In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, everyone is invited to take part in a national virtual action event. Today through Thursday, activists, performers, thought leaders, and artists will all be collaborating on a 3-day live stream. Organized by the US Climate Strike Coalition and Stop The Money Pipeline Coalition, who together are made up of over 500 organizations, have come together to organize Earth Day Live.
The Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board is helping the region’s small businesses by offering working capital micro-loans for enterprises within Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington Counties. The loans will be available for businesses that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The funds are not to be used to pay off existing debt, refinancing other loans, acquire a position in business, purchase of equipment, investments, expansion, or personal expenses. Other restrictions also apply and more information can be found here.
We are keeping a close look on popular Adirondack area attractions and putting together this list of closures/delays. This is where we’ll add openings, too as they happen (scroll to the bottom of the list).
Feel free to contribute in the comments section and/or send notices to [email protected]
Adirondack History Museum (Elizabethtown) — closed until further notice
The Clinton County Historical Association Museum (Plattsburgh) will remain closed to the public indefinitely. In addition, the opening of the Bluff Point Lighthouse is also on hold.
Olympic Regional Development Authority — attractions include the Olympic Center, Whiteface Mountain, the Olympic Jumping Complex and the Olympic Sports Complex at Mount Van Hoevenberg — remain closed.
Adirondack Railroad (Utica to Old Forge) — cancels Polar Express holiday-themed train rides for 2020.
90 Miler Canoe Race, aka the Adirondack Canoe Classic (Old Forge to Saranac Lake) — Canceled in 2020.
Adirondack Folk Music Festival (Schroon Lake) — Canceled, along with summer concert series in Schroon Lake. The next festival is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2021.
Depot Theatre (Westport) — 2020 season canceled/postponed until 2021; alternative programming planned.
Clinton County Fair (Morrisonville) — canceled for 2020
Fishing tournaments (Massena) — The Town of Massena and Fishing League Worldwide are canceling two major FLW tournaments that were to have been held in Massena this summer. The Toyota Series 2020 Tournament (July 9 to 13) and Pro Circuit Championship (Aug. 24 to 29) are both canceled.
Ironman (Lake Placid) — Both the full triathlon and half triathlon canceled for 2020. Next full tri takes place July 25, 2021; half tri canceled for 2021 as well.
Ausable Chasm (Port Kent) — While adventurous activities, like tubing and rock climbing, aren’t yet available, the park’s five miles of scenic trails have been opened for hiking and exploring since June 15.
The Almanzo Wilder Homestead in Burke, NY is now open for private tours by appointment Thursday through Monday. The Visitor Center is open to the public.
ORDA-run Olympics properties reopen: A new zipline at the Olympic Jumping Complex opened on July 17. The new gondola at the complex is also now open.
Mountain biking on the cross-country trails of Mt. Van Hoevenberg is now available.
The Veterans Memorial Highway at Whiteface is open.
The Wild Center — Reopened July 15
Saranac Lake Chamber’s Welcome Center — opened July 2
Adirondack Artists Guild (Saranac Lake) — Begins gradual reopening on June 19. For the remainder of June, the Gallery will be open Fridays and Saturdays, from 11 – 3 pm, which could expand in July.
Tupper Arts Center (Tupper Lake) has a target reopening of July 15.
Fishing tournaments: The 2020 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite tournament on the St. Lawrence is slated to take place July 23-26. The following week, from July 30-Aug. 2, Bassmaster Elite tournament takes place on Lake Champlain.
Spirit Airlines to resume service to/from Plattsburgh airport starting May 2
NYS-run beaches opened Friday, May 22.
Adirondack Mountain Club’s High Peaks Information Center reopened May 22. Parking at Adirondak Loj Trailhead remains open to the public for a fee, but vehicles should be more than six feet apart. The restrooms on the back porch of the High Peaks Information Center are also open.
The Lake Champlain Basin Program is providing watershed organizations located within the Basin with emergency funding of up to $5,000. The grants are intended to provide relief for those adversely affected by COVID-19, so they may continue to operate throughout this turbulent time. The grants are a one-time award and will be made available for immediate relief. Projects must begin within a week of notification of award and be completed within 90 days.
The LCBP has awarded over $10 million to more than 1,300 projects since 1992 within New York and Vermont, and all applications will be reviewed by independent volunteers.
The deadline of the grant proposals are due April 24 and should be sent to [email protected].
The North Country Chamber of Commerce is hosting two “tele-town hall” events this week:
What: A conversation with Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul
When: 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
Details: Hochul will be updating the membership on the COVID-19 Pandemic and she will be answering questions about the state’s response to COVID-19 and plans for economic recovery.
The Preservation League of New York State has announced targeted grants to projects in the Adirondack communities of Whallonsburg, Saranac Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. The grants will play a role in the restoration and reuse of historic buildings in areas affected by the downward trend in the forest products industry.
The funds are made possible by an award granted to the Preservation League of New York State, the Preservation Trust of Vermont, Maine Preservation, and the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). This 4-state coalition has evenly split the $1 million award to fund 15 projects called the Northeast Heritage Economy Program. Here are the projects that have been funded in New York state:
“When the APA was created by the state legislature in 1971, the Park had existed for eighty years, and the new agency was expected to provide more sense of Park-ness than had obtained before. … For some it was a sense of a shared future in a newly defined park; for others it was hostility to regional zoning and land-use controls imposed by the state. Court challenges, hopes for a protected future, a Park-wide feeling of optimism interspersed with a sense of victimization—all gave the Adirondacks a regional identity it had never previously possessed.”
Similarly, while only five percent have not suffered due to the virus and 35 percent think that their business will recover within six months, a quarter say by the end of 2020 and 35 percent don’t think their business will return to pre-virus levels until 2021.
Among the other findings:
Majority of Upstate CEOs Say Return to Pre-Virus Economy Will Take Longer than 6 Months
By 57-35%, CEOs Say NYS Should Focus on Public Health NOT Relaxing Restrictions for May 1
Nearly 90% Downgrading 2020 Revenue & Profit Expectations; 40% Have Laid off Workers; 58% Cutting Back on Buying Equipment
89% Say will be in Business a Year from Today; 61% Confident in Fed Response; 72% Plan on SBA Paycheck Program
A DEC plan for the 119-mile Travel Corridor that runs through the heart of the Adirondack Park does not adequately assess actual and projected impacts on the Park’s public wilderness and natural resources according to the group Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve. At issue is whether the plan complies with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. Adirondack Wild does not believe it does comply. The group filed comments on the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan amendment with the Adirondack Park Agency this week.
This week, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced landmark legislation, The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act, to provide economic relief for small farmers suffering from massive financial losses due to reduced demand and supply chain disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to information in a news release, farm bankruptcies are at an eight year high and net farm income has dropped by nearly half since 2013. The financial struggles of more than 30,000 New York farmers has only been exacerbated by the current crisis, which has devastated supply chains, as schools and restaurants have been forced to close. The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act will alleviate debt, keep farms open, and fortify the nation’s food supply, providing direct relief to the nation’s most vulnerable farmers.
The North Country Chamber of Commerce is hosting a conversation with area county leaders at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 16. Hear updates and answers to questions regarding the response by North Country counties to COVID-19 and the impacts on our county governments.
Panelists will include:
Mark Henry, Chair, Clinton County Legislature Donald Dabiew, Chair, Franklin County Legislature Shaun Gilliland, Chair, Essex County Board of Supervisors Bill Farber, Chair, Hamilton County Board of Supervisors
If you are a small business owner looking for help troubleshooting your current e-commerce set up, in need of a website, or if you just need advice and support at a free or reduced cost, then are eligible to apply for assistance provided by Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) and Clarkson University in partnership with the Center for Businesses in Transition. The first round of applications are due Wednesday, April 15 at 5 p.m. (futures rounds TBD).
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The Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board is helping the region’s small businesses by offering working capital micro-loans for enterprises within Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington Counties. The loans will be available for businesses that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The funds are not to be used to pay off existing debt, refinancing other loans, acquire a position in business, purchase of equipment, investments, expansion, or personal expenses. Other restrictions also apply and 
We are keeping a close look on popular Adirondack area attractions and putting together this list of closures/delays. This is where we’ll add openings, too as they happen (scroll to the bottom of the list).
The Lake Champlain Basin Program is providing watershed organizations located within the Basin with emergency funding of up to $5,000. The grants are intended to provide relief for those adversely affected by COVID-19, so they may continue to operate throughout this turbulent time. The grants are a one-time award and will be made available for immediate relief. Projects must begin within a week of notification of award and be completed within 90 days.
The North Country Chamber of Commerce is hosting two “tele-town hall” events this week:
The Preservation League of New York State has announced targeted grants to projects in the Adirondack communities of Whallonsburg, Saranac Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. The grants will play a role in the restoration and reuse of historic buildings in areas affected by the downward trend in the forest products industry.
From 2013: Historian Phil Terrie on fixing the APA: 
Each week, Adirondack Explorer Brandon Loomis gives an update via his “Explore More” newsletter.
Only a third of CEOs expect the New York State economy to return to pre-virus levels of revenue and employment within the next six months. That’s according to a special 
This week, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, 
If you are a small business owner looking for help troubleshooting your current e-commerce set up, in need of a website, or if you just need advice and support at a free or reduced cost, then are eligible to apply for assistance provided by Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) and Clarkson University in partnership with the Center for Businesses in Transition. The first round of applications are due Wednesday, April 15 at 5 p.m. (futures rounds TBD).
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