We're Updating Our Strategic Plan. We'd Love Your Feedback.

Last updated in 2020 for the 2020-2025 period, ANCA’s strategic plan guides our work. Your honest, candid insights to our 5-10 minute survey will form the backbone of our next strategic plan as we work to build partnerships, leverage resources, and support the North Country's building of an economy that works for all.

Calling Small Business Owners for Fed Survey

The Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey is still open, and ANCA is a partner on this effort. Owners and managers of businesses are invited to share recent experiences with credit and loans, financial conditions, and more. Survey responses contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others as they create policy which impacts small businesses like yours.

Are You Registered to Vote?

The deadline to register in New York State is Saturday, October 26, 2024. Are you registered?

Early voting runs from October 26 to November 3, and Election Day is November 5.

ANCA has compiled basic information and resources to help you update or confirm your registration status. Learn more.

Sessions, Speakers & More

We are honored to welcome community leaders from the North Country and beyond who will share their insights and expertise around topics that impact our rural region:

• The Right to Exist
• Understanding Visitor Use Management 
• Creating Inclusive Workplaces
• What Local Media Are Learning About Our Communities
• Future Stewards of the Adirondack North Country
• Elected Officials: Here for You
• Earth as a Role Model for DEI

Sponsor Thanks

Thank you to the growing list of community leaders who are sponsoring the ADI Symposium!

Become a Symposium Sponsor today and connect with other leaders who share a vision of a more inclusive North Country. Contact ANCA's Caitlin Bottcher to learn about sponsorship opportunities and benefits.

Are You Project Ready?

Do you have a ready-to-go project that is in need of funding?

ANCA is partnering with the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District to provide support for businesses looking to apply for grants and loans. In this one-hour webinar, you'll learn from MVEDD staff about their grant support services and how you can prepare your project to be funding ready.

Register today for virtual session, set for Tuesday, October 29 at noon.

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.

Featured Business for Sale: The Caboose

In this short video, Karl and Jill Marsh share their story of how they made their business dream come true in the heart of the Adirondacks. Now, they are seeking new owners for The Caboose — a unique small business in Inlet that includes a popular seasonal eatery and a year-round vacation rental.

Free Compost Site Operator Event

As part of its Rethink Food Waste NY program, CET, with support from NYS DEC, will host a free workshop for compost site operators. This engaging and informative event will focus on best practices for composting food scraps.

What: Compost Site Operators Workshop

When: Monday, October 28, 7:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

Where: Whitten Family Farm, Winthrop, NY

Compost for Healing

Compost for Good had the pleasure of participating in a three-day community composters forum in Cleveland, Ohio earlier this month. We shared space with community composters from across the country and were reminded about the power of composting as a healing force that brings new life from death.

If your community is interested in developing a composting project, reach out to ANCA Organics Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Perry jperry@adirondack.org.

Climate Smart Communities Info Session

The Village of Clayton Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Task Force will host a public forum where community members will learn about different programs they can adopt to save energy, money, and support the climate goals of their local community. Presenters will share opportunities for energy rebates, energy-efficient technologies, community composting, renewable energy and more.

• When: Saturday, October 26,10 a.m. to noon
• Where: Clayton Municipal Building, Clayton, NY

Clean Energy Communities

In the first ten months since the launch of CEC Round 3.0, 57 North Country communities have completed high impact actions that qualified them for Advanced CEC designation and match-free clean energy grants. This translates into $1.6 million to fund heat pump installations, building upgrades, EV charging stations, and more!

Congratulations to the following Clean Energy Communities who are completing actions and earning credit toward grants while also reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions:

• Village of Canton qualified for a CEC Energy Study
• Town of Fort Covington converted cobrahead street lights to LED
• Town of Jay completed Clean Energy Upgrades tier 1 by insulating steam pipes and installing LED lights
• Town of Keene installed heat pumps in their town hall for a Clean Heating & Cooling Demonstration, and achieved Clean Energy Upgrades tiers 1, 2 & 3 by installing LED lighting in all their buildings
• Village of Lake Placid completed a municipal fleet inventory
• Town of Denmark achieved Clean Energy Generation Installation Owned by Municipality Tier 1 and Tier 2 with their newly installed solar array 
• Town of Moira converted cobrahead street lights to LED, completed a municipal fleet inventory, and benchmarked their building
• Town of Mooers converted cobrahead street lights to LED
• Town of Peru purchased electric landscaping equipment
• Town of Potsdam completed Tier 1 Community Campaign for CDG
• Town of Clayton installed heat pumps in their town hall for a Clean Heating & Cooling Demonstration
• Village of Philadelphia completed a municipal fleet inventory 
• Village of Rouses Point converted >50% of cobrahead and decorative street lights to LED
• Village of Sackets Harbor converted >50% of cobrahead and decorative street lights to LED, completed a municipal fleet inventory, and purchased an EV for their police department
• Town of Tupper Lake purchased electric landscaping equipment
• City of Plattsburgh completed Municipal Building Demonstration for heat pump installation in City Hall and a Municipal Fleet Inventory
• Village of Potsdam completed a Municipal Fleet Inventory

And these communities that recently qualified for grants:

• Village of Canton: $50,000
• Village of Lake Placid: $50,000
• Town of Peru: $5,000
• Town of Potsdam: $5,000
• City of Plattsburgh: $50,000

Don’t miss out — funding is limited! Contact energy@adirondack.org to learn how your community can take advantage of this opportunity.

Climate Listening Sessions

The Adirondack Climate Outreach & Resilience Network (ACORN) is hosting climate listening sessions across Adirondack North Country. 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. 

These listening sessions are open to all:

On Saturday, October 19, the High Peaks Farmers Market hosted its first downtown Harvest Festival, which featured market vendors, food trucks, kids' activities, live performances and more along Main Street, Saranac Lake. The event marked the end of the outdoor market season, when the market transitions indoors into the charming Hotel Saranac lobby. The indoor Winter Market will run from October through December.

Read about the inaugural Harvest Festival in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Welcome Aboard!

ANCA's Board of Directors is thrilled to welcome new board member Stephanie Guzik-Lendrum to the organization's leadership team. Stephanie is a maker and entrepreneur based in Glens Falls, NY who has been an active participant in ANCA's annual Adirondack Buyer Days trade show since 2019. Having grown a creative hobby into a small business, Cedar + Pearl, that now employs a team of women who work alongside her to craft handmade ornaments, Stephanie brings a unique entrepreneurial perspective to ANCA's board.

Welcome to the ANCA team Stephanie!

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

• Philanthropy Director: Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation
• Finance Manager: Town of Plattsburgh
• Executive Director: Adirondack Health Foundation
• Outdoor Skills Coordinator: Adirondack Mountain Club

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