Have you been to the latest locavore hotspot in Saranac Lake? Farmstead cheeses from North Country Creamery and organic veggies from Juniper Hill Farm are featured regularly. House-made bread is used for sandwiches, with turkey that is roasted onsite. The food is so good and prices so reasonable that business has doubled in the last two years. But you can still get a table without a reservation - and you don’t even need to be a hospital patient or visitor. Adirondack Health is happy to have...Read more

Our current president made a statement to the Wall Street Journal recently, recognizing the existence of Upper New York. For those of us who live on the Upper East Side of New York State, we have a reaction. In case you missed it, here’s the somewhat convoluted statement: "I'm going to start explaining to people, when you have an area that just isn't working like upper New York state, where people are getting very badly hurt, and then you'll have another area 500 miles away where you can't get...Read more

There are a number of historic theaters in the Adirondack North Country that are working hard to bring a modern movie theater experience to residents and visitors. In this video, ANCA and Josh Clement Productions take a closer look at the Strand Theatre in Old Forge, NY and how this small business has managed to rehabilitate a historic theater, preserve cinematic history and provide jobs and entertainment in a rural Adirondack town...Read more

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It’s got the largest known deposits of gold in the world - in the vaults 80 feet below ground, resting literally on the bedrock of the Island of Manhattan, 50 feet below sea level. At 6,350 tons, that’s a lot of weight. Here is what it looks like: And in case you were wondering, it’s all worth about 254 billion dollars. Yes, $254,000,000,000. (I know, I had some ideas about how to help the Adirondack North Country economy with just a handful of gold bars...Read more

As Springtime slowly creeps up to the Adirondack North Country, the entire region is awakening to the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. Our region’s economy thrives during the warmer months as businesses, shops and restaurants extend their hours and stock their shelves to best accommodate our region’s residents and visitors. We’re all gearing up for a summer season bustling with social and economic activity in our towns and villages. Small businesses play a major role in our local...Read more

On Friday, March 24th, over 350 makers, educators, organizers, industry leaders, manufacturers, museums representatives and public officials came together in Albany to learn, discuss partnerships and plan how to grow the maker movement in New York State. I attended the meeting and was excited to see a number of folks from our region in attendance as well. The morning kicked off with an introduction from Dan Schneiderman from NYS Makers , a collaborative group of makers that organized the event...Read more

Many businesses in the Adirondack North Country form collaborative relationships when making, producing and building. In this video, ANCA and Josh Clement Productions take a closer look at Gristmill Distillery in Keene, NY and how this unique business employs local people, utilizes local ingredients and seeks out local resources to produce fine North Country spirits.Read more

Adirondack filmmaker Josh Clement has deep roots in the region There is something about this place that keeps so many of us here, despite the challenges. Maybe it’s the ancient mountains and wild forests. Or the clear lakes and winter snow. Or the small towns and supportive communities. Maybe it’s our resilient people and their inspiring narratives. Josh Clement, born and raised in the Adirondacks, has grown to embrace this place, it’s magic and the human stories that make it tick. Josh, like...Read more

Sweetgrass. Cedar. Lavender. Marigold. Rose. Balsam. The ingredients alone conjure up an intoxicating palette of fragrance, color and flavor. Nestled on a peaceful farm in Northern New York, a homegrown business is rooted in these elements. Soapmaker and entrepreneur Sandy Maine of Parishville has been a leader in the local maker scene for nearly 40 years. She is a long-time supporter of ANCA’s artisan programs and has been attending Adirondack Buyer Days since the show’s very beginning, in...Read more

It’s hard to believe it’s mid-December at the Madrid-Waddington Central School. As snow drifts into the exterior courtyard, lush green plants fill sturdy metal racks in the school’s garden room. Eight six-foot tall grow racks boast salad greens and herbs as well as a few experimental strawberry and cucumber plants. Several baby cucumbers dangle from vines and basil seedlings look vibrant against dark organic soil, made entirely of composted material from prior plantings. The grow racks are the...Read more