National Grid has awarded $100,000 to the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) to support the regional nonprofit’s North Country Center for Businesses in Transition (CBIT) and a skills-building and networking conference for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The grant award will advance the CBIT partnership’s ongoing work supporting local business transitions, including its Small Communities. Big Opportunities.: Own a North Country Business Conference on February 12th through 14th, 2023.
The grant is funded through National Grid’s Project C initiative, which supports projects across New York State with a focus on clean energy and sustainability; workforce development; neighborhood investment and community engagement; and environmental justice and social equity. Project C is funded by shareholders of the regional energy company.
The Small Communities. Big Opportunities.: Own a North Country Business conference is set to take place both in-person and virtually on February 12 to 14, 2023, on the heels of Saranac Lake’s ten-day Winter Carnival. The event’s in-person reception, workshops and networking opportunities will be based at The Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake.
CBIT hosted its inaugural Small Communities. Big Opportunities.: Own a North Country Business conference, which took place virtually, in February 2021. Over 180 people registered for the online event, with smaller groups connecting through informational workshops and matchmaking sessions.
Registration for the three-day in-person conference costs $100; participants who sign up by January 20th, 2023 receive a discounted early bird rate of $80. The virtual option costs $75 with a $60 early bird rate. Online registration opens on Wednesday, November 30th, 2022. Questions about the event may be directed to CBIT at transitions@adirondack.org.
CBIT was established by ANCA in 2018 with funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission in order to address the loss of area businesses by connecting business owners with potential buyers, planning tools and existing succession planning services.
The partnership is currently comprised of 13 community liaisons and partners across ANCA’s 14-county service area, including representatives from the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation, Adirondack Park Agency Economic Services, Essex County Industrial Development Agency, Franklin County Economic Development Corporation, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton County Economic Development, Lewis County Economic Development, Living ADK, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center, Ti-Alliance, and Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce. More information can be found online.
Photo of North Country Center for Businesses in Transition grant.
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