The 17th Annual North Country Symposium, “Movement in the North Country,” has been set for Monday, November 18th, 2019 from 8:30 am to 3 pm, at the Eben Holden Conference Center at St. Lawrence University.

The mission of the North Country Symposium is to convene stakeholders in Northern New York to explore and ultimately enhance the region’s economic, environmental, and educational vitality. This forum will share important concepts, trends, and key information and is expected to bring together community leaders and stakeholders to catalyze new approaches to North Country development.

This year’s event will feature a keynote address on “Rewriting the Rural Narrative” by Ben Winchester, Researcher and Educator of Community Economics at the University of Minnesota. Winchester has performed research into the “Brain Gain” migration patterns of 30-49 year old people to rural areas, and he discuss the community economic dynamics involved in recruiting residents to our rural communities.

The program will also feature updates on Emerging Regional Initiatives, including:

• The North Country Center for Businesses in Transition
• Danielle Delaini, Business Transition Program Coordinator, ANCA
• The St. Lawrence County Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership CORE program
• Lenore Vanderzee, Executive Director for University Relations, SUNY Canton
• And a “Come Here / Come Back Here” residential recruitment program
• St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency representatives

A Panel of Returnees and Newcomers speaking to their experiences in moving to the region, and workshops on Residential Recruitment Strategies led by Winchester.

Registration begins at 8 am. This event is free and open to all people who have an interest in enhancing the vitality of the North Country Region. Lunch and refreshments will be available.

For more information and online registration, click here.