North Country Economy News | September 2026 | | Harvesting and Hunkering Down | | |
With the shorter days and colder nights of fall, many North Country residents, farms and businesses are wrapping up the summer season and preparing for winter.
It's a good time to gather with others to reflect, take stock, and plan for the future.
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Guest Blog: Closing the Loop
In this month's What's Up North blog, we feature a piece by Rebekah Pierce, a local farmer and contributing writer for Adirondack Harvest. Rebekah tells the story of the regional community-scale composting movement, led by Compost for Good (CfG) and partners, and how these efforts are helping "close the loop" between local food production, consumption and recycling in homes and communities.
This work has come a long way since ANCA's Jennifer Perry teamed up with John and Katie Culpepper to create CfG in 2018. Read the blog to learn more.
| | CfG led a 2024 aerated pile composting workshop at Whitten Family Farm in Winthrop, NY | |
Bike the Barns Sold Out!
This Saturday's Bike the Barns has sold out, but we are still accepting registrations for the waitlist. We look forward to welcoming riders and supporters to Westport!
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What: 2026 Bike the Barns
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When: Saturday, September 26
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Start/Finish: Essex County Fairgrounds, Westport, NY
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Mileage: 20-30 miles
Thank you to the businesses and organizations who are supporting the event and ANCA's work as 2026 Bike the Barns Sponsors!
If you would like to sponsor Bike the Barns, contact Caitlin Bottcher at cbottcher@adirondack.org.
| | | Adirondack Diversity Initiative | | Photo by Tom Parsons, courtesy of Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts | | |
We look forward to gathering on the shores of Blue Mountain Lake to learn from community leaders who are delving into hard questions around sovereignty, safety, free speech, advocacy, healing and more.
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Across two days of panels, group sessions, and conversation, the symposium will feature timely discussions led by inspiring community leaders:
- Power and Harm: Civil Rights in 2026
- Rooted in Pride: LGBTQI+ Community, Resilience and the Road Ahead
- Under Pressure: Democracy, Free Speech, and the Culture War on Campus
- One Fight, Many Fronts: Native Sovereignty
- What We Have Found: Reporting in the North Country
- Community Tools
- The Long Tradition: Art, Resistance and the Movement
- We Tend Each Other: Healing Justice, Community Care and Collective Survival
- The Welcoming Adirondacks: What It Takes and Who’s Doing It
- Many Roots, One Movement: Coalition-Building Across Issues in the North Country
- Plus immersive sessions about finding healing through sound, meditation and journaling
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To close the symposium, we are honored to welcome Charmaine Crowell-White — a vibrant modern-day griot who captivates audiences with her energetic and engaging storytelling performances.
Charmaine will render a moving portrayal of Sojourner Truth — an abolitionist and women's rights activist best known for a speech she gave at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio on May 29, 1851.
We are thrilled to learn from Charmaine and all of our symposium presenters. View the full agenda for all sessions and speakers.
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Thank You, Sponsors!
Thank you to the growing list of businesses and organizations who are demonstrating their commitment to equity and justice in our communities by sponsoring the 2026 ADI Symposium!
Join these Symposium Sponsors today and connect with other leaders who share a vision of a more inclusive region.
Contact Caitlin Bottcher to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits.
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Last Biochar Workshop of the Season
Join River Valley Regeneratives, Compost for Good, and the Biochar Coalition for an interactive biochar workshop at Ben Wever Farm in Willsboro, NY.
What: On-farm Biochar Workshop
When: Sunday, October 4, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Ben Wever Farm, Willsboro, NY
The on-farm workshop will cover benefits and application strategies for this ancient soil building technique and feature a hands-on biochar burn.
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High Peaks Harvest Festival
On Saturday, October 17, join ANCA, vendors and community members for the High Peaks Harvest Festival, where we'll celebrate the summer season's end and transition to the Winter Market.
The Saranac Lake farmers' market will continue outdoors through October 10 and move into the Hotel Saranac on October 24.
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Food Waste Prevention Week
Next week, September 28 to October 4, is Food Waste Prevention Week! There are lots of ways you can help reduce and recycle food waste in your home and community.
Visit Compost for Good on ANCA's website for resources and opportunities for promoting food waste reduction and composting in your community.
Photo: Students help manage food waste collection and composting at North Country School in Lake Placid.
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Students Explore North Country Entrepreneurship
We are excited to welcome back Ithaca College and Syracuse University students this fall for our Center for Businesses in Transition Familiarization Tours, where students and faculty learn from local business owners about sole proprietorship, rural business ownership, succession planning, and the journey of purchasing a business and making it one’s own.
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This year, the Ithaca College group will tour local sites and businesses in Ticonderoga. Thanks to our CBIT partners at the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce for hosting!
From there, students will join us at Bike the Barns, where they'll learn about event planning and logistics, as well as some of the unique farms, businesses and organizations that make the Champlain Valley so special.
Photo: Ithaca College students were a big help at our 2025 Bike the Barns.
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Small Business Meetups & Workshops
Clarkson University's Shipley Center for Innovation and regional host organizations are hosting several North Country Entrepreneurship Meetups this season. Upcoming meetups take place September 24 in Malone, October 8 and December 11 in Lowville, October 17 in Ticonderoga, and October 22 in Saranac Lake.
| | Climate & Energy Connections | |
Hub Staff Gain Building Science Skills
Six North Country Clean Energy Hub team members recently earned their Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) certifications after completing an intensive hands-on training through the NYS Weatherization Directors Association.
From blower door testing and HVAC systems to home health and safety assessments, the training provided skills and experience that will help our team support residents and communities working to improve home comfort, safety, and energy performance.
ANCA Technical Energy Advisor Kayla Gutheil reflected on the training in the latest Hub blog.
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Exploring AI and Data Centers
“Technology might be new, but the responsibility is not." ~ John Lefner, Hyde Museum CEO/Director at this month's Adirondack Research Consortium in Glens Falls, NY
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Through discussion and respectful debate, participants explored the role of AI in New York’s grid, identified opportunities to bridge skill gaps in rural communities, and stressed the importance of meeting communities where they are.
ANCA staff (pictured) and other attendees left with a stronger understanding of how emerging technologies can support local needs and our role helping communities navigate opportunities and challenges. Thank you to the ARC team for gathering us for this timely conversation.
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Plan for the Future with Climate-smart Strategies
ANCA is helping North Country counties prepare for the impacts of climate change by offering free assistance in drafting a Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CCARP), giving communities a foundation for resilience planning and positioning them for project funding.
A CCARP can help your community:
- Reduce negative impacts of more frequent extreme weather
- Maintain stable government operations
- Create partnerships to build a stronger, more resilient North Country
- Leverage additional funding for community projects
Assistance is available for Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence Counties. Contact Caroline Dodd at cdodd@adirondack.org or read our press release for more information.
| | ICYMI: News from Around the Region | |
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Saranac Lake's community-owned store is closing. What are the lessons learned?, NCPR
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Tupper Lake celebrates the past and future of Oval Wood Dish factory, Adirondack Explorer
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Everyone Wants a Farmstand, But No One Wants to Be a Farmer, The Cook Farm
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Food insecurity has grown to "troubling" levels among North Country families and children, NCPR
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The Wild Center commits to net zero emissions, a first of its kind, Adirondack Explorer
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Communities share practices on how to adapt to future floods, Adirondack Explorer
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Farmers Adopting AI Faster Than Any Other Tech, Morning AgClips
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$10 Million Sun And Soil Program Launched, NYSERDA
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Using sheep to maintain solar installations, Adirondack Almanack
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When the data tells the wrong story, Adirondack Almanack
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Visit our jobs page for openings with member and partner organizations and regional nonprofits:
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Executive Director: Barkeater Trails Alliance
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Website Developer: Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ANCA)
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Office Manager: Essex County Office of Community Resources & Planning
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Winter Ski Trail Groomer: Paul Smith’s College VIC
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Payroll & Administrative Coordinator: Fort Ticonderoga
Have an opening you want to promote? Send a web link to jobs@adirondack.org.
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Build Shared Prosperity for All
ANCA members are building shared prosperity across northern New York by supporting programs that strengthen small businesses, local food systems, climate & energy initiatives, and welcoming & belonging. Thank you for powering this important work.
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