Annual Meeting Likely to be In Person on June 16 |
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Save the Date
NCA Annual Meeting
June 16, 2021
11:00am
Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid
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The North Country Alliance generally holds two in-person networking events each year. The Annual Meeting is held on the third Wednesday in June at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, and the Fall Forum is held on the third Wednesday in October at a different venue rotating through the North Country. Because of the pandemic, of course, it has been over a year since the last in-person gathering of NCA members.
The NCA Board has decided that the June meeting will likely take place in person at the Mirror Lake Inn with COVID-sensible restrictions in place. The venue has done a good job of being COVID-compliant, installing proper filter systems, requiring masks when not seated, and following New York State mandates closely.
The program will include a facilitated peer-to-peer discussion on moving forward post-COVID covering topics around workforce (attracting new talent, retaining workforce, barriers to re-entry) and business development (developing new markets, attracting new businesses and projects, rebuilding relationships and supply chain).
Watch your inbox for the invitation. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Aviva Gold at [email protected].
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Member Spotlight: New York Power Authority (NYPA) |
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To learn more, contact NYPA’s North Country Economic Development Manager Tricia Wilson at [email protected]
or 315-412-4991.
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Helping North Country Businesses Find the Power to Succeed
NYPA offers low-cost power programs to help businesses grow in New York’s North Country – providing clean renewable electricity, with the price stability of fixed-rate long-term contracts.
And, NYPA’s economic development hydropower programs also empower New Yorkers to fight climate change by providing green, sustainable power that reduces carbon emissions and supports climate leadership. Programs include:
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ReCharge NY, available statewide to eligible businesses and not-for-profits to strengthen or expand operations, control costs and retain or create jobs
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Preservation Power, for eligible businesses and not-for-profits planning to locate or expand in Franklin, Jefferson or St. Lawrence counties
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St. Lawrence Economic Development Power for new or expanding operations in St. Lawrence County
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Victory Promotions Celebrates 20 Years |
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Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, Victory Promotions, Inc. is the North Country’s leader in promotional products. Victory is an authorized Under Amour and Adidas Team Dealer and specializes in screen-printing and embroidery of a variety of apparel products including t-shirts, polo shirts, jackets, hats and bags. Victory has a 9,000 square foot production facility in Watertown and a retail location in Canton, NY.
With the help and partnership of the NCA, Victory was able to purchase their location in Canton. The purchase allowed Victory to invest in real property, turning a rental expense into an asset. By purchasing the property in Canton Victory shown their commitment to to economic development in the North Country.
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In Case You Didn't Know — About the NCA |
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The NCA still hosts two semi-annual professional development forums for members that are an excellent networking opportunity to share regional ideas and concerns. Membership is invited to participate on the Education and Outreach Committee which creates the legislative agenda that is presented annually to local elected officials. And above all, the organization continues to administer its revolving loan fund.
If you know of a business that might be interested in learning more about the NCA or joining please contact Matt Siver at [email protected].
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The North Country Alliance was born from the unsuccessful effort to locate the superconducting supercollider in northern New York in the mid-1980s. Businesses, governments, and developers who had worked together to convince the federal government to put the SCSC in New York’s North Country realized they should continue to work together to revive and expand the region’s economy.
The region’s professionally-staffed economic development organizations formed the North Country Alliance in 1988 adding their own resources to the generous support of Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (now National Grid) to initially do cooperative regional marketing. In essence, the North Country Alliance pooled marketing resources to do marketing on a regional level that was beyond the resources of individual economic development organizations who were members.
In addition, the North Country Alliance created and still manages one of the country’s most successful rural revolving loan funds; developed and hosted professional economic development training programs for both members and others; engaged in State legislative education with the region’s elected officials; and provided a forum for the region’s developers to share best practices.
Until recently, the North Country Alliance was primarily a partnership of the region’s economic development organizations. In 2010, the NCA established a new membership and governance structure and now includes private businesses, higher education, utilities, and banking institutions, as well as the traditional economic development organizations and chambers of commerce.
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Thank You Kate Fish and Renee McFarlin |
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The NCA board is saying goodbye to two great directors this month.
Kate Fish, the executive director of ANCA, is retiring and leaving the area to be closer to family in Vermont. Kate has served on the NCA board for ten years, during which time she has been active in moving the needle for economic development across the entire region.
In Renee McFarlin's short tenure in the North Country (she arrived in 2014) she has had a big impact in her roles both as Elise Stefanick's regional director and as the Executive Director of the Clinton County IDA and the county's Economic Development Director. Renee has served on the NCA's board for three years. She is leaving the area to pursue a position with Capitalize Albany.
The North Country Alliance thanks both Kate and Renee for their service and wishes them both well in their future endeavors.
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