News for the ‘Biz Blast’ Category
Statement by ANCA Board President Stephen Erman on the Proposed Elimination of Regional Sorting Facility for Stamped Mail from Zip codes Beginning with 129.
ANCA is an economic development organization for 14 counties of northern N.Y. including Essex, Franklin and Clinton Counties whose communities will be severely impacted by this proposal.
The elimination of this sorting facility will have a clearly negative effect on local commerce and regional economic development by significantly increasing the delivery time for mail posted from and addressed to parties within the 129 zip code area. This includes payments to local and regional vendors for goods and services and business correspondence.
The federal government has had an historic responsibility to support local commerce through effective communications infrastructure, which in its earliest days, was the postal system, and later, the telephone communications network. The argument that Internet-based bill paying and e-mail communications has now made first class mail obsolete is absolutely incorrect in northern New York where we do not benefit from universal broadband. In our rural communities, there is a heavy reliance on the Postal Service for business related correspondence.
Until our Internet communications capacity, region-wide, is up-to-par with that available in more urban places, the USPS should make no operational changes that will increase the delivery time of first class mail. To do otherwise would be contrary to the legislative intent of Public Law 91-375 (1970) which states in Article 101 (Postal Policy) that it is the “. . . specific intent of Congress that effective postal services be insured to residents of both urban and rural communities.”
Longer delivery times for stamped mail is not a way to support existing commerce in rural places like ours nor is it an asset in trying to attract new enterprises to this region. This proposal should be flatly rejected as the decision process moves forward.
Clarkson University’s Reh Center for Entrepreneurship, with generous support from the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Foundation, will offer “My Small Business 102: Strategies and Inspiration for the Creatively Inclined” on Saturday mornings, January 7, 14, 21, and 28, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Adirondack Business Center, 141 River Street in Saranac Lake, N.Y.Designed for artists and craftspeople in all stages of their business, this four-part series will include presentations on “Your Life, Your Art, Your Business,” “The Art of Management: Maintaining, Growing & Sustaining Your Business,” “The Creative Art of Marketing,” and “Selling What You Make.”
Sandy Maine, founder of the SunFeather Natural Soap Company in St. Lawrence County, will instruct the course. Specializing in artful colors, textures, and scent palettes, her products integrated artistic form as well as practical function.
While preserving a socially responsible model of operation for her business, Maine specializes in keeping artistry a very important component of her company’s work. She utilizes a hands-on approach and healthful organic ingredients,
In 2005, SunFeather Natural Soap Company was selected to provide hundreds of pounds of six custom scented soaps for Oprah Winfrey’s 50th birthday party.
The course is offered at no charge, thanks to a contribution from the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Foundation. Space is limited. To register, contact the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship at 518-354-8410or rehcenter@clarkson.edu.
As the holidays approach, we are surrounded by advertising and calls to buy new gadgets and mass-produced things, but how about a different approach this year? One that supports local jobs in your community:
Think outside the (big) box
Instead of buying stuff, how about considering services that support local people in our communities:
Salon: Everyone gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates for your local hair salon or barber?
Gym membership: Appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Taking care of the car: Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Detail shops and car washes make great gift certificates. Even an oil change at a local shop would be an appreciative gift.
Other ideas: Perhaps a grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. How about putting together a box of locally made goodies, such as candy, fudge, cheeses or craft-brewed beer or locally made wine?
Out on the town: Many owner-run restaurants offer gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn’t about big national chains –this is about supporting your home town restaurant owners.
House cleaning: Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would love having a local cleaning service for a day.
Electronic upgrades: Instead of junking the old and buying new, can you use the services of a local repair shop to upgrade your old computer?
Handmade: For something more personal, look for local crafts people who spin wool and knit scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Outings: Treat your loved ones to a holiday outing, seeing a play or ballet or a concert.
Note: The following was adapted from an email that’s been circulating. Have any more suggestions? Share them with us at mhart@adirondack.org.
The interest generated by the Occupy Wall Street movement nationwide has led to a renewed enthusiasm in keeping money in smaller, regionally based banks. We reached out to our ANCA network of contacts to ask the question:
“What are some reasons to bank with a local bank or credit union?”
Our goal is to raise $100,000 from individuals and businesses by the end of 2011. We are well on our way – but we need your help to get us over the top.
Join our network by giving online here or by printing and mailing this form
With our networks of partners across the region, ANCA has identified four project areas to help transform our region and localize our economies:
- Food: Uniting the emerging local food economy through mapping the key players and identifying gaps in the system
- Energy: Expanding the region’s capacity to meet its own energy needs by bringing thermal biomass resources and programs to pilot communities
- Work: Creating a dynamic support network for entrepreneurs
- Identity: Launching an Adirondack Branding Initiative
Read about our work in the region and our goals for the upcoming year in the newsletter here
We invite you to join us as we begin this exciting work throughout the region.
Empire State Development recently announced the launch of Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) workshops as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s historic initiative to stimulate job creation and economic growth through Regional Councils.
The CFA workshops will be held throughout the first week in October at over a dozen locations across the state, covering all ten regions. The workshops will include an overview of the application and CFA process followed by informational breakout sessions on specific areas of funding available for economic development projects.
The nine state agencies and authorities whose funding will be made available through the CFA process are Empire State Development; NYS Canal Corporation; Energy Research and Development Authority; Environmental Facilities Corporation; Homes and Community Renewal; Department of Labor; Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Department of State; and Department of Transportation. Applicants must submit their CFA by October 31, 2011.
Once the CFA is submitted by the applicant, it goes to the local Regional Council to be reviewed and ranked as part of its strategic planning process.
Application materials and a guidebook are available online at http://nyworks.ny.gov.
Here are the next workshops happening in the ANCA region:
North Country Regional Council CFA Workshop Friday, October 7, 2011 from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM SUNY Plattsburgh Angell College Center, Warren Ballroom 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Parking available Lots 11 & 12. Located adjacent to Kehoe Administration Building
North Country Regional Council CFA Workshop Friday, October 7, 2011 from 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM Olympic Center Convention Center, the Lussi Ball Room, 2nd Floor 2634 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY 12946 Parking available Municipal Lot adjacent to Conference Center
For the full news release, go here: http://nyworks.ny.gov/generalrelease/09292011Workshops