|
| |||
|
|
||||
|
Regional Map Join Us Contact Us Recent News Newsletter Annual Report Board Members Publications Project Partners Staff |
The Ledger The Adirondack North Country Association Newsletter Fall 2004 Volume 11, Issue 2 Table of Contents ~ANCA Celebrates Fifty-Year Anniversary ~Development of a Northern Forest Regional Strategy ~ANCA Community Assistance Goes Full Time ~Regional Branding and Marketing ~ANCA Assists 3-B Timber Company in Expansion Program ~ANCA Offers Farming Alternatives Winter Seminar Series ~Recent Road Trip Finds Active and Innovative Small Businesses and Nonprofits in Region ~Holistic Management Decision Making ~ANCA Assists Fey Manufacturing Co. with Marketing of “DOME STOOL” ANCA Celebrates Fifty-Year Anniversary
Remembering the beginnings of ANCA, Terry Martino, Executive Director said “It is exciting to reflect on the fact that the Association’s first organizational meeting was held on November 5, 1953 in Tupper Lake, followed by a founding meeting in May 1954 in Lake Placid.” and added, “We are pleased to return to Tupper Lake to commemorate this important fifty-year milestone in the organization and hear about plans for the Preserve at Tupper Lake project that has regional significance.” Following the founding meeting in 1954 the Association became incorporated as the Adirondack Park Association. The purpose of the Association’s early work was, “To foster, to develop, to protect and to publicize in every way the recreational, commercial, industrial and civic interests beneficial to the territory defined.” In 1983 the Adirondack Park Association changed its name to the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA), which has remained to this day. Over the years the Association expanded into an organization that provides programs and services throughout the fourteen county region defined as the “Adirondack North Country” and including Jefferson, Lewis, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Washington, Warren, Saratoga, Herkimer, Hamilton, Fulton, Oneida, Oswego and Essex counties. ANCA strengthens the economy and quality of life in the fourteen counties through informed, open debate and advocacy on economic issues critical to the region; and through region-wide action on projects in agriculture, business and community development, forestry, humans services, the arts and tourism. ANCA has managed a wide range of private and public funding sources and programs including the NYS Department of Economic Development and Urban Development Corporation, the USDA Forest Service Ice Storm Recovery Program, the ISTEA and TEA-21 New York State Byways programs, and the USDA Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Program, amongst others, resulting in millions of dollars in investment in the North Country. As a membership organization the Association has also benefited from contributions from individuals, businesses, municipalities, and corporations that have shared the Association’s vision for economic development and quality of life in the region. “We are indebted to the countless individuals who have committed their time, energy and resources to making our region a better place. Our founder, Roger Tubby, will always be remembered for his understanding that we could improve our communities and region by coming together to discuss and plan our future,” Ron Ofner, ANCA President said. Following the noon luncheon, Michael Foxman spoke of plans for The Preserve at Tupper Lake project and the renovations for the former Big Tupper Ski Resort and announced the purchase of the Marina. Foxman said The Preserve is intended to attract second-home buyers from New York City and other northeast metro areas. Foxman said The Preserve project will emphasize nature and is targeting people who want to experience the Adirondack outdoors. He predicted the resort which will consist of town houses, private homes and Adirondack Great Camps could quadruple the village of Tupper Lakes tax base if the property is annexed by the Village. The Preserve will be a destination and would contain everything a second-home owner could possibly want including hiking, boating, golf, skiing. The program included a discussion of the efforts to develop a tourism destination for the Tupper Lake community that will be a significant addition to other Tupper Lake projects such as the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks and Next Stop! Tupper Lake. Representatives from the LA Group also provided an overview of the project and were available to answer questions from the audience. “This is a major development project for Tupper Lake and the Adirondacks,” Martino noted. “We have been pleased to have our staff person Jim Ellis directly involved in project planning with Michael Foxman and are interested in how Foxman plans to combine development of the facility with conservation and preservation goals and public land access.” Development of a Northern Forest Regional Strategy The Adirondack North Country Association has developed a strong working partnership with the Northern Forest Center, headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire, dating back to the late 1990s. The partnership has enabled ANCA to address the needs of the Northern Forest region and discuss strategies that could enhance regional community and economic development. ANCA recognizes that the Adirondack North Country region’s ability to adjust to global economic changes, while addressing local community needs and the potential for regional linkages, could be advanced while discussing strategies that impact the four Northern forest states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Following is a chronology of different work activities in the development of a Northern Forest Regional Strategy: ~ 1999 – 2000 ANCA participated in the Steering Committee in the development of the Northern Forest Wealth Index Project. ~ November 2000 ANCA hosted the New York public meeting on the release of the Wealth Index Project. ~ March 2002 ANCA is a sponsor of the Adirondack Gateways Exchange in North Creek. The program is facilitated by Steve Blackmer and Mike Wilson of the Northern Forest Center. ~ At a June 13, 2002 Board of Directors’ meeting, the board endorses the Northern Forest Community Leadership Exchange as an important and timely opportunity to leverage constructive initiatives across the region into a broader capacity to address challenges and opportunities at the local, state and federal scales. ANCA’s board reviews and endorses a support letter that is forwarded to the Northern Forest Center. ~September 2002 ANCA enters into a partnership with the Northern Forest Center in the development of the Handmade in the Northern Forest Guidebook ~ ANCA participated in the Steering Committee in the development of the November 2002 Leadership Exchange that was hosted at Dartmouth College. ANCA is a sponsor of the exchange. ~ ANCA’s Economic Development Committee and staff assists the Northern Forest Center in hosting a meeting in June 2003 at the Hotel Saranac to address the potential for a regional initiative to secure targeted federal funding to support economic improvement in the Northern Forest. Of the more than twenty people in attendance representing regional and organizational interests, there was a consensus to explore the option to secure additional federal funding. ~ October 8, 2003 Representatives from ANCA and the Northern Forest Center attended a meeting with Governor Pataki’s staff to discuss the idea to secure federal funding for the Northern Forest. The Governor’s staff said the Governor is interested in us pursuing this option. There was discussion about the potential opportunity for the governors of the four states to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the Northern Forest Lands Council through a joint agreement to work together in addressing federal funding needs and programming across the Northern Forest. ~ ANCA participated in the Steering Committee in the development of the November 2003 Leadership Exchange that was hosted in partnership with the University of Vermont in Burlington. ANCA was a sponsor of the exchange. ~ ANCA participated in the Steering Committee in addressing the potential for a federal policy initiative and in the development of a Draft Concept Paper for a Northern Forest Regional Funding Strategy. ~ April 2004 Terry Martino, ANCA Executive Director, appointed as a New York representative to the Steering Committee to address the work of the Northern Forest Lands Council at their ten-year anniversary. ~ June 14, 2004 ANCA staff meet with Congressman McHugh in Washington D.C to review the initiative to secure federal funding for the Northern Forest. There is discussion of the potential for earmarking of existing programs versus the draft bill proposed by Congressman Michaud of Maine for a Northern Forest Regional Commission of which McHugh becomes a sponsor. Congressman McHugh recommended that we work to build local support throughout the region for a strategy that addresses economic development, community revitalization and land preservation throughout the North Country. Material is also made available to Congressman Boehlert and Congressman Sweeney. ~ June 14, 2004 ANCA staff attend a meeting hosted by Senator Snowe in Washington D.C. for the Northern Forest congressional delegation. The meeting was sponsored by the Northern Forest Center and the Northern Forest Alliance. At the meeting there was strong staff representation from the congressional delegation across the Northern Forest, including staff from Congressman McHugh, Senator Clinton, Senator Schumer, Senator Gregg/ New Hampshire, Senator Leahy/ Vermont, and Congressman Michaud/ Maine, amongst others. John Bartow was in attendance from the Tug Hill Commission, and there were staff present from other community development offices in Maine and New Hampshire and staff from the North East Foresters Association. The congressional staff were supportive of the need to address funding for the Northern Forest. There was discussion of the two models through the earmarking of funds within existing programs or the development of a regional commission. It was recognized nothing would be done this calendar year, but that preparatory work needs to be done to establish a comprehensive economic agenda of where funding is needed. The delegation said that when they know what is wanted from the region they can then address options for securing funding. They asked that we follow with an economic action plan and not with the design of legislation. The delegation members requested that we move forward in the development of the economic action plan and in securing broad based support for the initiative. ~ June 17, 2004 ANCA Board of Directors commit to working with the Northern Forest Center in the implementation of a public relations strategy and to work as ambassadors to discuss how a sustained commitment of federal funding will be useful to ANCA’s and the region’s ability to address economic development and quality of life needs for communities, residents and businesses. Directors identify the need to secure grass roots support from local government, organizational, and business representatives and ANCA members. ~July 2004 ANCA partnership with the Northern Forest Center in the development of the Handmade in the Northern Forest Guidebook is expanded with funding provided to ANCA by the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant program. ~ September 14-15, 2004 Terry Martino participated in the NEFA Northern Forest Lands Council 10th Anniversary Forum meeting to discuss the draft report, findings and recommendations in preparation for the December 10, 2004 10th Anniversary Conference of the Northern Forest Lands Council that will be a public meeting hosted at the Mt. Washington Hotel in New Hampshire. ~ December 10, 2004 Terry Martino and directors Don Caldera and John Bartow attend the NEFA Northern Forest Lands Council 10th Anniversary Forum at the Mt. Washington Hotel in New Hampshire. ANCA encourages participants to recognize that the next step in the regional planning process is to focus on our rural communities and regional economic needs and to build upon the framework for action that NEFA presented through other ongoing initiatives such as the Northern Forest Center work, amongst others. In particular, ANCA recognizes the need for a regional economic assessment and public planning process. ANCA Community Assistance Profile Developing a new model for community assistance is a challenging task. And yet, ANCA recognizes the benefits of “thinking outside the box.” Initially, Tupper Lake received ANCA help in alleviating its electrical woes. The effort began with an initial meeting that included then Village Trustee Ben Peets, who later served as Chairman of the Electrical Power Commission, John Bouck, Village Electric Superintendent, Jim Ellis, ANCA Community Assistance Specialist, and representatives of the New York Power Authority and Niagara Mohawk Power. Also attending were members of Congressman John McHugh and Senator Ron Stafford’s offices. ANCA worked with the Electrical Power Commission in Tupper Lake to address community electrical power needs and assisted with contacts with the New York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk Power, congressional and New York legislative leaders, and the Governor’s office. ANCA staff attended Governor Pataki’s announcement that a solution had been secured to address Tupper Lake’s electric needs through an agreement that included Lake Placid in the benefits of transmission improvements and installation of a 46-kilovolt compensator at the Tupper Lake substation and a 115-kilovolt unit at Lake Colby in Saranac Lake. In the meantime, other economic good news was waiting in the wings for the community. A real estate development syndicate headed by Philadelphia developer Michael Foxman executed a purchase agreement for 6,000 acres of land between the Tupper Lake Golf Course and the Big Tupper Ski Area. The owners of the area are describing the ski area as the crown jewel of a 600 building real estate development. The slope has been idled since the 1999-2000 season. It has now received a new lease on life as well as a new mission: ski in and ski out slope side development. Much of the initial cost of for the development lies in the cost of roads, sewer, water and electric lines. ANCA’s Board of Directors has executed a letter of understanding with the Town and Village of Tupper Lake’s governing boards to provide full time community assistance to seek out potential sources of funding for the construction of the infrastructure of the project. This is the first time that such large scale construction has required this kind of assistance from ANCA. The Preserve at Tupper Lake project was featured at ANCA’s Annual Meeting in Tupper Lake on December 2, 2004 at the Park Smokehouse Regional Branding and Marketing On October 27, 2004 ANCA hosted a meeting in cooperation with the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce at their headquarters in Canton. Karen St. Hilaire, Chamber Director, and their newly-hired director of the Adirondack Northern Trading Cooperative, Ruby Moore, joined ANCA staff Terry Martino, Carl Golas and ANCA consulting contractors Nadia Korths and Tim Holmes to discuss regional branding and marketing initiatives underway in the region. They were joined by Tim Burley of Burley Guminiak, Caroline Rubino of the Arts Council for the Northern Adirondacks, Sue Rice of the Franklin United Way, Michele Ledeux of the Lewis County Cooperative Extension, Bernadette Logazar of the Franklin County Cooperative Extension and Madeline Pennington of the St. Lawrence County Cooperative Extension. Attendees discussed their various programs to support product branding and marketing through a wide-range of e-commerce applications, logo use, certification initiatives such as Halah certification for meat products, and technical assistance training for craft, wood products and giftware companies. After an informative discussion about present programs and future opportunities to discuss the potential for regional brand that supports local initiatives, members agreed to meet again at the start of the new year. Anyone interested in the meeting can contact Terry Martino at anca-martino@northnet.org for more information. ANCA Partnership with the Adirondack Northern Trading Cooperative In August 2004 ANCA’s Executive Director, Terry Martino, and Crafts Program Coordinator, Nadia Korths met with Karen St. Hilaire and Ruby Moore to discuss the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce’s success with the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative and their interest in expanding the eBay marketing initiative to craft businesses throughout the ANCA fourteen counties. ANCA agreed to announce the next eBay expansion via their regional crafts 600 member email database to assist Moore in her efforts as the new director of the cooperative to expand services throughout the region. Through the exchange of information and Korths’s assistance in providing insights about the wide range of businesses that ANCA has provided technical assistance, wholesale, and workshop training services to, ANCA entered into a unique partnership with the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.
|
