| |
|
ANCA
Regional Map
Join Us
Contact Us
Recent News
Newsletter
2007 Highlights
Annual Report
Board Members
Publications
Project Partners
Staff
History
Strategic Plan
Strategic Action
Blueprint
|
|
2007 Program Highlights
Enterprise and Community Development
ANCA and its partners work on issues that strengthen the entrepreneurs and businesses of the region’s economy through programs in marketing, crafts industry development, entrepreneurial support and training, workforce development, and infrastructure (sewer, water, transportation and communications). Highlights of 2007 work activities through December are as follows:
- ANCA initiated a preliminary discussion with Tupper Lake regarding administration of the Office of Small Cities $24,600 Strategic Planning Technical Assistance Funding of $24,600 to the Adirondack Park-wide Economic Development Planning Project. ANCA assisted the town in the development of an RFP to engage a contractor to involve various stakeholder groups as well as business and governmental leaders. Camoin Associates has been selected by the town. ANCA assisted the town in requesting a six-month project extension. Project work began in October.
- ANCA worked with Green Community Technology, Inc. in their partnership project with the Town of Franklin to address town planning needs in relation to infrastructure and building life cycle costs, renovations, new construction and the potential utilization of green technology. Staff attended the February 5, 2007 meeting when the Town of Franklin received the final GCT report which analyzed plans for infrastructure and energy efficiency improvements for three buildings and proposed plans for new building construction that could include a process for LEEDS certification. ANCA explored discussions with staff at Senator Little’s office regarding potential involvement of the New York Power Authority and NYSERDA in providing energy assistance and conservation grant funding. The town was successful in securing $64,000 in funding administered by the NY Power Authority toward energy efficiency upgrades. Staff attended a follow-up meeting on April 23 with the Town Supervisor and Building Committee to discuss the next steps in program planning. The town also secured $28,000 in funding to improve their archival records. The town is presently exploring contracted engineering and building services to implement infrastructure improvements identified in the GCT report, with plans to move to a public information session.
- ANCA staff utilized teleconferences and meetings to begin planning for the $92,800 in Quality Communities grant funding toward an Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Project in partnership with the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages and the Towns of Chester and Arietta. Staff prepared a public presentation and Powerpoint on the project for the Adirondack Park Agency’s Local Government Day on March 22, 2007 in Lake Placid. Funding will be used to assess the water and sewer infrastructure of Adirondack Park communities, to assess the obstacles and opportunities Park communities experience in their economic development, and to analyze the impacts and patterns of state land ownership. Staff distributed project material to ANCA directors who will assist with Board oversight of the project. Staff prepared a draft RFP for contractor services and a preliminary budget to document the use of cash and in-kind services. Staff coordinated follow-up with the AATV and Brad Dake to discuss the match requirement needs of the project. ANCA will finalize the contractual material in the next quarter prior to submission to the NYSDOS. ANCA secured a completed contractual agreement with the NYSDOS, distributed request for proposals to twenty-two potential bidders and received six responses. Staff also provided follow-up information to the Adirondack Research Consortium for notification on their website. ANCA staff prepared a rating sheet and organized a review meeting on September 17 to select the top candidates for follow-up interviews. ANCA hosted the September 17 meeting and the steering committee selected three firms for interviews on October 5. The LA Group was the successful applicant. Project implementation began following a November 9 Scoping Session. The project timeline projects completion by the summer of 2008.
- Staff worked with the ANCA Board of Directors in the development of a letter in response to the Adirondack Club and Resort Project that was submitted prior to the January 19, 2007 deadline for public commentary established by the Adirondack Park Agency. Staff prepared and distributed an overview of the project for review by Board members. Staff monitored the Park Agency deliberations leading to the determination to conduct an adjudicatory hearing. Staff worked with ANCA’s President and Vice President in the development of a letter that was forwarded to the Town of Tupper Lake to offer staff support services to the town in their preparation for the public hearing. ANCA staff assisted the town in their public statement to be involved as a party in the hearings. ANCA staff continued to work with the town in their review of the project and in preparation for their involvement as party in the hearing.
- Staff participated on the Advisory Committee for the Saranac Lake Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and attended various planning meetings including the public release forum hosted by the Village on January 30, 2007. Staff assisted with the review of public commentary on March 20 and 27 and May 8. Additionally staff have provided support in the development of the community vision and community goal to develop a focus on the potential for commercialization of public and private university research with an emphasis on business and product development. On May 15 staff participated in a teleconference regarding ANCA’s involvement in the implementation of the community goals identified in the CEDS document. ANCA assisted with the organization of two conference calls with staff at the Syracuse Center of Excellence on August 1 and September 10. Saranac Lake leaders and ANCA staff attended a meeting with Center staff on October 17 in Ray Brook. The Syracuse Center discussed various aspects of their programming in relation to a potential partnership with Saranac Lake.
- Staff continued participation in the Advisory Board of the Adirondack Community Fiber Network Project. Staff reviewed an editorial prepared by Howard Lowe that was distributed to media outlets in February 2007 regarding the need for expanded cell and broadband services in our rural communities. Staff highlighted the need for construction funding in the ANCA material submitted during meetings with the New York Legislative Day in DC on May 9 and 10. Staff attended an Advisory Meeting on June 15 and October 19. Staff have had communications with Lowe about the need for additional input on broadband for the Blueprint document. Staff worked with CBN staff in the development of a Smart Growth application to create an inventory and mapping of tall structures throughout the Adirondack Park.
- Staff did a presentation on November 2 to the Franklin County Board of Legislators’ Economic Committee and secured $15,000 in annual funding to support program planning, coordination and economic development projects in Malone, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake.
Crafts Business Development:
- ANCA sponsored two workshops—The How To Wholesale Workshop, in Lake Placid on January 27 (12 attendees) and The Marketing Tool
Kit in Little Falls on February 20 (16 attendees). ANCA hosted the marketing workshop in Glens Falls on May 10 in partnership with the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. In partnership with ComLinks, ANCA hosted workshops on website development and marketing on May 14, 16, 14; July 16, 19; and August 22.
- ANCA staff and contractor provided an overview of ANCA’s Craft Development Program to members of the Atlantic Provinces Regional Economic Development Association who chose the ANCA region for a tour of craft businesses from May 8 - 15.
- ANCA organized the 21st Annual Buyer Days at the Saratoga Springs City Center hosted on April 4 and 5, 2007. The show included participation from 77 vendors and 150 buyers. 2,700 postcards to advertise the show were distributed.
- ANCA worked with Fuller Communications to examine the format, design and distribution of the art, crafts and foods publication.
- In September, ANCA staff worked with ANCA’s contractor to discuss the 2008 expansion of the arts, crafts and food publication and to implement suggestions made by Fuller Communications for a sustainable publication.
- Design work and editing were completed for the 2007 reprint of ANCA’s Adirondack North Country Arts, Crafts and Foods. Staff prepared a work plan and print and web promotional material for the 2008 reprint of the publication and entered into contract with a copy editor.
- ANCA’s contractor provided one-to-one craft marketing services responding to small business, artisan and retailer via phone and email inquiries. Direct technical assistance has been provided to 103 companies.
- ANCA provided group technical assistance and communications through 8 e-announcements to 1,237 artisan, small business, retailer and support organizations with information such as upcoming workshops, programs, and craft industry trends. Information about shipping rate increases has been distributed.
- Coordinated work activity with Comlinks and the Women’s Enterprise Business Center in the development of two website workshops planned for May 22 (Saranac Lake) and May 24 (Malone). ANCA’s contractor prepared a 45 page packet and curriculum for the workshops. Staff met with Comlinks’ new director of the Business Center, Nick Curtis, on June 20.
- ANCA continued regional product promotion through a regional crafts portal website at www.AdkNCcrafts.com. Added the 77 registered vendors to the Buyer Days page. Staff provided
ongoing updates to the page.
- ANCA used www.adknccrafts.com to present online applications and descriptions of ANCA’s crafts marketing programs and links to
regional and national resources.
Infrastructure:
- ANCA continued to encourage local involvement in DOT planning efforts. ANCA staff distributed a public hearing announcement to the
western end stakeholders of the Central Adirondack Byway in Forestport, Oneida County and western Herkimer on the resurfacing and reconstruction meeting schedule for February 26, 2007 by NYSDOT.
- ANCA has been in contact with Ed Frantz, Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve Manager for NYSDOT. When ANCA met with NYSDOT staff in
March 2006 it was noted that plans were being developed for a regional position in NYSDOT that could support ANCA’s goals for increased communication between byway communities, ANCA and the department. In May ANCA provided Mr. Frantz with a mailing listing of the fourteen-county legislative chairmen and clerks to the Board of Legislators.
- ANCA has advised staff in NYSDOT Region 2 about transportation corridor use in the North Country region.
- Staff provided information about the NYSDOT Byway representatives and program to the Saranac Lake Signage Committee which has
received NYSDOT funding as restitution for the Route 3 tree-cutting. Staff also provided information to Camoin Associates and the Village regarding NYSDOT Byway signage guidelines.
- ANCA submitted correspondence about the transportation, safety, stewardship and economic development goals of the Adirondack Trail Byway to the regional design engineer regarding the State Route 30 bridge over the Sacandaga River in the Town of Wells. Additionally, ANCA notified byway stakeholders about the proposed project and encouraged their attendance at the public meeting on July 17.
- ANCA staff assisted Mayor Barbara Lashua of Heuvelton in providing a support letter to NYSDOT Regional Director Cary Babyock to uphold the community’s recommendations on the design of the proposed new bridge for the community. ANCA provided networking information about DOT representatives. NYSDOT agreed to the communities’ request.
- ANCA staff forwarded correspondence to the Warren County Planning Office and Queensbury Town Supervisor regarding the proposed NYSDOT
project for the Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway to ensure that the byway plan recommendations for recreation, transportation and
safety are addressed in the early NYSDOT planning stages for future construction.
- On September 20 ANCA staff discussed the need with NYSDOT Commissioner Astrid Glynn for ongoing communications between the regional
offices, resident engineers and ANCA to ensure that ANCA can provide public communications support to North Country byway communities during construction planning.
|
