Commitment: the first step towards action

New Economy News | September 2020

A commitment to change

ANCA board adopts DEI resolution

For the first time in our organization's 65-year history, on September 18, 2020, ANCA's board of directors signed and adopted a Resolution on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

This resolution reflects ANCA's commitment to building a community of staff, board members, advisors, donors, interns, fellows and volunteers, and partners that holds diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values.

Read the Resolution

Thank you for showing up for racial equity

Thank you to all who participated in ANCA's Annual Meeting last week. We are heartened and inspired by the level of interest and engagement in this important topic: racial equity.

A special thanks to our session speakers: Bryana DiFonzo of PUSH Buffalo, Valerie D. White of LISC NYC and ANCA's own Dr. Adam Dewbury.

ANCA staff have been working hard on tangible ways we will include diversity, equity and inclusion in our own work moving forward. In the Annual Meeting Program Guide, we describe challenges in each of our economic areas as well as goals for improving equity within these sectors and ANCA programs.

Read the Program Guide

Welcome ANCA's newest board members

We are pleased to announce the addition of three new directors to our board. Each of these community leaders will bring exceptional talent, experience and insight to ANCA's work:

• Brittany Davis: Executive Director, Lewis County Economic Development

• Lee Evans: Sales Director, U.S. Light Energy

• Dr. Ty Stone: President, Jefferson Community College

We also express our deepest gratitude to outgoing board members Cathy Dove and Stephen Stofelano. Your commitment to ANCA has been instrumental in guiding our work during the past several years.

Meet the ANCA board

ON-RAMP summit kicks off next week

Announcing ON-RAMP speakers, including Lt. Governor Hochul

We are honored to announce an amazing slate of presenters for ON-RAMP, including the clean transportation summit's keynote speaker, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.

Experts from NYS and Quebec governments, clean energy & transportation companies, financial institutions, tourism & events organizations and others will inform the summit's action-oriented discussions.

Learn more about session topics and guest speakers in the summit agenda.

View the agenda

Hop on the ON-RAMP!

Be a part of our region's low-carbon future. Register for ON-RAMP today.

What: Clean Transportation: the Adirondack ON-RAMP
When: September 29-30 and October 1, 2 & 5 (for session times, see the agenda)
Where: Virtual
Cost: $95; $75 for ANCA members

For student discounts, please contact Membership & Events Coordinator Alexis Subra at asubra@adirondack.org.

Understanding Community Needs sessions are open to the public

As part of ON-RAMP, Clarkson University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Institute for a Sustainable Environment want to learn about the transportation challenges you face and the solutions you envision.

Clarkson faculty will be leading two "Understanding Community Needs" sessions, which are free and open to the public:

• Tuesday, September 29, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 5, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

We especially want to hear from community members who might have felt left out of community conversation in the past. For those who are not able to log in via internet, a phone option will be available. If that is not feasible, contact ANCA, and we will connect to you through other means.

CBIT launches new tools & resources

Plan for the Future workshop series set for Fall 2020

The Center will host its second annual workshop series that addresses topics relevant for transitioning businesses. The six workshops will be hosted by regional partners and will take place from 8:00-9:15 a.m.

The first session, “Utilizing all of Your Transition Resources: Overcoming Common Obstacles,” will feature a panel of area resource providers including Carol Calabrese, Co-director of the Essex County IDA; Angela Smith, Certified Business Advisor for the SUNY Canton SBDC at Clinton Community College; Dani Delaini, Business
Transition Program Coordinator at ANCA; and Stephanie Donaldson, Business Counselor at AEDC.

Oct. 1: Utilizing all of Your Transition Resources: Overcoming Common Obstacles
Oct. 8: Your Best Possible Successor is Already Working for You
Oct. 14: Business Transitions Overview: Where Do You Start?
Oct. 15: Marketing Your Available Business
Oct. 21: Determining Value: Perspectives from Buyers and Sellers
Oct. 27: Not Just a Sale: The Role of Realtors in a Business Transition

New website for aspiring entrepreneurs

The Center's new website, ownanorthcountrybusiness.com, focuses on attracting would-be entrepreneurs to the region by helping them connect with retiring and transitioning business owners, as well as regional resources.

The website is a project of the Student WEB Program — a collaborative e-commerce development support program developed by ANCA, the Shipley Center for Innovation at Clarkson University and the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.

Visit the website!

New succession planning guidebook for North Country businesses

The Center for Businesses in Transition recently published a guidebook for transitioning business owners — a localized how-to guide for navigating the multifaceted succession planning process. The document also highlights local free and low-cost resources to help business owners get started.

Learn more about CBIT's new tools and resources in our recent press release.

View the guidebook!

Aspring entrepreneur profile

Introducing Peter Jacobson. Peter has a background in industrial operations and is seeking to take over an existing North Country business. He is looking for the right opportunity in a sector that matches his skill sets and passions.

Are you a business owner working in commodities, logistics, industrial services, plumbing and HVAC or something similar? Do you have employees and an EBITDA of between $200K to $1.5M? If so, contact us today at transitions@adirondack.org to get connected.

Stay tuned for more profiles of aspiring entrepreneurs looking for opportunities in the North Country!

Farms use grants to grow more, grow better

2019 Farm Grant recipient Catherine Bennett of Milkweed Tussock Tubers successfully completed the first round of field inspections and is on her way to becoming a certified disease-free seed potato producer. Congratulations Catherine!

2020 Local Food System Security Grant Recipient Pitney Meadows Community Farm has surpassed their goal of donating 15,000 pounds of fresh produce, and to date the farm has donated a whopping 17,738 pounds of produce with an estimated value of over $46,000. Pitney Meadows reaches ten food pantries each week, including organizations that deliver directly to people’s homes. Thank you Pitney Meadows Community Farm, and congratulations on exceeding your goal!

Learn more

Climate smart

Saranac Lake designated Climate Smart Community

Today, NYS DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, local officials and members of Saranac Lake's Climate Smart Communities Task Force gathered to commemorate the Village's designation as a bronze level Climate Smart Community.

ANCA is honored to have supported this initiative and the task force throughout the process.

Left: Speakers from the September 24 press event gather for a photo following the Commissioner's announcement.

Watch

Adirondack Compost for Good awarded $20K

ANCA was awarded a $20K grant from the Pollution Prevention Institute this summer to develop a compost toolkit, including technical support, for organizations, institutions, municipalities, and others interested in developing a comprehensive community scale composting program.

Congrats and thanks to AdkAction for advancing the Adirondack Compost for Good project throughout the region!

Learn more

Pathways to Energy Efficiency

Cornell Cooperative Extension and ANCA invite you to tune into "Pathways to Energy Efficiency" — a Facebook Live video series about increasing energy efficiency and reducing utility costs with renewable energy options.

The series can be viewed live every Tuesday through October 27 at 12:15 p.m. on CCE of Jefferson County and ANCA's Facebook pages. Up next:

Sept. 29: Building Envelope. Not What You Mail.
Oct. 6: Electricity and the Vampires in Your Home
Oct. 13: Renewable Heating & Cooling-Heat Pumps
Oct. 20: Renewable Heat-Biomass Boilers & Pellet Stoves
Oct. 27: Three Ways To Go Solar

Watch: Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m.

Stay in touch with ADI

Stay tuned for more information and opportunities with ADI:

• The Adirondack Black Experience: A Matter of Faith: North Country Faith Leaders & Black Lives Matter. September 29, 7:00 p.m. Join faith leaders from two North Country congregations and hear about the work their churches are doing to support of BLM. Hosted by Adirondack Experience and ADI. Register here.

• The ADI 100 Dialog Facilitator Recruitment & Training, starting November 1.

• Queer of Color Voices Virtual Series: BIPOC Queer communities speak to the North Country; a collaboration with the Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance; planned for October & November 2020.

• BIPOC in the Outdoors Virtual Series: This series will explore the precarity of being Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color in our Public Parks. The series will culminate in a BIPOC Equity & Inclusion Symposium. Planned for December 2020.

To get involved in ADI, sign up at www.diversityadk.org.

Save the date!

Clean Transportation: the Adirondack ON-RAMP

When: September 29 to October 5 (seven sessions over five days)
Where: Virtual

Learn more & register

Center for Businesses in Transition Workshop Series

When: October 1-27, 2020 (six morning workshops)
Where: Virtual

Partner events

Food Justice is Racial Justice: National Farm to School Network Meeting. Featuring farmer and food justice activist Karen Washington. October 14,1:00 p.m. Learn more and register.

Design Your Succession Plan: Join Cornell Cooperative Extension across New York State in partnership with NYS Workforce Development Institute for this 4-part workshop series. Thursdays, Oct 8, 15, 22 and 29, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Learn more and register by Sept. 30.

The North Country Art, Land and Environment Summit: September 9 to October 2. Live sessions with recordings available. Learn more and register.

Black Narratives: this 4-week class will explore art forms such as literature, television, art and song in order to appreciate and analyze Black narratives. Hosted by the Lake Placid Center of the Arts. Tuesdays, October 6-27, 5:00-6:30 p.m. Learn more and register.

North Country Live: Fall Series! will focus on the history and traditions of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe at Akwesasne. Oct. 1, 15 and 29 at 7:00 p.m. Learn more and register.

Your count. Your vote.

Have you completed the 10-year U.S. Census yet? It's not too late!

Submit your Census responses by September 30 to make sure your household is counted. Our region depends on a fair and accurate count.

Have you registered to vote in the November 3 elections? It's not too late!

There are multiple ways to register. Register online through NYS offices, Vote America or Vote.org. You can also check with your County Board of Elections to find out about your current registration status.