ACCORDING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, in 2019 (the last year for which statistics are available) small businesses accounted for 44 percent of economic activity in the United States. They created two-thirds of new jobs and delivered 43.5 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product. In addition to keeping the economy running, small businesses read more
ONE OF A KIND
After its humble beginnings as a buying club on Carol Czaja’s back porch, the North Country Food Co-op is now 2,800 member-owners strong. Located on Bridge Street in downtown Plattsburgh, The Co-op, as it is called by its loyal members, is a community-owned grocery store that focuses on providing a place for the community to read more
EMBRACING OPPORTUNITY
The Cumberland Bay Market became an integral part of the neighborhood for Kris and Stacey Ambler when they moved to Cumberland Head. “We shopped there, never thinking to go to the chains for gas, essentials and meat,” Stacey explained. “We felt a connection to the store.” In 2018, when long time owners Brian and Mary read more
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
KC Reiter has left an enduring mark on the North Country over the past 35 years. Many of the region’s signs were hand carved and hand painted by Reiter in her Morrisonville garage, where she operates her business, The Art Works. The City of Plattsburgh, Village of Champlain, Rulfs Orchard, Meadowbrook Healthcare, Plattsburgh High School, read more
KIM MANION
Hometown: PlattsburghFamily: Spouse Dennis, daughters Ella and Annie, and adult stepdaughters Caitlin and MeghanEducation: B.A. in Finance (Boston College), M.A. in Human Resources (Marymount University in D.C.)Occupation: Disaster and Business Transition Consultant at the Adirondack North Country Association and former owner of Maui NorthCommunity Involvement: Jesuit Volunteer Corps, former North Country Chamber of Commerce Board read more
STRATEGIC RESILIENCE = LONGEVITY
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), out of 100 new businesses, approximately 80% remain open after the first year; 50% after five years and after 10 years, only about one-third are still in operation. Beating the odds, Elizabeth Smith, owner of LaPet in Champlain, NY, who specializes in dog breeding, training, boarding, grooming, read more
FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS
Long time North Country residents were familiar with the overflowing bookshelves and cozy reading nooks of the Corner Bookstore on Margaret Street in downtown Plattsburgh. However, they may not have know that before the store hung out its green awning, the books were carted around in a van. Owner Nancy Duniho drove her “Rambler” around read more
OLD THREADS, NEW VENTURE
WE ARE WITNESSING A DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT IN AMERICA. With an increasing number of young people spurning their hometowns for busier cities we are becoming more accustomed to the sight of vacant storefronts, a rising median age in our rural areas and a loss of vitality in what used to be bustling smaller towns. The North read more
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: ONE DAY AT A TIME
THE NORTHEAST GROUP of companies, founded by Herb Carpenter, has been serving the North Country since the early 1980’s. Begun as a small printing company, it expanded into mailing and publishing. In 1999 a second-generation Carpenter joined the family business and helped drive a further expansion of services into fulfillment and distribution. But that growth, read more
THE HEART OF THE ECONOMY
In this complicated day and age, we often oversimplify complex topics by making them unidimensional. Marketers slot each of us into a category based on some of our shared characteristics. We vote for members of one or another political party as if one such dimension can possibly represent the richness of the human experience. And, read more