• What: 2024 ANCA Annual Meeting
• When: Friday, July 26, 2024, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Where: Fort Ticonderoga, 102 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga, NY 12883
• Cost: $40* includes meeting, welcome coffee and pastries, and a general admission ticket to Fort Ticonderoga for the entire day.

* ANCA is committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the region and making our programs accessible for all. Please note alternative fee payment options during the registration process.

Welcoming & Belonging Mural Unveiled

On June 30, Saranac Lake community members gathered for the unveiling of a Welcoming & Belonging Mural outside of ADK ArtRise, a downtown art studio and shop. The collaborative piece is a beautiful and joyful symbol that signals welcoming and belonging for local residents and visitors alike. Thank you to Britt Sternberg of ADK ArtRise, pictured at right with Marissa Hernandez of BluSeed Studios, and their creative team for bringing this project to fruition.

This community mural project was funded by a grant secured through the Adirondack Diversity Initiative.

The Right Side of History

Tractor Supply's announcement last month that the company would eliminate DEI and climate policies and goals was deeply upsetting to employees and community members locally and nationwide.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported about how two employees at the Ray Brook store resigned and explored why DEI matters in the workplace. ADI Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher commented on why a company's actions to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) are critical to building strong workplace culture, employee participation and innovation, as well as business profits. Tiffany also outlined how ANCA and ADI support and promote DEI efforts in our region.

“This is not the first attack made on DEI efforts and it won’t be the last," she said. "However, those of us who remain on the right side of history will continue to make our voices heard.”

Renaming a Local Hill

Dozens of residents gathered to hear Dr. Curt Stager of Paul Smith's College speak about a proposed name change of a local hill, the history behind it, and why it matters. Attendees also signed a petition to rename the hill Murry Hill.

"Acknowledging the cultural tapestry of what makes this place so special is important for generations past, present, and future," said ADI Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher.

Learn more in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and on NCPR.

Disability Independence Day

On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed, commemorating a significant moment for Americans with disabilities, ensuring their access to economic and civic opportunities. Its passage marked a historic bipartisan effort to recognize the long history of discrimination faced by the disability community. Disability Independence Day is celebrated annually on July 26.

Get Updates from ADI

Stay up to date on news from the Adirondack Diversity Initiative and other opportunities to engage in issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in our region. Sign up for the monthly ADI e-newsletter today.

Sign Up Soon to Save Your Spot

Spots are filling up fast for ANCA's 8th Bike the Barns, so register today for this unique farm-by-bike experience! The fully supported recreational road cycling tour highlights the rich agricultural movement of the North Country. The ride features farm stops and culminates with a finish line celebration with local food, beverages and live music.

• What: Bike the Barns
• When: Saturday, September 21, 2024
• Where: New York's Champlain Valley
• Start/Finish: Ausable Brewing Co., Keeseville

Bike Adirondacks provides top-notch logistic and event support for Bike the Barns. Doug and his crew make this a fun and welcoming experience year after year.

Reducing Food Waste in Your Community

Wherever you are on the food waste spectrum, you are invited to join Compost for Good for a virtual roundtable of North Country municipalities interested in learning about opportunities to reduce food waste in their communities. We will share success stories, NYS updates, funding opportunities and more. We are eager to hear your questions, concerns, success stories, challenges and how we can help your community reduce food waste.

USDA Grant Supports Food Waste Reduction

Compost for Good was recently awarded a USDA Rural Business Development Grant in partnership with Clarkson University that will help us provide support for generators of food scraps such as restaurants, university cafeterias and food processors in their efforts to reduce the amount of food waste in regional landfills. This project will also support compost operators and food scrap hauling businesses who are turning food scraps into rich compost that builds soil, improves water quality, and represents a crucial part in building a circular local food economy. 

To learn more about this and other food waste reduction efforts, contact Jen Perry at jperry@adirondack.org.

Empowering Youth and Women

Are you interested in providing new athletic training opportunities that empower local youth and women? Check out the latest campaign on Ignite! — ANCA's online crowdfunding platform that supports small projects that have big impact for local small businesses.

ADK Boxing of Lake Placid is raising scholarship funds for its youth boxing and women's self-defense programs. Visit our Ignite! page to learn about the program and support the campaign.

REAP ADK+: Grant Support for Small Businesses

Through ANCA's new REAP ADK+ initiative, qualifying businesses and farms can now receive assistance applying for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to help reduce energy costs. Earlier this year, Raymond Higby (pictured), owner of Complete Care Chiropractic in Lowville, NY, received $9,285 in REAP funding to replace inefficient electric baseboards and AC system with an energy-efficient air-source heat pump. The project reduced Complete Cares's energy consumption by 50% and lowered costs by $1,033 annually.

If you think your local businesses would benefit from this program, contact Jon Ignatowski at jignatowski@adirondack.org to learn more.

Supporting Businesses in Transition

As thousands of North Country business owners near retirement age, limited awareness about the exit planning process often leads to unnecessary liquidation and closure.

The Northeast Transition Initiative (NETI) is conducting a survey that will help regional business service providers, civic leaders and policy makers better understand the scope and scale of the challenge and its potential impact on our economy.

Climate Smart Communities

Three North Country communities recently achieved Bronze Climate Smart Communities Certification. Congratulations to the Town of Colton, Town of Potsdam (recertification), and Village of Potsdam (recertification)!

Visit the Climate Smart Communities website to view CSC communities across the state and actions completed by each to achieve certification. 

To learn more about how your community can participate in CSC, contact ANCA's CSC Coordinator Carlie Leary at cleary@adirondack.org

Clean Energy Communities

In the first seven months since the launch of CEC round 3.0, 39 North Country communities have completed high impact actions that earned Advanced CEC designation and match-free clean energy grants. This translates into $850,000 to fund heat pump installations, building upgrades, EV charging stations and more.

Congratulations to the following communities who are completing actions and earning credit toward clean energy grants while also saving money and greenhouse gas emissions:

• Town of Ausable: Completed Benchmarking | Advanced Reporting and earned a free energy study
• Village of Canton: Completed Benchmarking | Advanced Reporting
• Village of Dannemora: Completed Benchmarking | Advanced Reporting and earned a free energy study
• Town of Fort Covington: Completed Benchmarking | Advanced Reporting and earned a free energy study
• Village of Malone: Achieved 50% LED conversion of their cobrahead street lights
• Village of Potsdam: Approved for Climate Smart Communities Recertification - Bronze CSC

Special congratulation to those communities that recently qualified for grants:

• Town of Ausable: $10,000
• Village of Clayton: $10,000 & $5,000
• Village of Dannemora: $10,000
• Town of Fort Covington: $5,000
• Village of Malone: $10,000
• Town of Martinsburg: $10,000

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

ANCA Welcomes Two New Board Members

ANCA's Board of Directors named to new board members at their quarterly meeting on June 14. We are thrilled to welcome Alberto Bianchetti, Regional Customer and External Affairs Director for National Grid's Central New York Division; and Ryan Demers, Cooperative Business Developer with the Cooperative Development Institute to the ANCA team.

Learn about Alberto and Ryan and the wealth of knowledge they bring from their work in clean energy and cooperative development in our recent press release.

Best Wishes To Dani Delaini

In late June, ANCA staff bid farewell to Dani Delaini, who was recently named ANCA's deputy director. During her eight years at ANCA, Dani has been a powerful advocate and partner for North Country businesses. Among other notable achievements during her tenure as Entrepreneurial Economy Program Director, she oversaw the establishment and development of the Center for Businesses in Transition and our Center for Pandemic Response (ANCA CPR) program.

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

• Municipal Management Consultant: Tug Hill Commission
• Local Food Educator: CCE of Jefferson County
• Executive Director: Franklin County Land Bank
• Driver: Essex Food Hub

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