New Economy News | November 2025 | | Celebrating Indigenous Heritage. Giving Thanks. | | For more reading to honor Native American Heritage Month, please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter. | |
Grateful for Your Support
In this season of giving and gratitude, we humbly thank you for supporting ANCA's work across the Adirondack North Country. From technical services for small businesses to financing support for small farms to climate and energy projects and inclusion initiatives that make our communities safe, affordable, and welcoming places to live and work — ANCA is bringing meaningful, long-lasting investments to our region.
Will you make a year-end donation today to support transformational projects that sustain opportunity and prosperity for local families?
From all of us at ANCA — thank you for your support!
| | | Adirondack Diversity Initiative | | It was a truly special day, full of connection, inspiration, and thoughtful conversations that we hope will continue. Special thanks to our hosts at The Wild Center and our guest presenters Camille Simone Edwards and Dan Kriesberg from Diversity Education in Nature and Blake Lavia and Tzintzun Aguilar-Izzo from Talking Wings. We are grateful for your partnership in this transformational work! |
|
Join Us: Community Policing Forum
Join us for ADI’s first public Community Policing Forum, where you'll learn about this important initiative, now in its fourth year. You’ll hear from our trainers RENZ Consulting and members of law enforcement who have participated in the training. We'll also be sharing results of our program evaluation, with time for Q&A.
Networking begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by presentations at 6:00 p.m. Contact ADI's Melanie Reding for more info: mreding@adirondack.org.
| | |
Here Comes the Sun Book Talk
ADI is proud to co-sponsor a free book talk with renowned environmentalist, activist and author Bill McKibben.
Meet and greet with ADI, the North Country Clean Energy Hub (who will be sharing energy efficiency and renewable energy resources), and other community groups beginning at 5:30 p.m. The book talk begins at 6:00 p.m.
| | Small Business Opportunities | | |
This winter, ANCA's Small Business Team will offer multiple resources for North Country entrepreneurs looking to connect with other business owners and strengthen their skills. Save the date for these two upcoming series:
Entrepreneur Roundtable Series
Running a business can be lonely. This is an opportunity to meet virtually with other Adirondack
area business owner-operators and build a community of mutual support. This is a virtual safe space to share ideas, concerns, challenges, and to build community and collaboration. Attend all or some sessions as you are able.
-
What: Entrepreneur Virtual Roundtable
-
When: First Tuesday of each month at 8:00 a.m., starting in December (December 2, January 6, February 3, March 3)
-
Where: Zoom
-
Cost: Recommended donation of $20 (sliding scale)
| | |
Financial Empowerment Webinar Series
Would you like to learn some basics when it comes to managing your money? Many of us did not receive a financial education. Join us in this nonjudgemental space to learn a few basic approaches and tools to get your money working harder for you. Join us for the first of seven sessions that will empower you to confidently manage your business finances:
| | |
Adirondack Buyer Days Welcomes Makers & Buyers
Buyer registration is open for ANCA's 2026 Adirondack Buyer Days Show! This annual show connects small maker businesses from across the region with retail buyers looking to stock their shelves with unique, handcrafted gifts.
Register now to shop high-quality local products like boutique apparel, spa, housewares, souvenir, stationery, jewelry, pet, fine art, specialty food & beverage, and more!
-
What: Adirondack Buyer Days
-
When: March 23 and 24, 2026
-
Where: Saratoga City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Adirondack Buyer Days is a juried wholesale gift show. Interested artisan vendors are invited to submit a vendor application. Learn more and apply here.
| |
Watch: EV Infrastructure Panel
In case you missed Adirondack Explorer's EV infrastructure webinar on November 13, you can now read a summary article and watch a recording of the panel session. Hear from ANCA Energy Circuit Rider Nancy Bernstein, retired Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism CEO Jim McKenna, Indian Lake Marketing Director Christine Pouch, and educator, activist and EV owner Pete Nelson in this thoughtful and informative presentation.
Photo: ANCA Climate & Energy Program Director Jill Henck's EV charging at Indian Lake's new Level 3 charger.
| | |
Watch: Nuclear Energy Forum
Want to learn about nuclear power and how it could shape New York's energy policy? On November 12 and 13, North Country community members gathered for two public forums on nuclear energy hosted by Jefferson Community College and Clarkson University in partnership with Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown). Watch the video recording of the Clarkson University forum to learn about the current reality and future potential of nuclear energy, a critical topic for New York State’s energy landscape.
| | | | |
Online Heat Pump Courses for Contractors
Urban Green Council is launching three new on-demand heat pump courses for New York State contractors. These self-paced courses help building professionals gain confidence in heat pump technology with the following session topics:
- Quick Cost Calculations for Electrification
- Reading the Room: Simple Heat Pump Diagnostics
- Heat Pump Commissioning: What Every Project Team Needs to Know
| | Thanks to NYSERDA, these courses are free for members of Disadvantaged Communities and Priority Populations (eligibility information here) and only $10 for other New York residents. If you primarily serve these audiences, Urban Green can provide a free code to share with your network. | |
Village of Champlain Plants Trees for Climate Resilience
Kudos to the Village of Champlain's Climate Smart Task Force, who are taking on climate smart actions that benefit village residents while building climate resilience in their community. On November 15, community members and elected officials gathered to plant two maple trees in a new pocket park in the village.
Quoted in the Sun Community News, Town Supervisor Tom Trombley said, "In a world facing climate challenges, each tree is a small but powerful act of resistance and renewal. Trees are nature's silent guardians, they clean our air, cool our cities and shelter countless species."
| | ANCA's Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Carlie Leary (2nd from left) joins the Village of Champlain Climate Task Force at Saturday's tree planting. | | Local Food. Local Compost. | |
Reducing Food Waste One Community at a Time
Congratulations to the following North Country communities that have been awarded grant funding from the NY Department of Environmental Conservation to decrease wasted food and host composting projects: Towns of Jay, Westport, Potsdam, Keene, and Colton and the Peru School District. Thank you for your leadership in reducing food waste in your communities!
| | |
Save the Date: Food Justice Summit
The Adirondack Food Justice Summit brings together leaders, change-makers, and stakeholders from the region and beyond to address key issues within the food system in the North Country and New York State. The Adirondack Food System Network (AFSN) invites proposals that highlight the power of community to support and nourish through innovation, creativity, and a commitment to strengthening our Adirondack home.
-
What: Adirondack Food Justice Summit: “Community as Nourishment"
-
When: Thursday, February 26, 2026
-
Where: The Wild Center, Tupper Lake
Interested in presenting at the summit? Submit your proposal by December 1, 2025.
| |
Celebrating Native American Heritage.
Reimagining Thanksgiving.
| | A few resources to consider this month as we celebrate Native American History Month and Thanksgiving Day. This is a season of gratitude for many, and a time for mourning for others. We hope this is a time for family, community, remembrance and mutual support. | | ICYMI: News from Around the Region | | |
Visit our jobs page for openings with member and partner organizations and regional nonprofits:
-
Executive Director: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County
-
Artistic Director: Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts
-
Visual Arts Program Coordinator: View Arts
-
Executive Director: Adirondack Roots
-
Finance and Administration Manager: Ausable Freshwater Center
Have an opening you want to promote? Send a web link to jobs@adirondack.org.
| | | |
Build a Resilient Regional Economy
ANCA members and donors are growing the region's New Economy by building strong, resilient and equitable systems for local food, clean energy and small businesses. We deeply appreciate your support of this important work.
| | | | | |
