NCA news & updates
December 2021
NCA Board Meetings

The North Country Alliance Board of Directors meets monthly on the third Wednesday at 11:00am. All members are welcome to join.
Board meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the NCA website.

The next board meeting is:
December 15, 2021 at 11:00am at this link.

Join the NCA: 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 msiver@danc.org.

Member Events: List your events in this space.
Let the NCA help publicize your organization's events. Send your listings to info@northcountryalliance.org
Member Events

December 1, 2021 12:00pm Keep Your Business Safe from Malware and Ransomware attacks. SLC Chamber Monthly Webinar Series.

December 7, 2021 9:30am Employment Law Update with Jaci Kelleher at the North Country Chamber of Commerce.

December 16, 2021 5:30pm Business After Hours at Livingood's Restaurant and Brewery in Peru.

Lewis County Leadership Academy begins in January. Learn more at this link.

NCA Opposes Prison Closings
The full statement can be read at this link. At least one regional news outlet, NNY360, carried the story.
On November 18 the NCA released a statement opposing the closing of the Ogdensburg Correctional and Moriah Shock Incarceration Facilities. The statement was spearheaded by St. Lawrence County IDA CEO Patrick Kelly and co-sponsored by Essex County IDA's Co-Executive Director Carol Calabrese.

The statement notes that the North Country has already borne the burden of five prison closures in the last decade or so, and not one of these facilities has been repurposed or redeveloped. Continuing this trend without a plan for redevelopment is both unfair and irresponsible.
The statement was sent to regional press and state representatives.
NCA Strategic Planning Task Force
If you would like to add your voice to the discussion or join the Task Force, reach out to Eric Virkler at ericvirkler@lewiscounty.ny.gov 
The NCA board chose this year's Fall Forum as the launch point for strategic planning work to guide the organization's work moving forward. Facilitated by AEDC's Victoria Zinser Duley, attendees worked through a SOAR analysis process including quite a bit of lively discussion.

The next step will be to take some of the priorities identified and flesh them out into goals and strategies. This work will be done by a Strategic Plan Task Force headed up by Board Vice President Eric Virkler and NCA Member Rob Aiken. The plan will be completed and presented at the NCA Annual Meeting in June.

The Task Force will include a mix of NCA board members and members at large representing diverse regional and business sectors.
Spread the Word About NCA Funding
Funds are available for small businesses in the North Country!

The NCA loan fund has funding available for all types of business needs. From working capital to equipment and from acquisition to inventory, you name it, the NCA fits most business needs. If you are a business, or know of a business, that may be looking for funding please contact Matt Siver at msiver@danc.org for more information on the NCA’s Revolving Loan Fund.
NY Forward COVID Loan Fund Closing Soon
Learn more about this flexible funding opportunity at this link.
NCA member-organization Pursuit Lending is one of five Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) administering New York Forward loans. This round of the program is expected to close in December but there is still funding available for small businesses for working capital, inventory, marketing, refitting for social distancing measures, and more.
  • Low Interest: 3%
  • Interest-only payments for 12 months
  • No application fees or prepayment penalty