NCA news & updates
October 2021
NCA Board Meetings
The North Country Alliance Board of Directors meets monthly on the third Wednesday at 11:00am. The next board meeting is:

October 20, 2021
10:30am to 2:00pm
Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid

All members are welcome to join.
Board meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the NCA website.

Member Events
List your events in this space.
Let the NCA help publicize your organization's events. Send your listings to [email protected]

NCA Membership
If you received this newsletter and are not a member of the North Country Alliance, please consider joining the NCA. For membership questions, contact Matt Siver at [email protected].
Member Events

Webinar hosted by the North Country Chamber of Commerce and ESD.

October 6 4:30pm Nature and Networking
St. Lawrence County IDA and St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce host the event at the Clifton Community Center Pavilion in Cranberry Lake.

October 7 8:00am Women in Business
In person networking and conference focusing on timely issues and professional development for women.

A free virtual discussion of ways that small manufacturers can affordably benefit from data technology.

October 20 10:30am NCA Fall Forum
Members are invited to begin a strategic planning process for the organization.
NCA Fall Forum Launches Strategic Planning Process
NCA events like the Fall Forum and Annual Meeting are fully supported by member organization sponsorship. Consider sponsoring the Fall Forum at any level. For more information contact
Aviva Gold at [email protected].

Thank you to NCA Fall Forum current sponsors National Grid and the Workforce Development Institute.
The NCA Fall Forum is one of two annual NCA membership events. The Fall Forum generally expands on the board's monthly meeting with a topic of interest to membership. We've had guest speakers covering export, workforce, and economic development initiatives. We've had panel discussions about what works and what doesn't work in the North Country. We've helped build regional economic development priorities and discussed ideas to take to Albany.
It has been nearly a decade since the NCA has evaluated its role in the North Country, so this year's Fall Forum will begin a strategic planning process for the organization facilitated by Victoria Zinser Duly from the AEDC. Your input is appreciated, so consider attending the event if you are available.
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
10:30am to 2:00pm
Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid
COVID protocols will be in place
Border Closure Impacts the North Country
Jeremy Evans is the chief executive officer of the Franklin County Economic Development Corp. He chairs the NCA Outreach and Education Committee.
In its recently updated education and outreach agenda, NCA renewed its support for strengthening the special economic and social ties between the United States and Canada. This integrated relationship has been impacted by the closure of the border to all but essential travel since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last month, Canada reopened its border to fully vaccinated individuals entering from the U.S. and the Biden Administration recently announced that the United States will begin allowing fully vaccinated foreign nationals to fly into the United States. At the same time, however, the Administration extended the closure of its land borders with Mexico and Canada to non-essential travel until at least October 21st.

NCA is appreciative of a bipartisan group of Senators that recently wrote a letter to the Biden Administration calling for reopening the land border to fully vaccinated individuals. Continued delay in reopening the border and the lack of coordinated planning across involved federal agencies for its eventual reopening, further strains families, businesses and communities across the North Country.
NCA Updated Outreach and Education Agenda
The NCA's full Education and Outreach Agenda and a printable version are available at this link.
Each year the North Country Alliance presents our elected representatives in Albany with a list of priorities aimed at fostering economic growth in the region. In response to the new governorship in New York State, the NCA updated the Education and Outreach Agenda and send it along to Governor Hochul’s office as well as our state representatives in Albany.

The updated agenda added rural infrastructure investment, a focus on workforce, childcare and housing, and noted the importance of opening the border. All regional representatives in Albany as well as our federal representatives were sent updated Agendas.
Member Spotlight: Development Authority of the North Country
The Development Authority owns and operates the regional landfill in Rodman, an extensive open access telecommunications network, and water and wastewater facilities that support Fort Drum. For more information about the Authority's services see danc.org.
The Development Authority works with partners to meet the region’s infrastructure needs in water, sewer, housing, telecommunications and solid waste management, with a primary focus on Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. The organization has been a member of the NCA since its inception. The Authority is a self-supporting public benefit corporation created by the state legislature in 1985 to develop and manage the infrastructure needed to support the expansion of Fort Drum, as well as assist the tri-county region with infrastructure needs, technical services and economic development opportunities. The Authority is not supported by the state budget. 

The Development Authority owns and operates the regional landfill in Rodman, an extensive open access telecommunications network, and water and wastewater facilities that support Fort Drum. Staff also manages a wide range of business and housing loan programs that encourage growth, and provides fee-based technical services to municipalities in the areas of project oversight and water and wastewater plant operation.