The Adirondack Hub

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) launched its newly developed website, AdirondacksUSA.com. The website has been designed to enhance how those who may be unfamiliar with the Adirondacks access travel-related information about the area, while also aligning with trends and changes in the way people travel. AdirondacksUSA.com encourages users to “find their place” within the Adirondacks’ six million acres by using the website to learn about the Adirondacks, its geography, activities, and events throughout the region. It then directs users to one or more of the ROOST-managed regional websites. Providing information about multiple regions of the Adirondacks supports the emerging trend of travelers visiting more than one place during their vacation.“We are excited about AdirondacksUSA.com’s capacity to help introduce travellers to the entire region,” explained ROOST CEO Dan Kelleher. “Our region offers diverse and unique experiences ranging from historic forts and heritage hikes to world-class outdoor adventures to iconic hamlets and towns. By introducing travellers to all of our communities and assets, we can attract new visitors, encourage increased repeat visitation, and extend the stays of visitors.”AdirondacksUSA.com features a specially designed quiz that asks users a series of questions about the types of experiences, scenery, activities, desired accommodations, and events that interest them. Quiz results include suggestions for attractions, communities, and various regions of the Adirondacks, along with must-do activities and events best suited to their preferences.The website shares travel ideas based on seasons, events, activities, suggested itineraries, attractions, and popular activities. The website includes a hike finder, the region’s most comprehensive events calendar, and content connecting travelers with area communities. It also highlights multi-region touring experiences and special-interest travel opportunities, including the Adirondack Rail Trail, Olympic sites, stargazing, mountain biking trail networks, and Adirondack culinary experiences.According to ROOST Director of Marketing Michelle Clement, the website will support a range of ROOST’s marketing efforts, including email outreach, seasonal campaigns, and other promotional initiatives. “The new website and refreshed Adirondacks, USA branding will help us reach new audiences through targeted campaigns and tailored messaging that introduce people to the Adirondacks in a way that reflects their interests,” she said. “When users visit the site, they’ll quickly understand where the Adirondacks are and why the region is worth exploring. Through rich imagery, maps, quizzes, and other features, the site helps them find their place and follow a clear path to the experiences, communities, and information that matter most to them.”AdirondacksUSA.com is one of eight Adirondack region-focused websites developed and managed by ROOST. These sites include: LakePlacid.com serving the High Peaks region; LakeChamplainRegion.com serving the eastern Adirondacks, AdirondackHub.com which serves the Schroon Lake, Minerva and North Hudson region; WhitefaceRegion.com focused on the Wilmington, Jay and Au Sable Forks area; AdirondackExperience.com serving the Hamilton County region; SaranacLake.com; and TupperLake.com.AdirondacksUSA.com was developed with support from a grant provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Maple producers across the Adirondacks will open their sugarhouses to visitors this March as part of New York State’s Maple Weekends, a statewide celebration of maple sugaring season; one of the state’s most important agricultural traditions.Adirondack Maple Weekends for 2026 are scheduled for March 21–22 and March 28–29, featuring open houses at local sugarhouses, pancake breakfasts, and syrup tastings. Events are typically held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., though visitors should check individual locations for specific times. New York is the second-largest maple producer in the United States, producing more than 800,000 gallons of maple syrup annually and supporting more than 2,000 maple producers statewide. The state also has the largest number of tappable maple trees in the country, making maple production a significant contributor to New York’s agricultural economy. The Adirondack region plays an important role in that production, with family-run operations, research forests, and educational institutions producing maple syrup and maple products each year.Maple production depends on specific weather conditions common in late winter and early spring. When daytime temperatures rise above freezing and nighttime temperatures fall below freezing, pressure changes inside sugar maple trees cause sap to flow. Producers collect the sap and boil it down into maple syrup, a process that typically requires about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup.Several Adirondack maple producers and organizations are participating in Maple Weekends and offering opportunities for visitors to learn about the sugaring process:Cornell University Uihlein Maple Research Forest — Lake PlacidThe Cornell University Uihlein Maple Research Forest conducts research on forest management, maple production, and climate impacts on sugar maple ecosystems. Visitors can learn about the science behind maple production and the research taking place in the Adirondacks.Heaven Hill Farm — Lake PlacidHeaven Hill Farm in Lake Placid will be open for Maple Weekends with tours of its sugaring operation, demonstrations of wood‑fired evaporator use, and opportunities to learn how maple syrup is made on the farm. Visitors can sample maple coffee and treats, participate in tree‑tapping experiences, and learn about the farm’s bird‑friendly sugarbush.McComb’s Oak Hill Farm — SpeculatorLocated in the southern Adirondacks, Oak Hill Farm produces small-batch maple syrup and maple products. Visitors can tour the sugarhouse, observe the syrup-making process and enjoy refreshments during both Maple Weekends from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.Paul Smith’s College — Paul SmithsOpen 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Visitors can enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides from the parking area into the sugarbush, student-led tours of the sugarbush and sugarhouse, and a “sugar on snow” party suitable for both kids and adults. Tapping demonstrations will also be offered. The College sugarbush is located approximately 2.5 miles down White Pine Road, on the right-hand side just past the bridge at the Jones Pond outlet stream.Shamrock Maple — St. Regis Falls Visitors are invited to tour the “off-grid” and state-of-the-art maple farm located in the foothills of the Adirondacks. The farm offers ample parking and easy handicap access to the sugarhouse, which includes a handicap-accessible restroom. The farm will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with maple product tastings and sales available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on both Maple Weekends. Guests can purchase 100% pure organic maple products. The farm looks forward to welcoming visitors this season.The Wild Center’s Mobile Sugar Shack — Tupper LakeVisitors are invited to tour the off-grid, state-of-the-art maple farm in the foothills of the Adirondacks. The farm offers ample parking and handicap access to the sugarhouse, which includes a wheelchair-accessible restroom. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with maple tastings and sales available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on both Maple Weekends. Guests can purchase 100% pure organic maple products.In addition to visiting maple producers, Adirondack maple products can be found at farm stands, local retailers, and specialty shops throughout the region. Restaurants and bakeries throughout the Adirondacks also feature maple syrup in seasonal dishes and baked goods during the sugaring season.New York State Maple Weekends provide an opportunity for visitors to experience maple production firsthand while supporting local farms and businesses across the Adirondacks and throughout the state. A searchable list of Maple Weekend events is available at mapleweekend.nysmaple.com.

What: A series of remote worker meetups taking place throughout March, hosted by Adirondack Innovation Initiative (A2i) at Adirondack Community Foundation, coinciding with National Telecommuters Appreciation Week (March 1–7).The first event took place on March 3 in Lake Placid, with more than 30 people in attendance.When: Select dates and locations:Indian Lake – Welcome Center, March 10, 5:00 p.m.6132 NY-28, Indian LakeJay / Keene – Recovery Lounge, March 11, 5:00 p.m.12198 Old Rt 9N, JayChestertown – Town of Chester Public Library, March 12, 6:00 p.m.6307 Rt. 9, ChestertownSaranac Lake – Hotel Saranac, March 13, 4:30 p.m.100 Main Street, Saranac LakeWilmington – A2i Residence, March 14, 5:00 p.m.108 Indian Rock Road, WilmingtonTupper Lake – Raquette River Brewing, March 18, 5:30 p.m.11 Balasam Streeet, Tupper LakeWho: Adirondack Innovation Initiative (A2i) has been developed by Adirondack Community Foundation to connect people, ideas, and resources to allow more people to live in the Adirondacks full time with a good job by building and supporting a tech innovation ecosystem and network, driving regional economic resilience by fostering entrepreneurship, supporting local startups, and expanding tech-enabled remote and local workers to thrive here. This is one essential piece.Cost: Free. Light refreshments provided.Additional information: Visit a2ihub.org.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has compiled and released the results of its fourth annual tourism impact survey, conducted in late 2025. The survey gathered feedback from residents and business owners in Essex and Hamilton counties, as well as the villages of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, regarding their perceptions of tourism's impact on the local economy and community.The survey was designed to capture business owners’ and residents’ perceptions and opinions on various topics related to tourism in the region. It aims to uncover sentiments regarding tourism-related activities and their impacts which contribute to the local economy and social environment, as well as identify topics that may be sources of concern. Surveys completed by business owners represent 26.6% of total surveys, compared with 73.4% completed by non-business owners. The vast majority of respondents have lived in the region for more than 11 years and 86% are employed full-time or retired.According to ROOST Chief Operating Officer Mary Jane Lawrence, destination management and marketing organizations (DMMOs) like ROOST work to balance economics of the tourism industry and community needs. “To be effective as a DMMO, it’s essential that local sentiment is clearly understood,” Lawrence said. “This survey gives residents and business owners a voice, helping us identify opportunities, address challenges, and shape strategies that support the local economy and quality of life for community members.”Key findings include:The vast majority of respondents (83%) believe that tourism positively impacts their community.More than 95% of respondents believe that tourism has a positive impact on businesses in their local community.The vast majority of respondents indicated that tourism has a positive impact on the region’s economy, the availability of local attractions, retail opportunities, and restaurant options.May and June saw the highest proportion of business owners indicating they could benefit from increased business (64% and 62%, respectively), suggesting opportunity for growth in the late spring/early summer period.The share of respondents who reported working more than one job (39%) increased by 10 percentage points year over year.Each year since 2023, survey respondents believe that the region would benefit most from additional marketing of arts, biking/cycling, and food/restaurants.Traffic and affordable housing remain the top cited negative impacts of tourism. Environmental degradation was cited more often than in past years as a negative consequence.Since 2022, a growing share of residents agree that increasing the number of permanent residents in their community is important to them.Results underscore the importance of recent community initiatives to balance community benefits with the positive impacts of the local tourism economy. These initiatives include the Community Tourism Enhancement Fund, which provides funding to each of the 18 towns in Essex County, to enhance the community for residents and visitors. Additionally, ROOST has collaborated with local officials to establish an event committee to review large-scale events and implement recommendations to mitigate impacts. ROOST also works with the region’s elected representatives to assist with initiatives such as workforce housing, grant applications for community improvement, and other projects designed to benefit Essex County communities. “The resident sentiment survey is an important tool for ROOST - it allows us to monitor and understand the impacts of tourism on local residents year over year,” stated ROOST President and CEO Dan Kelleher. “We appreciate that the vast majority of respondents affirm the overall benefits of tourism in our region, and we also recognize the important and ongoing work to assist our communities with housing, large-event mitigation, and other destination management initiatives.”Business owners and residents were invited to complete the survey via email, social media, news reports, and local notices. A total of 737 surveys from residents and business owners were completed in target regions. The results achieved a 5% margin of error at a 99% confidence level.Respondents were incentivized to take the survey with a chance to win a Visa Gift Card valued at $100.A link to survey results can be found at ROOSTAdk.com/research.

Registration now open for inaugural bike/swim/run/kayak competition Indian Lake, NY — The Adirondack village of Indian Lake will be the first venue in the United States to host a quadrathlon, scheduled for June 16. The “Do the Q” event consists of a half-mile swim, 4-mile kayak paddle, 30K bike ride and a 10K run, in accordance with World Quadrathlon Federation guidelines. Registration is limited to 50 participants and racers will compete in all events (no relay teams). The event is presented by the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce and America’s Quadrathlon Association. The routes for each leg are still being established, but all will be in the Indian Lake region, said Len Carbonara, vice president of the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce. Quadrathlons are increasing in popularity in Europe, but this will be the first in the U.S. “We wanted to launch this event in Indian Lake and wanted to provide triathletes a different race experience,” Carbonara said. “Ironman and other triathlons are highly popular and we are optimistic this event will attract competitors looking for a new event in a new location.” Those interested in competing can sign up by contacting the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce at 518-648-5112. ###

Sept, 2017 - ROOST staff produced a Fall in the Adirondacks video that showcases the foliage and events in our eight regions. We shared on our social media channels, and we would love for you to share as well! Fall colors are coming! As a reminder, ROOST staff is keeping track of the fall foliage and updating our destination websites with the progress of the colors. We’ve got an easy link for you to reference and share with your guests and customers that provides quick links to the region reports, events, tours and more: adirondacksusa.com. Hope everyone has their cameras ready!

Fall colors are coming! Each year, an army of foliage spotters provide I Love New York with updated weekly reports about the current status of spectacular scenery throughout the state. ROOST staffers are responsible for some of the Adirondack reports, and we’ve got an easy link for you to reference and share with your guests and customers that provides quick links to the region reports, events, tours and more: adirondacksusa.com. Hope everyone has their cameras ready!

May 2017 adirondacks, usa — Now in it’s seventh year, the Great Adirondack Garage Sale has grown to encompass an over 200-mile “trail”, stretching from Malone to Speculator, and Old Forge to Newcomb. Residents are encouraged to sign up to sell during the expanded Memorial Day Weekend event. “Memorial Day weekend in May is traditionally the time when second-homeowners open up their camps and we’re hoping we get people motivated to clear out their garages, attics, and basements, said Alexandra Roalsvig, Director, Parks, Recreation and Tourism for the Town of Long Lake. “The more participation, the bigger impact the event will have, so we encourage our residents and second homeowners to sign up and sell, sell, sell!” The expanded event was initiated by Hamilton County in partnership with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). The organization developed an interactive website that showcases garage sale locations and allows sellers to list items along with an unlimited number of photos to enhance their listing. The listings include the hours of operation and a sampling of items for sale. “Signing up is easy and free, so make sure your sale is on the map!”, said Michelle Clement, ROOST’s director of destination development programs. “This event is also a great way for non-profits, churches, and school groups to fundraise,” added Roalsvig. “The Town of Long Lake will have space available for outside vendors to sell their wares both in Long Lake and Raquette Lake so call our office at 518-624-3077 and ask for Steph Hample and she’ll set you up with a location.” The regional garage sale originated in 2010 when Long Lake linked up with Old Forge, Inlet and Indian Lake to promote 70 miles of garage sales. It has grown to include Old Forge, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Lake Clear, Paul Smiths, Malone, Cranberry Lake, Piercefield, Childwold, Newcomb & Speculator. Each community will also have a printed map to hand out during the event with mapped Garage Sale locations based on the website data. Participants should visit GreatAdirondackGarageSale.com for more information and to register individual sale locations. ###

One of the most powerful marketing tools ROOST has for communities and businesses across the North Country are our regional events calendars. Every one of our destination sites offers any public event the opportunity to have its very own page on the site. Any event that is local and open to the public can be submitted for an event listing. We will review and create a page that posts to the appropriate website's events page. Our events pages are some of the most trafficked on each of our sites. The events listing is also a quick and easy way to boost your event in Google searches for things to do in your region. Not only does an event listing help you get in front of thousands of travelers visiting our sites, it also makes it easier for us to incorporate your event into other marketing efforts. These listings are one place our photographer, videographer, bloggers, communications staff, and marketing staff monitor to help plan our marketing calendars. So mark your calendars to get event info up on our calendars! Here's a list of links for event submissions: Lake Placid (LakePlacid.com) Lake Champlain Region (LakeChamplainRegion.com) Saranac Lake (SaranacLake.com) Tupper Lake (TupperLake.com) Hamilton County (AdirondackExperience.com) Schroon Lake (SchroonLakeRegion.com) Franklin County/Malone (VisitMalone.com)

ROOST keeps a close eye on indicators such as Smith Travel Report data and occupancy tax collections to gauge our destinations’ economic health and to compare to our competitive set. Following is a snapshot of numbers to date! JAN-SEPT 2016 compared to JAN-SEPT 2015* Essex County Statewide Upstate New York Occupancy UP 2.4% 0.0% UP 0.2% Revenue UP 4.1% UP 2.4% UP 3.8% *Based on the Smith Travel Report (STR), which represents 67.9 percent of the rooms in Essex County. OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS - ESSEX COUNTY JAN-SEPT, 2016: $1,772,600 Based on these occupancy tax collections, which do not include day trips and other overnight visitation, we can estimate that taxable lodging sales were $59,075,000. Travel research indicates that lodging normally represents 1/3 of a traveler's expenses. That means that YTD in 2016: Estimated travel expenditures (tracked through occupancy tax only - which doesn't include day trips and other overnight visits) in Essex County = $177,225,000 SALES TAX determined via occupancy tax collections through September by travelers to Essex County = $7,089,000 Factors that played a part in this year's tourism activity include the largest conference year in North Elba's history, terrific weather for outdoor activities, events all over the county, including Ironman, the Lake Placid Horse Shows, Summit Lacrosse Tournaments, the Bike Fest in Wilmington, Adirondack Harvest Festival in Westport, a huge bass fishing tournament schedule on Lake Champlain, the Adirondack Distance Festival in Schroon Lake and a big push in leisure travel promotion. ROOST will post a year-end report in February!

The North Country Chamber of Commerce and its licensed health insurance agency, the Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp., are actively assisting small businesses and individuals throughout the region with their health insurance needs during the current open season. This includes reviewing current coverage in light of rate increases scheduled for January 1st and assisting with the identification of options, whether a different plan structure with the same insurance company or a possible move to another company's plan. Changes for January 1st need to be made by Dec. 15. The chamber and its health insurance subsidiary can serve businesses and employers of all kinds, non-profits, self-employed people and individuals, and can assist clients with coverage on either the "N.Y. State of Health" exchange or off the exchange. Its services are available throughout Clinton, Franklin, Essex, Hamilton, Warren and adjacent counties as well as Akwesasne. Access is offered to all major plans in the market including Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of Northeastern N.Y., Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fidelis and MVP, with availability varying by county. Access to the Healthy New York Program is also available, as are group rates on stand alone vision and dental plans. The chamber's health insurance professionals are licensed and trained, and advisory and enrollment services are without cost to the clients. The Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp. is the official provider of health insurance services for the North Country, Malone, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Akwesasne, Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga, North Warren, Gore Mountain, Stony Creek, Indian Lake and Adirondack Speculator Chambers as well as ROOST, the Whiteface Visitors Bureau and the Inlet Business Association. For more information or to make an appointment to review coverage, contact Lisa Bedard Dupee at 518-563-1000.

ROOST helped coordinate Adirondack Day, an annual event aimed at educating Albany stakeholders about the Adirondacks. This year's event, held Wednesday, June 1, included booths featuring local colleges, attractions and other Adirondack organizations. [gallery size="medium" ids="19068,19067,19066,19065,19064,19063,19062,19061,19060,19059,19058,19057,19056,19055,19053,19052,19051,19050" orderby="rand"]

The North Country Chamber of Commerce and its licensed health insurance service, the Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp., are reminding all employers and households in the North Country of the need to review updated health insurance options and to enroll in new plans or make changes in coverage soon, in time for the new year. The Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp. is a fully licensed health insurance agency with trained and licensed professionals available to review all options available and then to enroll in new coverage or make changes in existing coverage. Their professional services are free and are available throughout northern New York including Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, St. Lawrence and adjacent counties as well as Akwesasne. The Chamber and its Service Corp. offer access to a number of plans and options, both on the state's health insurance exchange, New York State of Health, as well as off the exchange. Advice and assistance is available for employers of all kinds including businesses, non-profits, government entities and self-employed persons, as well as for individuals and their families. Depending on the county, available options include a variety of health insurance plans through Excellus, Blue Shield of Northeastern New York, Fidelis, and MVP, including Healthy New York options, as well as stand alone dental and vision plans. The North Country Chamber of Commerce is the official provider of health insurance services to ROOST, and the Saranac Lake Area, Tupper Lake, Malone, Akwesasne, Ticonderoga Area, Schroon Lake, Indian Lake, Adirondack Speculator, Gore Mountain Region, North Warren and Stony Creek Chambers of Commerce as well as the Whiteface Visitors Bureau and the Inlet Business Association. For more information or assistance, contact Lisa Bedard Dupee at the North Country Chamber at 518-563-1000.

I Love New York Shopping Promotion The Retail Council and I Love NY are partnering on a short-term promotional effort encouraging Canadians to visit New York State for a shopping getaway from March 15-31, 2015. This is an opportunity for you to bring more shoppers into your store AND boost the New York State retail industry. The promotion will include a coupon with a discount of at least 10%, downloadable from www.iloveny.com. Each participating retailer will have the opportunity to decide if they would like to honor the minimum 10% discount or offer a higher percentage discount. The coupons would be valid for brick-and-mortar stores only and not for online purchases. I Love NY will promote the program in Montreal and Toronto with a television commercial, paid media, and digital content. Although the program will be promoted in Canada, it will not be limited to Canadians. NYS and out of state residents will be eligible to use the coupon as well. This is the first time I Love NY will designate advertising dollars for retail promotion. It is a rare opportunity to get a concentrated effort on the part of a state agency dedicated to promoting shopping. In order to demonstrate the success of the program and ROI, we are asking participating retailers to track coupon sales where possible and provide the percentage of increased sales from the same period in 2014. An out-of-the-gate success story for this first foray clearly would pave the way to further collaborations. Our statistics show that more than 75% of Canadians surveyed indicate shopping as their top activity when traveling into New York. Our goal is to increase awareness of New York State as a great shopping destination for Canadian citizens. In order to accomplish this goal we need as much participation as possible from our members. Please let Michelle Bruck know as quickly as possible that your store(s) will participate in the promotion. Michelle can be reached at mbruck@retailcouncilnys.com or (800) 442-3589. Participating retailers who would like their property featured in the commercials promoting the program should send any high resolution stills or footage to Rick Machung at this website: https://www.hightail.com/u/RickMachung489161 In addition they should sign the photo release at the following link: ILNYRetailPermissionPhotography and email it to Lisa.Soto@esd.ny.gov

Whitty-Brown named Executive Director for the Schroon Lake Chamber of CommerceSchroon Lake, N.Y. - The Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Tammy Whitty-Brown to the position of Executive Director.Whitty-Brown, originally from Schroon Lake, brings not only a vast understanding of the community, but diverse, applicable experience to the position. Her background includes experience in finance management, wholesale and retail sales, museum management, event planning and marketing.“We are thrilled to welcome Tammy back to Schroon Lake,” said Shelby Davis, of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “Her experience is spot-on for what the job requires, and her extensive and personal connection to Schroon Lake and knowledge of its challenges and opportunities will serve the community well.”“I am excited to collaborate with the team of volunteers that are already working so hard to make Schroon Lake a successful community and visitor destination,” said Whitty-Brown. “I will make it my mission to support development projects, tourism promotion and expansion of the current list of existing cultural events to help my former childhood home grow and prosper.”Whitty-Brown will take the reins at the Chamber on February 2. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 518.532.7675.###Follow the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce on Facebook!

Long Lake, NY - An informational meeting for those businesses interested in applying for the Microenterprise Grant Program will be held on January 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the town hall in Long Lake. About the Microenterprise Grant Program Essex County, in partnership with Hamilton County, applied for and was awarded an Adirondack Park Upper Hudson Recreation Hub Grant, creating the Hub Microenterprise Program. The total amount awarded for this program was $100,000. As qualified businesses are identified through an application process, the MGP will provide resolution to small businesses lack of access to capital and assist businesses to offer a more relevant mix of wares, goods and services to help improve the viability of the businesses, to become more sustainable and retain and create new jobs. . These communities will be investing in amenities to promote a spectrum of recreational opportunities and the use of the State lands, which will enhance and increase visitations to the communities to enjoy the surrounding Forest Preserve and Conservation Easement lands. Who can apply? The Microenterprise Grant Program (MGP) will be established to provide grants to eligible expanding or start up Microenterprise businesses, located in Essex County, the towns of Minerva, Newcomb and North Hudson and in Hamilton County, the towns of Indian Lake and Long Lake. A Microenterprise is a business that employs or will employ nine (9) or fewer persons, including the business owner or owners. To be eligible for assistance, an existing microenterprise business must retain and or create jobs. The grant funds from the Microenterprise program can be used to: purchase equipment, furniture & fixtures, inventory and be used for operating expenses, marketing, and working capital and start up costs. All grant applicants must complete Adirondack Upper Hudson Recreation Hub Microenterprise Program, Business Development & Enhancement Training Program. For information, please contact the Essex County IDA at 518-873-9114.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) will host a gathering of destination planning committee representatives from 13 Adirondack Tourism Destination Areas (TDAs) on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Conference Center at Lake Placid. The gathering on Friday will begin with registration at 10:30 a.m. The program will be facilitated by outside consultant and destination development expert Joe Lathrop of OCG, a New York City-based consulting firm. At 11 a.m. each Tourism Destination representative will provide a brief overview of their region’s progress. In addition to the TDAs, a representative from the Lake Placid Retail Tourism Development Group will present an overview of a recent survey. This will be followed by breakout work sessions to identify synergies and challenges and explore further opportunities for collaboration, then a wrap-up session to discuss the destinations’ gaps in product, inhibitors to growth and current strengths. The TDAs are currently in various stages of progress in the ROOST-led destination development process. “Most of these TDAs have completed the inventory of assets and are beginning to develop strategies and goals,” said James McKenna, ROOST CEO. “This gathering will serve as both a networking forum and a valuable work session for these community stakeholders.” The overall goals of the destination master planning process mirror those of the sustainable tourism credo: Grow the existing tourism economy without negatively impacting the residents’ quality of life. The goals of the process are to put tools in place to attract private investment in tourism, and to develop tourism infrastructure to transform the region by driving community development and leveraging private investment in tourism destination area communities and corridors. A summary of the day’s results will be compiled and distributed to the collective group following the Summit. Questions regarding the Summit and/or the TDAs should be directed to Kerry Blinn at kerry@roostadk.com or at 518.523.2445 x113.

There may be no better time than now to start or grow your business in the North Country. The North Country Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Adirondack Economic Development Corp. (AEDC) and the Town of Plattsburgh’s Local Development Corp. to provide comprehensive entrepreneurship training and technical assistance – as well as direct access to commercial loans – to those who want to do more than just dream of being their own boss someday. AEDC will be holding its 60-hour Entrepreneurship Assistance Program (EAP) Small Business Institute in Plattsburgh beginning Wednesday, Oct. 15. This comprehensive hands-on training is specifically designed for new and existing business owners to learn what it takes to give their business ideas the best chance to succeed. Topics to be covered in this program include: Planning and researching your business idea; Marketing analysis, strategies and implementation; Financial record-keeping; Understanding and using cash flow projections; Financing your business; Negotiating with partners, clients and customers, and more. The cost of instruction is covered by the EAP network. Participants will be asked to pay $149 to cover the costs of books and materials, but will receive a $50 refund if they attend 90% of the classes (14 of 16), complete 10 hours of free one-on-one technical assistance and turn in a completed business plan by the end of the program. Classes are tentatively slated for 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings at the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce office, 7061 Route 9. To sign up, or for more information, contact Jim Murphy at (518) 891-5523, ext. 101, or via email at: jmurphy@aedconline.com

Lake Placid, adirondacks usa - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is pleased to announce the launch of adirondacksusa.com, a user-controlled Virtual Guide to the Adirondack Park in Upstate New York.The Adirondack Park is a unique patchwork of private and public lands that covers over 6 million acres of New York State, and contains more than 2,000 miles of marked hiking trails, 3,000 lakes and ponds and 1,200 miles of rivers fed by 30,000 miles of brooks and streams. The new site contains a series of interactive 360-degree views from various locations throughout the Park, conveying its scenic beauty and grand scale via stunning imagery. Clickable links will transport visitors from sweeping vistas at the top of an Adirondack High Peak to the deck of a boat on the middle of a lake, to the interiors of art galleries and businesses. New 360-degree “spins” will be added on a continual basis to enhance the consumer experience and highlight the unique juxtaposition of the region’s communities set in the midst of the Adirondack forest preserve.A Google Maps icon is located at the bottom of each 360-degree “spin”, which users can click to launch the map interface. Those images with an information icon will link to details about that location on the appropriate destination website. “Digital marketing trends continue to point toward the increasing importance of visual media,” said Carol Joannette, ROOST VP of Marketing. “These 360-degree images, while they certainly can’t replicate the real thing, are a perfect way to showcase our gorgeous Adirondack product to potential visitors.”“Do we need yet another website about the Adirondacks? Not necessarily,” said James McKenna, ROOST CEO. “But adirondacksusa.com is not bound by the invisible municipal and political boundaries that can confuse the traveling public; it’s representative of everything inside the Blue Line that defines the Adirondack Park. It is a visual exploration of the park that contains almost no descriptive copy, so it won’t be in competition with the existing regional destination websites for search engine ranking; rather, its purpose is to drive traffic to those sites.”For more information about adirondacksusa.com and opportunities to add businesses and new geographic locations to the site, visit the site’s sales page. Followers of the site’s social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ will be notified as new “spins” are added. ROOST is a 501(c)6 nonprofit corporation that is responsible for promoting the Schroon Lake Region, Lake Champlain Region, Whiteface Region, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid/High Peaks, Tupper Lake and Hamilton County regions of the Adirondacks to the traveling public.They operate a main office in Lake Placid and one in Crown Point. To learn more about the organization, visit www.ROOSTAdk.com. adirondacksusa.com