forum.
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Cooperative Summit
November 4, 2023
Syracuse, NY
The NY Cooperative Network hosts a day for cooperators – start-ups or conversions, consumer or worker, marketing or purchasing, agriculture or electric, food or financial, housing or anyone curious about how the cooperative model works to save legacy businesses, provide for social and racial equity by reducing wealth and income gaps, and create resilient communities today and into the future through democratic ownership.
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ICYMI: Here's What We're Reading | |
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Visit our jobs page for openings with member and partner organizations and regional nonprofits:
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Director of Development: Northern Forest Center
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Giving Manager: North Country Public Radio
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School Program Coordinator: The Wild Center
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Community Outreach Coordinator: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County
Have an opening you want to promote? Send a web link to jobs@adirondack.org.
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Build a Resilient Regional Economy
ANCA members are growing the region's New Economy by building strong, resilient and equitable systems for local food, clean energy and small businesses. Become an ANCA member today.
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