Join Us in Building Shared Prosperity

Thank you to all who supported ANCA's work in 2025. Whether you partnered on a project, attended an event, shared opportunities with your neighbors and networks, or provided financial support by becoming a member or making a gift — we appreciate you.

We have big plans for 2026! Watch the latest video message from Deputy Director Zach Hobbs about how your sustaining support will help us serve more people, businesses, farms and communities in the year ahead.

For more insights from ANCA staff about the work they do and the communities they serve, follow our end-of-year video series on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

We hope you enjoy the videos and consider making a year-end gift to ANCA today.

Last-minute Support Local Gift Guide

It’s not too late — there are lots of creative ways you can still support local small businesses, artisan makers, farmers, service providers, and community organizations during this season of giving.

In this month's What's Up North blog, we offer our 2025 Last-minute Support Local Holiday Gift Guide, where we examine the widespread positive impacts of spending dollars locally. We also provide a few gift ideas to help you wrap up your "support local" giving season. 

Financial Empowerment Webinar Series

Would you like to learn how to better manage your money? Join us in a nonjudgemental space to learn a few basic approaches and tools to get your money working harder for you. There are five remaining webinars in our Financial Empowerment for Entrepreneurs 7-session series. Next up:

• What: Retirement: Ways to Prepare for Retirement Starting Today
• When: Tuesday, January 12, 12 p.m.
• Where: Zoom
• Cost: Recommended donation of $20

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.

Prepare for Your Wholesale Show

In collaboration with the North Country Small Business Development Center, we will host two webinars designed to support Adirondack Buyer Days vendors in preparing for the wholesale gift show. However, these free virtual events are open to any entrepreneurs interested in learning tips and best practices for marketing their goods at a trade show.

Last Indoor Farmers' Market

This Saturday, December 20 is the last indoor High Peaks Farmers' Winter Market of the season, and we’d love to see you there. Swing by the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake to stock up on your favorite local goodies, say hello to your favorite vendors.

The pre-order Park-It Market will run through May with pick up at the hotel.

• What: Adirondack Food Justice Summit: “Community as Nourishment"
• When: Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Where: The Wild Center, Tupper Lake

Save the Date: 2026 Conference

Join ANCA and partners for the 2026 Climate & Energy Conference in Lake Placid, New York as we bring together leaders, innovators, and community advocates to explore relevant climate and energy solutions that align with our community values. This year, we will focus on fostering dialogue between technology pioneers, policymakers, and local voices to ensure that innovation is also inclusive, equitable, and rooted in shared responsibility.

Save the date, and stay tuned for more information in the new year!

Clean Energy Champions

Congratulations (and thank you!) to community leaders in the Town of Indian Lake who installed two Level 3 EV charging stations at their Welcome Center on Route 28. This project was funded through the Municipal Zero Emission Vehicle program, which is supported in part through Environmental Protection Fund. As of October 23, two stations containing four ports are fully functional and ready for charging EVs passing through Adirondacks.

NYS Climate Connection Summit Set for June

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will host the 2026 NYS Climate Connection Summit on June 10 and 11 in Utica, NY. This in-person event will bring together local government leaders and professionals from across the state to share successes, challenges, and strategies in climate action planning. Attendees will engage in facilitated sessions on community engagement, funding opportunities, and cross-sector collaboration, with the goal of strengthening climate-smart initiatives statewide.

Registration is free, but space is limited. Fill out an interest form to receive a formal invitation in the new year.

Welcoming & Belonging at Work

ADI's Welcoming & Belonging Micro-credential Course offers local businesses, chambers of commerce, and community groups essential knowledge and best practices for creating inclusive and welcoming spaces for all staff and clientele.

This self-paced, asynchronous course provides opportunities for self-reflection and tools for problem-solving and effecting change. Sign up to get started!

Policing Forum Postponed

ADI’s first public Community Policing Forum, originally set for December 2, was postponed due to hazardous travel conditions. Rescheduled for May 12, 2026, the forum will give local community members a chance to learn from RENZ Consulting instructors and members of law enforcement who have participated in the first four years of the program.

Explore More ADI Programs & Resources

The ADI Team has been busy in 2025 as we have developed and expanded our programs, events, project assessments, allyship activities, and resources. Take some time to see what we've been up to on our website at www.diversityadk.org. A few highlights:

• Resources for Immigrants and New Americans
• Education and outreach events
• Schoolyard Response Toolkit
• Community Policing Initiative program evaluation
• Reading, viewing and advocacy resources

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

• Director of Development: Naturally Lewis

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