Albany, NY, Mar 29, 2010 — A movement to establish an economic zone uniting the Adirondack Park is gaining momentum and encouraging new cooperation. A new caucus of the region's Albany lawmakers has reached out beyond party lines, and the economic zone could be an early success.

It won key approval last week from a broad coalition of elected officials, environmental groups and community activists. Chris Morris reports.  Go to full article

Mar 08, 2010 — Governor David Paterson has nominated businessman and environmental activist Peter Hornbeck to serve on the Adirondack Park Agency board. Hornbeck, a boatbuilder from Olmstedville, has the support of his local town board and supervisor. In a letter issued last week, Minerva town supervisor Sue Montgomery-Corey described Hornbeck as intelligent and thoughtful.

"We believe that he will represent the needs of Adirondack communities and businesses well," Corey wrote.

But Hornbeck's nomination has drawn fire from other local government groups in the Adirondacks and from state Senator Betty Little. They point to the fact that he serves on the board of Protect the Adirondacks, a group that is currently suing the APA. Last week, Senator Little predicted that Hornbeck wouldn't be confirmed by the state Senate.

Until now, Hornbeck himself has kept quiet about the uproar that has erupted around his candidacy. But on Friday he spoke in-depth with Brian Mann.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Feb 15, 2010 — A Canadian company hopes to build a massive new electric transmission line that will use the Champlain and Hudson Valleys to bring power from Quebec to New York City. Transmission Developers Incorporated, based in Toronto, is asking state regulators in New York to approve the use of a type of cable that can be buried underwater. As Brian Mann reports, the technology would mean fewer impacts on communities and landscapes in the North Country.  Go to full article

Jan 19, 2010 — Winter is a favorite time of year for a lot of people in the North Country. In Tupper Lake, that cold-weather joy is dialed up another notch this season. The Big Tupper ski area reopened earlier this month for the first time in a decade. In the fall, Brian Mann profiled some of the volunteers who've been bringing the mountain back to life. Yesterday, he skied Big Tupper for the first time and sent this audio postcard.  Go to full article

Nov 25, 2009 — Big Tupper used to be a beloved destination for skiers and families from across the North Country. Now a group of volunteers and activists in Tupper lake is fighting to bring the mountain back. If all goes as planned in the next few weeks, the ski area will reopen for the first time in more than a decade. Brian Mann visited the mountain and has our story.  Go to full article

Malone, NY, Oct 14, 2009 — Gov. David Paterson traveled through central and northern New York yesterday. First stop was Syracuse, where he signed a measure designed to provide loans to homeowners, businesses and non-profit groups to pay for energy-saving repairs. It was on to Pulaski in Oswego County, to visit the Fulton Thermal Corp.

Paterson ended the day with a keynote speech to Democrats at their annual dinner last night in St. Lawrence County, but not before he made an economic development announcement at the Franklin County Office Building. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Oct 07, 2009 — The Canton Economic Development Steering Committee wants to look into the community's future, through the eyes of the people who live and work there. Committee members are updating their old Community Action Plan -- written in the 1990s to guide both community and economic development. First, members want to know more about who lives in Canton these days, why, and the changes THEY'D make.

Kathy Curro is a volunteer with the steering committee. She's one of the people helping to re-write the 11 year-old action plan. She spoke with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Sep 10, 2009 — New York has decided to start over on one of its high-profile economic development programs. Last week, the Paterson Administration announced it would let the Empire Zone Program sunset as scheduled next year. Development officials say they'll collaborate with other state agencies and business leaders to draft a replacement.

Thousands of businesses operate in Empire Zones across the state. They receive tax breaks and incentives for job retention and creation. Gov. David Paterson put the value of the program at $550 to $600 million per year. But Empire Zones have been controversial. In the press release announcing the new effort, Gov. Paterson noted "abuses, and broad failures."

State comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was in Potsdam this week promoting an alternative, one that doesn't have the Empire Zones' overlay of economic development policy--investing state retirement fund monies in in-state business ventures. Martha Foley talked with Dinapoli about the private equity program, and the still-looming budget deficit, at Clarkson University Tuesday.  Go to full article

Jun 25, 2009 — This morning we continue our series "A Year of Hard Choices." Last year, the North Country lost more than 1700 jobs, according to the New York Department of Labor. The national headlines these days are full of lay-offs, bankruptcies and government bail-outs. But down in the trenches of America's struggling economy, thousands of entrepreneurs are opening new businesses, rolling out new products and even hiring new workers. Brian Mann has our profile of four people in this region who decided to take the plunge.  Go to full article

Willsboro, NY, Jun 19, 2009 — One of the bills tangled up in the NY Senate meltdown is a controversial measure that would give far more legal rights to New York farm workers. Senator Pedro Espada has been pushing the bill, which would allow farm laborers to unionize more easily. It would also guarantee workers at least one day of rest each week and provide for overtime pay. The bill has strong backing from a variety of labor, immigrant and religious groups, including New York's State Catholic Conference.

But the Farm Bureau and most of the North Country's Albany delegation opposes the bill. In a statement released this week, Democratic state Senator Darrel Aubertine said the bill would force many farms to close down. "I thought we had put this bill behind us for this session," Aubertine wrote, "but now Senator Espada has listed it among his priorities."

We checked in with another lawmaker who opposes the bill. Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward is a Republican and a former dairy farmer from Willsboro. Sayward told Brian Mann that Federal agriculture laws already provide farm workers with enough protections. She called the rules in this proposed law unrealistic.  Go to full article