Albany, NY, Oct 24, 2012 — Leaders in the New York manufacturing sector say their businesses struggle against a two fold handicap in Washington: too much regulation and not enough bi-partisan support.

The Rochester Institute of Technology hosted manufacturers and business leaders this week in Rochester. They want the state to help smooth their way, and they targeted taxes.  Go to full article

Ticonderoga, NY, Oct 18, 2012 — State officials in New York are praising International Paper for converting the company's mill in Ticonderoga from oil to natural gas.

IP plans to use natural gas supplied by a company in Vermont, using a pipeline that will be laid under the water of Lake Champlain.

In a statement issued yesterday, Empire State Development Commissioner Ken Adams called the move a "very important step toward securing the company's presence in the region and retaining hundreds of jobs in the North Country."

Natural gas is cheaper than oil and produces fewer emissions. The pipeline under Lake Champlain will require approval by regulatory agencies.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, May 09, 2012 — President Obama was in Albany yesterday and gave a speech taking aim at Congress. But as the Innovation Trail's Marie Cusick reports, the President also touted the region's growth in high-tech manufacturing.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 27, 2012 — Continuing our occasional series on North Country entrepreneurs, we talk with Jeremy Morrow. Morrow owns the Harvest House framing shop on Main Street in Canton.

He's had a couple locations in the last few years: his shop was in a restaurant that closed down, and now he's on the second floor of a building that doesn't get much walk-by traffic. Although he says he's tried advertising, he gets most of his business from word-of-mouth.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 19, 2012 — Small business leaders were in Albany Wednesday for their annual day of lobbying. As the Innovation Trail's Marie Cusick reports, one of their top priorities relates to an obscure 19th century labor law dealing with scaffolding.  Go to full article

Boonville, NY, Apr 12, 2012 — A spring water company plans to add 60 jobs at its bottling plant near Boonville. Right now, Nirvana Water employs about 125 people in the area. With help from US Senator Charles Schumer, the company has been approved for a $4.3-million loan from the Small Business Administration.

It's set to invest about $10 million in expanding, so the company can do more of its own bottling and packaging, and make its own bottle caps.  Go to full article

Schenectady, NY, Apr 06, 2012 — This week, the Cuomo administration kicked off a series of workshops to help New Yorkers start and grow their own small businesses. The Innovation Trail's Marie Cusick reports.  Go to full article

Jamestown, NY, Apr 03, 2012 — You may have heard of "flash mobs," where a mass of people invade a public space to make a scene. Now the idea has been turned on its head by "cash mobs," where large crowds of consumers show up at small businesses to spend money.

But as the Innovation Trail's Daniel Robison reports, it's not just about propping up the local economy.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Mar 28, 2012 — NCPR's occasional series on North Country entrepreneurs continues, with Aaron Reardon. Reardon's a young guy, and a hard-nosed businessman. He started his first online business in college, and in June of 2007 he opened a bricks-and-mortar business: A gaming store in Canton called "Gamer Craze."

In the last five years, Gamer Craze has moved to a bigger space, opened and closed a second store in Potsdam, and shifted much of its business from traditional video games to a collectable trading card game called Magic: The Gathering. It's done well, and Reardon's now looking for a bigger space.

Gamer Craze is one of just a few bricks-and-mortar shops in the North Country where players can come to buy what they need and they can play, too: Reardon keeps tables set up for gaming, and sells snacks. As Nora Flaherty found when she talked with Aaron Reardon, much of the store's success has come from making it a place to hang out.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Mar 27, 2012 — In a nutshell, Aaron Reardon, owner of Gamer Craze in Canton, explains what Magic: The Gathering is, exactly.  Go to full article