Nov 19, 2002 — Senator Charles Schumer is courting Walmart for the heart of the Adirondacks. In a letter last week, Schumer encouraged Walmart's CEO to look at putting in store in Saranac Lake or in the nearby village of Tupper Lake. Like many North Country communities, the two villages were home to Ames department stores, which closed this fall. Martha Foley talks with Mark Kurtz, chair of SAGA, Sound Adirondack Growth Alliance.  Go to full article

Oct 31, 2002 — For years tourism has been seen as an important part of the North Country's future. While mining, timber, and farming lost jobs, the government spent tens of millions of dollars to jump-start the region's visitor industry. In part two of a series on the region's tourism industry, Brian Mann looks at the quality of tourism work - an industry plagued by low pay and low benefits.  Go to full article

Oct 30, 2002 — For years, the tourism industry has been seen as the North Country's next economic engine. Ten of millions of dollars have been spent to polish the region's attractions, from tourist trains to ski slopes. But the last decade has seen little of the growth local leaders counted on. In this first of a two part series, Brian Mann reports many communities have struggled to find private investors willing to bank on North Country tourism.  Go to full article

Oct 14, 2002 — A group of women in Lewis County has gathered more than 4000 signatures petitioning the county legislature to pursue replacement stores aggressively when Ames closes. The Ames location in Lowville is the only department store in the county. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Oct 02, 2002 — A new coalition of Canadian business groups says their government's plan to ratify the Kyoto protocol on climate change will destroy the economy. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Karen Kelly has the story.  Go to full article

Sep 27, 2002 — Transportation giant Bombardier announced today that the company will lay off six percent of its workforce. The move is a blow to the economy in Quebec, where more than a thousand jobs will go. Brian Mann reports it appears that the decision will affect plants in Vermont, but not in New York.  Go to full article

Sep 25, 2002 — When Ames Department Stores close their doors for good in a dozen North Country communities later this fall, they'll leave behind a retail void. Small town residents will have to drive to larger towns to find everyday goods from socks to Christmas lights to dish drainers. Many areas are scrambling to find other retailers to fill the gap - the so-called "big boxes" like Target or Walmart. The village of Potsdam is one such place. But in the meanwhile, it's using college students to do market research to help local stores fill the Ames niche and keep shoppers close to home. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Sep 18, 2002 — A new report by the state's business lobby, finds that New York is still losing manufacturing jobs, faster than the rest of the nation. The Business Council says that there is some encouraging news in the report as well. Karen Dewitt reports.  Go to full article

Sep 02, 2002 — Business leader, environmentalist, and author Paul Hawken is a leading proponent of natural capitalism: corporate reform with respect to ecological practices. Hawken spoke last spring at Clarkson University, as part of the college's series on sustainability. He opened his remarks with his explanation of the world economy now, calling it "upside down and backwards." The entire speech can be heard at:  Go to full article

Aug 14, 2002 — Ames Department Stores chain announced today it will close all its locations nationwide, leaving some 22,000 people without jobs. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article