News for the ‘Good News’ Category
Here in the Adirondack North Country, we take pride in having a “do it yourself” approach.
- When a ski hill had been closed for many years, residents of Tupper Lake decided to resurrect it and run it themselves.
- People in Saranac Lake came together to create their newly opened Community Store.
- Communities are working hard to bring high-speed internet connectivity to our rural areas.
- The cties of Watertown and Plattsburgh have reinvented themselves, attracting aerospace and rail transit equipment, manufacturing, and diverse other investments.
- Wind, hydro, biomass and other renewable energy projects are happening right here across the region.
These collective efforts put us where we are today, on the cusp of a new and transformational period.
Today we celebrate a big win for the North Country: $103.2 million in state funding has been awarded to 70 projects across the region.
In a ceremony in Albany this morning, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $785 million has been awarded to the 10 Regional Economic Development Councils. In a new approach to economic development that emphasizes a regional approach, each council was tasked with creating a comprehensive strategic plan to create jobs and stimulate growth.
Of the 10 plans Statewide, the North Country was among four awarded “Best Plan” designation, which brings a larger percentage of the funds allocated Statewide, resulting in more projects being supported.
Many people contributed to building this long-term roadmap that’s designed to attract private investment, promote and facilitate connectivity between communities, and create a climate that will allow entrepreneurs to flourish. We can accomplish this vision by capitalizing on the region’s natural assets, talented labor pool, and entrepreneurial character.
Projects included in the plan are intended to launch the region’s transformation by focusing on high-tech and traditional manufacturing, green energy production, agriculture, tourism, and arts and culture.
For a full appendix of these projects, go to:
http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/CFAAWARDSBooklet.pdf
Here is some initial media coverage of the news:
http://pressrepublican.com/breaking2/x704607209/North-Country-among-top-four-for-funding
http://blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org/inbox/
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20111208/NEWS09/111209861
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/94401/state-awards-funding-to-wny-cny-north-county-li/
In an awards ceremony this morning in Albany, the North Country Regional Economic Development Council’s Strategic Plan received Best Plan designation. Among the 10 Councils Statewide, four were awarded the top tier status. The award brings $103.2 million in funding to the North Country region, comprised of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis counties.
More news to follow….
Governor Andrew Cuomo will be announcing which of the 10 regional economic development councils will receive the largest funding awards in an event at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Albany.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast live at http://governor.ny.gov/.
The 10 regional councils are vying for a total of $200 million in state funding tax incentives being offered by the state for innovative projects that will stimulate the economy, create jobs and benefit residents.
Last week, the councils made their pitches in Albany before a five-member grading panel, which will decide the winners. The regional councils are made up of community and business leaders.
More information on the North Country plan can be found here:
Dave Mason and Jim Herman, retired strategy consultants working pro bono on behalf of the Adirondack Common Ground Alliance, have recently launched www.ADKFutures.org, a website to track the process of a yearlong scenario planning project. The project is designed to stimulate new, creative, thinking about the challenges and opportunities ahead and start a new conversation among a broad set of people that care about the Park. They are using a scenario development approach in which participants imagine six different, divergent outcomes for the Park 25 years from now. The broad range of ideas and possibilities envisioned in these six scenarios allow many points of view to be considered in the ongoing debate.
http://www.community-store.org/
Three cheers to Saranac Lake for turning a dream of having a community owned department store into a reality, the first in the state.
Located at 97 Main St., the Community Store is now open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
It’s heartening to see a community rally around preserving its small-town spirit. Since the official Grand Opening on Nov. 19, the town has been receiving lots of accolades in the local and national media.
Here are a few of the links:
U.S. Rep. Bill Owens tours the store (NCPR): http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/18822/20111123/owens-adds-to-community-store-accolades
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/business/a-town-in-new-york-creates-its-own-department-store.html?pagewanted=all
CBS’ Early Show: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7389401n&tag=mncol;lst;2
Janessa Scott
Age: 27
Residence: Madrid (St. Lawrence Co.)
Hometown: Massena, NY
What brought you to the region?I love living in Northern N.Y. Life just seems to be a little simpler and safer. I love being able to get home from work, step out my back door and take my dogs for a nice walk in the woods.
What keeps you here? I want to raise a family and I think it is a perfect place. I can teach my children to appreciate nature and wildlife in our own backyard but still take them to museums and zoos in surrounding cities.
Career Accomplishments: I am currently a web designer for Clarkson University as well as owner of The Mad Recycler and Uniquely NNY.
Hobbies/interests: I love being outdoors, including hiking, snowshoeing, skating and fishing. I also enjoy my recycled crafting, antiques, sewing, painting and gardening.
What do you love about living in the North Country region?
I love being able to look up and see the stars on a clear night. I enjoy hearing the crickets chirping and fireflies glowing in the field behind the house on a summer night. The beauty of the leaves changing in the fall with the reds, oranges and yellows, and the first snowfall of the year are both truly amazing.
What is the biggest attraction to living and working here?
I enjoy living on a slow back road lined by beautiful old maple trees, but also that it only takes me about 20 minutes to get to a larger town. I can have my peace and quiet, but it isn’t too far to get to work, shop, catch a movie or a hockey game, or get a great meal.
What are some of the region’s strengths?
Peacefulness and Beauty
What are some of the challenges here for recruiting young professionals?
I think it is hard to recruit young professionals who are use to being in a city. City life differs greatly from North Country life, but if we market the beauty, the safety and the peacefulness, it would inspire some to come here. Things to do may not be right around the corner but might be in the next town.
If you could change anything about living here, what would it be?
I know this is already in the works and hopefully it will reach me soon – High Speed Internet.
Wreath photo provided by Janessa Scott. More examples of her work can be found at http://uniquelynny.com and http://www.themadrecycler.biz