Gratitude for State Support

Thank you to the Legislative champions who supported the inclusion of ANCA and the Adirondack Diversity Initiative in the 2023 New York State Budget. This funding directly supports our work building equity, inclusion and resilience in North Country communities.

ANCA Executive Director Elizabeth Cooper and ADI Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher (both pictured) were thrilled to connect with some of these elected and appointed officials at Adirondack Day in Albany on May 8.

The increase in ADI funding allows us to build on the successes of the Community Policing Initiative, which helps to strengthen relationships between local and State police agencies and the communities they serve.

Photo: RENZ Consulting's Dr. Heather Pfeifer speaks about trauma in policing during a training with NYS DEC Rangers on May 1 in Ray Brook.

Crave Diner: New Beginnings for a Local Classic

The Center for Businesses in Transition partnership is honored to have supported Ashley Mayer Hoch and Ann Schneeberger through the business transition process!

Their commitment to a successful transition — bolstered by Naturally Lewis, the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation, SUNY Canton SBDC and local business support professionals — has allowed Ashley to build on Gary's Restaurant's legacy in downtown Lowville, NY. Under its new name — Crave Diner and Vanilla Bean Shop — this small business will be feeding locals and visitors for years to come.

Learn about Crave Diner's transition story in this video feature by Olivia Grant Creative:

Conference Highlights

• Learn from industry experts, community leaders and business owners.
• Hear "Community Sparks" success stories from guests like Josh and Rebekah Pierce (pictured) of J&R Pierce Family Farm in West Chazy, NY.
• Tour Brookfield Renewable's historic hydropower facility and visit NYPA’s Energy Zone visitor center.
• Gather with the clean energy community at a reception at the Irish Cultural Center.
• Enter a drawing for a number of excellent raffle prizes.

Sponsor Thanks

Thank you to the Sponsors whose support makes this conference possible. Their commitment to an inclusive, state-wide clean energy future is helping build a brighter, cleaner future for all. 

Gearing Up for Bike the Barns

ANCA is partnering again this year with BikeADK to bring you our annual Bike the Barns farm-by-bike experience!

Based in New York's Champlain Valley, the tour will feature farm stops, a local food meal and live music — an inspiring and delicious way to engage with our region's food producers and small businesses.

Listen: Farm and Food Hub Addresses Food Access Challenges

North Country farmers face a number of challenges getting their products to market and to local consumers who would benefit from eating fresh, healthy local food. In a recent story on North Country Public Radio, farmer and food hub owner Cherie Whitten describes how she is working on solutions to improve our region's food systems. ANCA's Local Food Systems Director Adam Dewbury, who is helping Cherie manage her recent $500,000 USDA Local Food Promotion Program Grant, is also featured in the story.

Composting Tour for Farmers

North Country farmers are invited to join Cherie on her Winthrop farm to learn about another key piece of the local food system — composting. Workshop attendees will get the chance to tour Whitten Family Farm's composting facility, aerated static pile system and newly constructed compost building.

What: Aerated Static Pile workshop & site visit

When: Monday, June 12, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Whitten Family Farm, Winthrop, NY

Cost: Free

RSVP: jperry@adirondack.org

$40K Grant Elevates Watershed Voices

Visitors to Lake Champlain will soon be able to learn about the ecological and cultural diversity of the lake and its surrounding area through music and sound. ANCA has been awarded a $40,000 grant to support an interpretive music project that celebrates the biodiversity and human diversity of the Champlain Basin.

The “Watershed Voices” project — a collaboration of regional partners including ADI and McClure Productions Inc. — was awarded the grant through the Lake Champlain Basin Artist-in-Residence Program and NEIWPCC, a regional commission that helps preserve and advance water quality. 

Indigenous Reflections

Visit BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake to see Dave Kanietakeron Fadden's striking artwork representing Indigenous stories, portraits and hopes for the future.

Sponsored by the ADI, this exhibit is free and open to the public Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2 to 6 p.m., until June 25.

It has been such a pleasure to work with the Ausable Theater's Norman Jabaut and Jason Andrew through ANCA's Center for Pandemic Response (ANCA CPR).

The historic theater, located in Au Sable Forks, is a hidden gem of the Adirondacks. The building has survived fires, reconstruction, numerous closures, re-openings, and restoration efforts over the years. With a mission to re-imagine the 1930s theater and uplift their community through the arts, Norman and Jason purchased the building in 2021.

When we learned they were looking to tackle a big insulation project, ANCA CPR was able to connect them with local contractors and $10,000 in funding for the upgrades. The new insulation will help keep the theater comfortable and reduce energy costs for many years to come.

Quaint and picturesque, the Essex Marina is located in the Historic Village of Essex, New York on the deep water narrows of Lake Champlain. Located along routes to Burlington, Vermont, Montreal, and New York City and in the middle of some of the best recreational areas for boating, skiing and hiking on the East Coast, this business includes numerous commercial and residential possibilities with multiple auxiliary buildings.

Learn about this and other available North Country businesses on our list of featured businesses for sale.

Community Energy Programs Explained

Clean energy technologies, programs and incentives can be difficult to decipher for the media and the general public. Recent reporting dug into clean energy opportunities for North Country communities.

Learn about Saranac Lake's efforts to adopt Community Choice Aggregation in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and the Climate Smart Communities Program and its benefits on WXXI News Radio.

The following communities attended Energy Code Enforcement Trainings in April and were credited with a CEC High Impact Action:

• City of Ogdensburg
• City of Plattsburgh
• Lewis County
• Town of Arietta
• Town of Malone
• Town of North Elba
• Town of Willsboro
• Town of Wilmington
• Village of Tupper Lake

Photo: Franklin County's newly insulated highway garage funded with a $150,000 Clean Energy Communities grant.

Warm welcome two new staff members to the ANCA team this month:

Mary Haskell will serve as our new High Peaks Farmers' Market Manager and will oversee operations at the weekly Saranac Lake and Lake Placid markets. When you're at one of these markets supporting local farms and businesses, be sure to stop by and say hello to Mary!

Jon Ignatowski is the newest addition to our Entrepreneurial Economy Program team. In his role as Grant Advocate & Coordinator, Jon is helping to develop programming and working one-on-one with small business owners and organizational leaders to identify relevant grant opportunities and support them in their applications.

Celebrating Nancy LaBombard!

On May 24, ANCA staff gathered to celebrate Staff Accountant Nancy LaBombard and her 30 years at ANCA!

For three decades, Nancy has been the glue that keeps the organization together. She keeps the office running smoothly, supports her colleagues and is deeply involved in the local community. Nancy has a big heart, cheerful presence and open mind. We appreciate her every day!

Thank you Nancy, for your longstanding dedication to ANCA and the businesses and communities we serve.

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

• NYS Policy Coordinator: American Farmland Trust
• Underwriting Manager: North Country Public Radio
• Assistant Director of Strategic Communications: St. Lawrence University
• Community Engagement & Outreach Manager: Champlain Area Trails
• Policy Associate for Community Land Trusts: New Economy Project
• Kitchen Staff: Triple Green Jade Farm

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