April 11 marks the 54th anniversary of the day that President Lyndon Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law. This makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale, lease or rental of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. New York state … Read More ⇒

For patients seeking healthcare in the north country there are a growing number of family medical practices to choose from and these numbers are continuing to grow thanks to Samaritan Medical Center’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. Read More ⇒

Business owners across the country have been hit by both inflation and supply chain disruptions. According to a new special report by MetLife and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, inflation is a top (and growing) concern of small business owners. One in three small business owners say it is the … Read More ⇒

In New York state, do farm animals like cows, pigs, horses, goats, chickens, sheep and other livestock, have rights against cruelty from people’s pets? Should farm animals be subject to attack, or the threat of attack, from a neighbor’s dog or dogs running at large? Does the farm animal have… Read More ⇒

Northern Nurse Practitioners have been a mainstay in dermatology in the north country since 2004. Formerly in Black River, the offices are now located in the City of Watertown on outer Washington Street. NNY Business sat down with Family Nurse Practitioner Catherine M. O’Brien, and Cosmetic … Read More ⇒

Patients in Watertown seeking general medical treatment, and perhaps some specialty therapies and services not often found in one place, have the option to take advantage of multiple offerings all in one convenient location at La Sur Medical. Read More ⇒

Separately, the Resolution Center of Jefferson and Lewis Counties, and the Family Counseling Service of NNY were serving the north country and their families without any connection to one another. However, as of July 2020, they are both under the same roof on Washington Street in Watertown, … Read More ⇒

Dentistry has changed a lot in the last 30 years, and in many ways Dr. Scott LaClair has led the local revolution at his Clayton Dental Office. Read More ⇒

About a mile north of Port Leyden, nestled in the trees along the Black River is a little cove with a trio of wide-bottomed round tents held aloft with a tall center pole. They are the color of cream and connected by footpaths lined with smooth river rocks. Read More ⇒

We most often speak of economic development from the perspective of those of us working to facilitate it. In this column, let us look at it from the perspective of the business considering a move or an expansion. Read More ⇒

The Rock Charitable Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation recently awarded nearly $120,000 to 10 nonprofit organizations in St. Lawrence County to preserve local history and maintain churches and cemeteries in the region. Read More ⇒

The Canton Chamber of Commerce, like so many other chambers in the north country, had to shift gears when the pandemic hit. For chamber Executive Director Tammy M. Mackin it also presented another obstacle as she just started this new role. Now, she has hit her stride getting the chamber’s m… Read More ⇒

With the ever-growing popularity of social media and its various available platforms, buying and selling has never been easier. Brands can make use of Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites to showcase their products and build interest, engaging with returning and would-be customer… Read More ⇒

March is Women’s History Month–a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society. Together, Clarkson history professor Laura Ettinger and filmmaker Zac Miller, communication and media instructor at Clarkson, and founder of the boutique production company, Uncommon Image… Read More ⇒

Mariah Percy, owner of The Beauty Bar, was just 21 years old when she was taking her niece to an appointment and she noticed a sign on the door. It soon became the first location of her business. Read More ⇒

Many users of social media have been posting pictures of themselves in a “Ten Year Challenges.” The object is to post a picture from 2011 or 2012 with a picture from 2021 or 2022. One of the economists at the National Association of REALTORS® recently did the exact same thing with a “home bu… Read More ⇒

“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” – Fred Rogers Read More ⇒

Economic Development means different things to different people. To some, it might mean an economic development agency attracting a big business to provide “good local jobs.” To others it might mean low interest or government–backed loans or grants. Still, others might believe economic devel… Read More ⇒

For 20 years, the award winning Home Grown Show brought its listeners a variety of stories about agriculture and rural living topics in a fun, informal fashion on the AM radio airwaves of Northern New York. It was a great run for the show on two of our local AM radio stations. Over time, all… Read More ⇒

The North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center, or PTAC, helps businesses connect to the federal government right here in the north country. Whether that be learning some of the different acronyms, learning different federal websites, or helping companies with their LinkedIn profi… Read More ⇒

The partners involved in Drum Country, New York have a two-word message for businesses that might be interested in moving to the region: “LET’S MEET.” Read More ⇒

For the past few years, Naturally Lewis, the umbrella brand for development agencies in Lewis County including the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC), has focused on the growth and development of small businesses in the area, offering a nu… Read More ⇒

When Shakespeare wrote “If music be the food of love, play on,” he might have rethought the line to say “If food be the music of love, eat on,” had he known about Madrid’s newest restaurant, The Blue House, located at 3736 County Route 14. Read More ⇒

At the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), we have been getting a lot of questions recently about Worker Cooperatives, especially because of the successful transition of a local north country business, Ward Lumber, to a Worker Cooperative, and because COVID has accelerated many busines… Read More ⇒

The U.S. Economic Development Administration describes economic resilience as the ability to avoid, withstand, and recover from major disruption or economic downturn caused by a major economic shift, natural disaster, closure of a military base, or loss of a major employer. We could also add… Read More ⇒

Significant upgrades are needed at the Ogdensburg International Airport if it wants to remain competitive and attract passengers from the region, including Canada, according to the recent application for $20 million submitted to the state Department of Transportation. Read More ⇒

As the North Country Regional Director for the Empire State Development Corp., Steve Hunt has played a role in helping many economic development projects – and many, many more – over the next few years. Read More ⇒

As the village of Clayton becomes a destination for beautiful sights, unique boutiques and health and wellness centers, a husband and wife team have added to this growing list of shopping options. Read More ⇒

This past year has been far from standard for most businesses, among waves of COVID-19 and widespread financial assistance from the federal government. Consumers have, on average, had more money but less opportunity to spend that money, and industry experts are saying all that is coming toge… Read More ⇒

A few weeks ago, right after Thanksgiving, was “Small Business Saturday.” It is held to remind us to shop locally and to support the businesses that support local fundraisers, youth sports, charities, and other community charity events. It is important to note that most real estate companies… Read More ⇒

Kunoco Oil doesn’t only provide fuel services to the north country, the family owned business also has multiple convenient store locations. NNY Business sat down with the company’s general manager to get an understanding of how the business started, who is involved today and what they offer … Read More ⇒

Most days, no matter where she is geographically, Emily M. Dicob is creating. If she isn’t, she’s finding inspiration from life and nature for future creations. Read More ⇒

Community is what it’s all about at Reinman’s Department Store in downtown Clayton. Read More ⇒

Guaranteed Rate, a mortgage and loan provider that has offices nationally, arrived in Watertown in November of 2020 under the leadership of Lorie and Mark Converse. The couple met almost 10 years ago when Mrs. Converse worked at a different lending agency and Mr. Converse was a real estate broker. Read More ⇒

In the Spring of 2022, academies will begin for New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Forest Protection Forest Rangers and Division of Law Enforcement Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO) candidates. Once there, candidates will be immersed in … Read More ⇒

“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Gandhi Read More ⇒

We often get questions from the public about real estate transactions at the Board of REALTORS®. While we do not ,and cannot, give legal advice, we can try to clarify and confirm information a consumer has been given. A frequently asked question is about the escrow deposit after a deal has f… Read More ⇒

Last month, President Biden issued an executive order intended to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 electric, fuel cell or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Although not legally binding, this goal is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the nation confronts the increasingly evident… Read More ⇒

People often ask just how big agriculture is in New York state? Is it New York state’s number one industry? How many jobs are created? How important is farming to local communities? Read More ⇒

Families who establish scholarship funds have found a deeply meaningful way to honor the loss of a loved one, while also opening a door for many students to pursue higher education. Read More ⇒

SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran is focused and dedicated to ensuring that the college offers programs and services that can be accessed by face-to-face learning environments as well as non-traditional students who require remote learning due to life circumstances. NNY Business sat down wit… Read More ⇒

When you think of SUNY Potsdam, you may think of the Crane School of Music and the arts. Its reputation as an institution of creative expression is earned, but the young master of science in management graduate program is beginning to shine more light on the school’s business side. Read More ⇒

While higher education isn’t the path for everyone, many who graduate high school go on to pursue degrees, oftentimes taking out some form of loan to help them pay for their education. Many students struggle to afford college and while financial aid helps significantly, it is not always enou… Read More ⇒

Elmer Creek Farm, located just outside Copenhagen, appears upon first glance to just be a field full of green leaves with a large barn out front. An old truck sits near the entrance to the barn, surrounded by various fall-themed decorations; short rows of corn dot the edges of the field, and… Read More ⇒

We normally speak of economic development at the local or county level. It may not be evident, but a lot of energy goes into regional collaboration as well. Although I wrote an earlier column on partnerships with some mention of regional efforts, I had then focused primarily on the idea of w… Read More ⇒

In the last year, at the Small Business Development Center, we have started to see a lot of business owners who are exploring potentially selling their businesses. COVID has given people time to think and take a good hard look at their lives, and some have come through the last couple of yea… Read More ⇒

While Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Randall Young usually takes the lead on this column, he handed it over to me this month to focus on a common question—what is DEC doing about cormorants? Read More ⇒

The 2021 United Way of Northern New York annual campaign kicks off with a focus on changing the lives of individuals and families in our communities with a sense of urgency. Over the past year, we have witnessed dramatic shifts in our region: record numbers of overdoses, rise in domestic vio… Read More ⇒

Real estate rode a roller coaster in 2020 with sales in the first quarter equal to 2019. The second quarter, most of the market was shut down due to COVID restrictions. This was followed by an explosion of sales in the last six months of the year. This growth has continued into the first sev… Read More ⇒