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New Economy News | October 2023

Watch: New Hope for Ticonderoga Floral Business

My Hope Flower Farm Transition Story

In July 2023, The Country Florist & Gifts, a well-established Ticonderoga business, successfully transitioned to a new owner, a new location and a new name — My Hope Flower Farm.


Long-time owner Francine Burke has passed on her floral business to Ticonderoga resident and former Country Florist employee Miranda Holman. Miranda is now carrying on the flower shop’s high-quality service and longstanding tradition as an important anchor business in the Ticonderoga area with My Hope Flower Farm. 


Learn more about this business transition success, supported by the Center for Businesses in Transition partnership, in a short video produced by Adirondack Drone.

Watch: My Hope Flower Farm Transition Story

Celebrating Co-op Month


Celebrated by cooperatives during the month of October, National Co-op Month is an annual opportunity to raise awareness about cooperative business ownership and how this model can help build resilient, inclusive communities.


We are honored to have supported Ward Lumber's successful transition to a worker-owned cooperative in 2021. Hear their story in this Center for Businesses in Transition video.

Ward Lumber Transitions to Worker-owned Cooperative
Watch: Ward Lumber Transition Story

Biking the Barns, Rain or Shine


Thank you to the over 100 riders who participated in a very rainy Bike the Barns on Saturday, October 7. Their fortitude was rewarded with a warm and lively finish-line celebration back at the brewery. To learn more about the day's happenings, read the What's Up North blog by ANCA Events Coordinator Caitlin Bottcher — one of the dedicated staff, volunteers, supporters, sponsors, farmers and vendors who made it such a memorable day. Thank you to all!

Bike the Barns Photo Gallery & Blog

A Composting Revolution

Neighborhood-scale Compost Systems


Compost for Good (CfG), a program of ANCA and AdkAction, has developed a simple, effective and inexpensive food scrap composting system that could revolutionize the world of small-scale composting.


Learn more about their design, how it works and how you could build your own in our latest What's Up North blog by CfG team members John Culpepper, Katie Culpepper and Jen Perry.


Photo: Camp Dudley’s Executive Director Matt Storey and Facilities & Compliance Director Jamie Johnson stand beside a neighborhood-scale compost system.

Neighborhood-scale Compost Blog
 

Food Waste Diversion Workshop


Join Compost for Good and the Center for EcoTechnology to learn about opportunities for food waste reduction and diversion. There are two dates and locations for this free workshop:


What: Waste to Resource Workshop


When: Monday, Oct 30, 5:30-7 p.m.

Where: Lake Placid Pub and Brewery


When: Thursday, Nov 2, 5:30-7 p.m.

Where: St. Joe's Food Pantry, Plattsburgh

Compost for Good is participating in several free educational opportunities this fall including:

What: Soil Health for Vegetable Growers Workshop

When: Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Whallonsburg Grange, Essex


Presentations, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations focusing on soil health concepts and best practices for vegetable growers.


Register here by October 27.

What: Compost Site Operators and Food Waste Haulers Gathering

When: Nov. 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Paul Smith's College VIC


Gathering of Compost Site Operators and Food Waste Haulers to share stories, challenges and collaborations.


Contact Jen Perry to learn more and register: jperry@adirondack.org.

Small Projects. Big Impact.

Retail Rising in Saranac Lake


There's a brand new project on Ignite! — ANCA's crowdfunding platform that supports small projects that make a big difference for North Country entrepreneurs.


Check out the Ignite! webpage to learn about a new retail project by ADK ArtRise. The local art studio aims to bring a fresh shopping experience to downtown Saranac Lake by revamping their retail space and converting to an automated inventory system. Invest locally by supporting their "Retail Rising" campaign with Ignite!

Learn More
 

Familiarization Tour Shares Small Business Insights


The Center for Businesses in Transition hosted our first Familiarization Tour of North Country businesses this month. A group of Ithaca College students spent their weekend learning from local entrepreneurs and touring several small businesses, including some that have recently changed ownership or are looking to transition.

The student group toured Pedals to Petals in Inlet.

Thank you to the businesses who welcomed this group of engaged and energetic future entrepreneurs: Pedals to Petals and Frisky Otter Tours in Inlet; The Belvedere Restaurant in Saranac Lake; High Falls Gorge in Wilmington; and Good Bite Kitchen in Lake Placid. Students also served as volunteers at Bike the Barns, where they gained insight from Ausable Brewing Company and Bike ADK about their unique small businesses.


Much gratitude to National Grid and Franklin County Economic Development, whose funding support made these tours possible.


Do you dream of owning a North Country business? We’ll take you on a tour! Contact transitions@adirondack.org today. Note, this program is designed for all, not only students!

Take a Tour

Brighten Your Brownfields

Does your community have blighted properties that you’d like to bring back into service?


ANCA is partnering with the Northern Forest Center and New Jersey Institute of Technology's Technical Assistance for Brownfield Communities program to offer a Brownfields 101 virtual workshop that will explore what brownfields are, the brownfield redevelopment process, funding & technical assistance resources, redevelopment case studies, and more.


What: Brownfields: The Basics

When: October 25, 2023 12-1:30 p.m.

Where: Virtual

Register Today

Amplifying Diverse Voices

Watershed Voices Sets Sail


Watershed Voices, a music and sound project supported by regional partners including the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, has launched a beautiful new website. As the project progresses, the website will include blogs from participating musicians and scientists, an online concert hall, links to partner organizations, and a user-generated content platform. All content is available in English and French.


Photo by kahern from Pixabay

Watershed Voices Website

Listening to Water Symposium


ADI is proud to co-sponsor the Listening to Water Symposium, presented by Talking Rivers.


In a "Water Has No Borders" webinar on October 27 at 6:30 p.m., panelists from across the Great Lakes Bioregion will discuss how to unite across borders and meet the needs of the connecting Waters that bring life to all. Together they will grapple with the settler colonial constructs that treat this Bioregion as just a resource and will contemplate how humans can honor their roles and responsibilities towards Great Lakes' ecosystems.


The symposium also includes two "Listening to Water" Artist Talks on Nov. 1 and 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Learn More & Register

Arts in the Adirondacks Showcase


Join ADI Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher and other diverse artists for North Country School's "Arts in the Adirondacks: Amplifying Diverse Voices" event this weekend. The evening event will highlight a diverse array of artists, performers, makers, and creative minds from here in the Adirondack region and as far as Broadway in New York City.


  • What: Arts in the Adirondacks: Amplifying Diverse Voices — Showcase & Panel
  • When: Saturday, October 21, 7-9 p.m.
  • Where: North Country School, Lake Placid
Learn More & RSVP

Clean Energy Corner

Plattsburgh, Lewis County Earn Climate Smart Bronze Status


Congratulations to the City of Plattsburgh and Lewis County for earning Bronze Climate Smart Community (CSC) certification, recognizing their completion of several municipal climate smart actions. 


The Plattsburgh team adopted a fleet efficiency policy, converted streetlights to LEDs, installed heat pumps in City Hall, incorporated sustainability elements into their Comprehensive Plan, improved infrastructure for biking and walking, installed public EV charging stations, and more. 

Lewis County upgraded interior lighting to LED in several buildings, installed a 2.5 MW solar array on municipal property, improved access to public transit, developed a climate-resilient hazard mitigation plan, developed several watershed plans for water quality, and more. 


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


Photo by Jason Pageau of Plattsburgh

Read More

Clean Energy Communities


Congratulations to the following communities who are earning credit toward clean energy project grants while saving money and greenhouse gas emissions!


  • City of Plattsburgh earned Climate Smart Communities bronze certification
  • City of Plattsburgh submitted Clean Fleets - Light/Medium Duty Electric Vehicles for purchasing two Ford F150 Lightning trucks
  • Lewis County earned Climate Smart Communities bronze certification 
  • Town of Chesterfield adopted Benchmarking - Municipal Buildings policy
  • Town of Wells attended Energy code enforcement training
  • Village of Copenhagen adopted Benchmarking- Municipal Buildings policy
  • Village of Saranac Lake installed heat pumps at the Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center as a Clean Heating & Cooling demonstration
Learn More about CEC

Celebrate Community Climate Action


Join ANCA's Clean Energy Team and other community groups for a day of climate action inspiration. Community members are invited to gather in Saranac Lake for workshops, talks, food and fun activities in an effort to create a greener, cleaner future for our region and beyond.


  • What: Community Climate Action Celebration
  • When: Saturday, October 21, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
  • Where: Harrietstown Town Hall, Saranac Lake
Learn More
 

Get Social with the Hub!


Follow the North Country Clean Energy Hub on social media for news and updates about residential clean energy and energy efficiency opportunities in your community. The Hub connects residents with initiatives that save money, make homes healthier, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.


Find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Visit the Hub

ICYMI: Here's What We're Reading

The Jobs Connection

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


  • Administrator & Event Manager: Saranac Lake ArtWorks
  • Parks and Recreation Aide: NYS Department of Conservation
  • Assistant for University Financial Analysis: SUNY Potsdam


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

Job Opportunities
 
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