White Knights Kennels Expands & Upgrades Facility to Meet Demand for Animal Services

White Knight Kennels is a NYS certified kennel located in Chazy in Clinton County. The business serves townships in Clinton, Franklin and Essex Counties that lack a suitable facility to house lost and seized dogs until they can be relocated or returned to safe homes. 

In recent years, the need for quality kenneling services has surged in the North Country as changes in state regulations have required regional shelters to reduce these services.

AEDC provided a working capital loan to assist owner Jody Perrea to make upgrades to the facility and improve capacity for this important community service. Mr. Perrea has stepped up to capably fill this need and we congratulate him on his meaningful work and expansion!

Pictured: Dogs receiving shelter and care at White Knight Kennel from Mr. Perrea.

AEDC Team Participates in Empire State Development Entrepreneurship Assistance Center Annual Conference

AEDC is one of 22 EACs across the state and the program is a cornerstone of business counseling services. Congratulations to EAC Director Stephanie Donaldson on another great year of serving our clients through the program. Executive Director Victoria served on the conference planning committee and we were excited to welcome the conference to our region for the first time!

We are especially excited to announce that our awesome client Amanda Ragland was awarded "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the program (see above article). Victoria also led a roundtable discussion of challenges and opportunities in serving small businesses hosted by Senior Executive VP Elizabeth Luskin and Director Earl Thomason, Jr., VP Entrepreneur Development. Our team especially enjoyed the rousing and inspiring kick-off session to the conference by client/partner LeeAnne Ruff. Thank you to Marcia and the wonderful Courtyard by Marriott Lake George for hosting us!

Pictured: Stephanie Donaldson, Santana Vicencio-LaBarre, Victoria Duley & LeeAnne Ruff at EAC Conference.

Antzy Pantz Daycare Expands in Saratoga County

Antzy Pantz is a provider of sensory-enriched preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten programs in Clifton Park. 

The business has undergone several expansions since its inception and worked with AEDC for each. AEDC recently provided a working capital loan to help grow capacity in the school’s “Bouncing Butterflies” program, which provides occupational therapy to children across four counties.

Congratulations to owners Ashley Meister and McKenna Flemming on another expansion of greatly needed child services in our region!

Pictured: Jamie Cecilia from AEDC with clients Ashley Meister and McKenna Flemming at Antzy Pants daycare.

AEDC Teams with the Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board (LC-LGRPB) to Highlight Innovative Entrepreneurial Assistance in Rural Regions at the Annual International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference in Detroit

Victoria worked with Executive Director Beth Gilles of the LC-LGRPB to highlight the entrepreneur assistance both organizations are carrying out at the recent IEDC annual conference in Detroit. Both talked about the changes in services that the organizations have implemented to respond to post-pandemic shifts and small business needs.

The session was presented to a full room of economic developers from across the country and beyond. We value our partnership with Beth and her team and really enjoyed this co-presentation!

Pictured: Executive Directors Victoria Duley, AEDC and Beth Gilles, LC-LGRPB at IEDC Detroit.

AEDC Hosts Small Business Adminstration (SBA) District Director

The SBA is a critical partner for AEDC in providing capital for our region’s small businesses.

AEDC has been an SBA-designated Microlender for more than 30 years! The AEDC team recently enjoyed a visit from District Director Dan Rickman to our office in Saranac Lake. Mr. Rickman reviewed client files and interviewed our team, re-affirming the high-level work that our team is doing through assistance of the SBA Microlender program.

Pictured: Victoria Duley, Dan Rickman, Jamie Cecilia at AEDC office.

Board of Directors Meets in Lake Placid with Joint Session with the Adirondack North Country Association Board of Directors

Representatives of AEDC’s Board of Directors met this fall for lunch and conversation with ANCA’s Board of Directors at Heaven Hill Farm in Lake Placid following the ANCA board meeting. Our teams and leadership shared joint initiatives and updates on each organization’s Strategic Plan and lively discussion following. The AEDC Board of Directors held their quarterly meeting following the joint session at this majestic spot.

AEDC appreciates the great partners at ANCA. Thank you to Heaven Hill Farm and stewards Adirondack Community Foundation for hosting this meeting.

Pictured: AEDC and ANCA Board of Directors in Lake Placid. 

St Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner - Packed House in Ogdensburg

AEDC hosted a lively table including colleagues, board members and clients at the annual St. Lawrence Chamber of Commerce annual dinner. This year the sold-out event was held at the beautiful Gran-View in Ogdensburg.

Congratulations to the four St Lawrence County business and community pillar awardees: Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Ogdensburg, Jernabi Coffee House, Canton Apples and Cider, and the Massena Public Library, and the Chamber of Commerce on a great night!

Pictured: AEDC board members, team and clients at the St. Lawrence Chamber of Commerce annual dinner in Ogdensburg.

AEDC Team Attends Lake Champlain - Lake George Regional Planning Board Conference in Schroon Lake

Jamie, Santana and Victoria from AEDC enjoyed the informative presentations and meeting with many colleagues from across our eastern region at the Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board’s “Forward Together” conference in Schroon Lake.

This well-attended conference brought together a large and diverse group of colleagues and experts and featured many learning opportunities. Great job to the LC-LGRB team!

Pictured:Victoria, Jamie and Santana at the LC-LGRPB Conference at the Lodge at Schroon Lake.