Watertown Airport’s new approach lighting system is certified

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HOUNSFIELD — A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight-inspection team from Atlantic City, New Jersey on Feb. 21 certified the approach-lighting system at the Watertown International Airport. The new navigation aid is designed to help pilots who are landing aircraft in “poor visibility conditions,” said officials from the airport, which is located in the town of […]

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New network aims to connect farms, agribusiness to resources

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Subscriber Only

MOHAWK — Last fall, the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD), in partnership with Schoharie County, launched the Mohawk Valley Farm and Agribusiness Network (MVFAN) as a clearinghouse for farms and agribusinesses to provide information, resources, networking, and more. The network is the next iteration of the former Mohawk Valley Food Action Network, formed in

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The network is the next iteration of the former Mohawk Valley Food Action Network, formed in 2010 by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County and other partners to strengthen the local food system and promote efforts that increased food-system business opportunities.

The group went by the wayside, says MVEDD Deputy Director Heather Devitt, but a roundtable session last year in Schoharie County revealed that farmers and agribusinesses really needed a place where they could get information about resources such as loans and grants available to them.

Since MVEDD still owned the www.mvfoodaction.org URL, Devitt says the district decided to create MVFAN as a subcommittee and revive that website. The new site launched in October 2023.

“For the most part, it’s a clearinghouse,” says Devitt. It lists information on loans and grants, other programs, state and county resources, and even includes links to things like local farmer’s markets.

“Everyone wants to support farmers,” Amanda Whalen, MVEDD clean energy community coordinator, says. MVFAN is a way to give that support and provide vital information.

The best part, she says, is that MVFAN has already done the work, researching what funding is available for what projects and providing links to more information or online applications.

Farmers and other agribusinesses can access the site during their own time, taking what information from it they need. But they can also reach out to MVEDD if they need more help, Whalen notes.

“I don’t know how to farm, but I can help people fill out paperwork,” she quips.

Beyond just providing information on the website, MVFAN is taking even more steps to not only provide information, but also present educational and networking opportunities. Last year, it hosted a workshop on becoming “New York State Grown and Certified.”

“This was our way to connect the farmers … to funding,” Devitt notes. Along with providing all the information on how to become certified, the organization also provided information about funding available to help in that process.

On Wednesday, March 6, MVFAM is hosting a free “Field To Fork Forum” in the town of Jefferson in Schoharie County, in conjunction with the New York State Restaurant Association for restauranteurs and farmers to discuss locally sourcing food. The goal is to help farmers learn what they need to do in order to supply local restaurants and to help eateries learn about the local food options available to them.

“There’s going to be restaurants there,” Devitt says. “There’s going to be farmers there. There’s going to be a panel discussion.” There will also be a question-and-answer session and networking opportunities.

“It helps the farms,” she says. “It helps the restaurants. It helps the Mohawk Valley economy.”

The Mohawk Valley area was known as the breadbasket during the Revolutionary War because of its rich agricultural opportunities, and agriculture remains a large component of the area’s economy today, Devitt notes.

“I think this is the time really for the resurgence of local farms,” she concludes.

North Country winners of state funding focus on planning process

Regional News, Subscriber Only

LAKE PLACID — Three communities in Jefferson and Lewis counties are looking ahead to the planning process and figuring out how to spend millions in state-grant funding for local improvements. The Village of Lowville in Lewis County will receive $10 million in funding as the North Country winner of the seventh round of the Downtown

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LAKE PLACID — Three communities in Jefferson and Lewis counties are looking ahead to the planning process and figuring out how to spend millions in state-grant funding for local improvements.

The Village of Lowville in Lewis County will receive
$10 million in funding as the North Country winner of the seventh round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).

At the same time, the state announced the Villages of Canton and Alexandria Bay as this year’s North Country region NY Forward winners, receiving $4.5 million each, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Jan. 23.

Hochul announced the awards during a visit to Lake Placid.

Lowville will begin the process of developing a strategic-investment plan to revitalize its downtown with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant. A local planning committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private-sector experts and state planners.

Canton’s NY Forward application presented a “realistic, visionary and comprehensive” plan to transform blight into new mixed-use development that will offer housing options, retail space and entrepreneurial opportunities, per a release from the governor’s office.

Alexandria Bay’s NY Forward application presented “impressive” private-sector project opportunities that will renovate blight, improve public amenities, grow the business sector, and build “much needed and diverse” downtown housing opportunities, Hochul’s office said.

In DRI’s seventh round of funding awards, the state will award $10 million to a community in each of New York’s 10 economic-development regions. It amounts to a total state commitment of $100 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by “transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods,” according to the release.

As is the case with DRI. the $100 million NY Forward program applies the same “plan-then-act” strategy as the DRI but for New York’s smaller and rural communities. Both involve “strategic planning with immediate project implementation to support a more equitable downtown resurgence.”

Long-time employee now leads Children’s Home of Jefferson County

Nonprofits, Regional News, Subscriber Only

WATERTOWN — The new president and CEO of the Children’s Home of Jefferson County (CHJC) has only been working in the role since early January but is very familiar with the organization. Michelle Monnat, who has worked at CHJC for 16 years, most recently served as its CFO. CHJC describes itself as northern New York’s

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Ball outlines priorities in State of Agriculture address

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Subscriber Only

He spoke at Agricultural Society Forum in Syracuse SYRACUSE — New York State wants to make $34 million in funding available for on-farm fluid-milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure. It also seeks $21 million for a new alternative waste management and enhanced precision-feed program to further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse-gas

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He spoke at Agricultural Society Forum in Syracuse

SYRACUSE — New York State wants to make $34 million in funding available for on-farm fluid-milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure.

It also seeks $21 million for a new alternative waste management and enhanced precision-feed program to further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions.

Those elements were part of the State of Agriculture Address that Richard Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, delivered on Jan. 11 at the 192nd New York State Agricultural Society Annual Forum held in Syracuse.

His remarks outlined the progress made in 2023 and priorities for the state’s agricultural industry in 2024.

The forum, which is traditionally the oldest and largest agricultural meeting of its kind in the state, was held at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter in Syracuse.

In keeping with this year’s forum theme of “Harnessing Regenerative Business,” Ball spoke about the state’s work to boost the agricultural industry and strengthen the food system while also combatting climate change.

Ball outlined the state’s goals for the new year as part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State plan. It includes a number of new programs and initiatives to help grow the agricultural community and “promote a more resilient future for the agriculture, food, and forestry sectors,” per a Department of Agriculture and Markets news release.

The plans also include key investments into the Eastern Finger Lakes Coalition of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to accelerate agricultural and resiliency-related projects on farms of all types. This will also include support for the use of more cover crops, to reduce runoff, and to improve soil health and reduce water quality impairments in the region.

Additionally, the state said it will provide increased support for agricultural education and agricultural workforce development, and will introduce new initiatives to safeguard public, plant, and animal health.

New York will also focus on developing bio-production within the agriculture and forestry sectors and revitalizing the state’s aquaculture industry, ensuring New Yorkers can access a “wider range of local food while promoting a healthy climate,” the department said.

“We are all working through a number of concerns and uncertainties, from disruptions in the marketplace and skyrocketing inflation impacting our farmers and the people we serve, to labor and immigration challenges, the ever-increasing threat of climate change, and everything in between. But I believe we were designed for such purposes, and no problem is too big for us if we work together. Where there are challenges, there are also opportunities for us to become stronger, more resilient,” Ball contended.

In his address, Commissioner Ball also highlighted the department’s continued work alongside its many partners to ensure a strengthened food supply chain through several programs and initiatives.

They include the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant program; the Farm-to-School initiative; the 30 percent NYS Initiative; the FreshConnect Program; and the New York Food for New York Families program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ball also spoke about the department’s ongoing activities to promote New York producers through the Taste NY and the state’s Grown & Certified programs. He also noted efforts to continue to increase diversity and racial equity in New York agriculture.

NYS comptroller’s audit finds Village of Mexico didn’t adopt realistic budgets

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

MEXICO — New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on Feb. 21 announced the results of six local government and school audits, including an audit of the Village of Mexico in Oswego County, regarding its financial management. The comptroller stated that the Village of Mexico board “did not adopt realistic budgets or manage fund balance.

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Agriculture census shows steep drop in family farms statewide

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Small Business, Subscriber Only

N.Y. Farm Bureau reacts ALBANY — The USDA’s 2022 Agriculture Census report indicated about a 9 percent drop in family farms in New York state to 30,650 farms from 33,438 farms in the 2017 census, representing “the steepest decline in the past three decades.” That’s according

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N.Y. Farm Bureau reacts

ALBANY — The USDA’s 2022 Agriculture Census report indicated about a 9 percent drop in family farms in New York state to 30,650 farms from 33,438 farms in the 2017 census, representing “the steepest decline in the past three decades.”

That’s according to the New York Farm Bureau, which said the figure represents a “cause of concern for New York agriculture,” per its Feb. 14 statement.

The Farm Bureau said 98 percent of farms in the Empire State remain family-owned, but the overall number of farms declined by nearly 2,800. The state also lost 364,000 acres of farmland over the past five years, the Bureau noted.

A “significant” portion of the decline is in dairy farming, the largest commodity value in New York state.

New York had a decrease of nearly 1,900 dairy farms, though the total number of dairy cows “slightly increased.” This reflects the market consolidation that has been happening in the industry. Other farms showing losses include vegetable, berry, and organic farms, the bureau said.

The census did reveal some “bright spots,” including an increase in the number of orchards, as well as oyster producers. Market value also rose significantly, topping $8 billion. This largely resulted from temporary increases in major commodity prices during the pandemic, which have since fallen in the past year.

The USDA predicts farm income to fall another 25 percent in 2024. The department also noted a “significant climb” in farms using conservation practices like no-till and cover crops with an increase of about 200,000 acres statewide.

Farm costs also represent another significant increase. Every production expense had a rise — from fertilizer and fuel to seed and lease prices. The biggest increase in production expenses is labor, which had an “astounding” 41 percent jump in five years, the Farm Bureau said. It’s “not surprising” with the surge in wage rates and overtime expenses on farms in the Empire State.

Employment increased slightly with about 1,000 new farmworkers in the state, bringing the total to 56,678 employees.

“The numbers do not come as a surprise but should be a renewed wakeup call for the state. As we continue to see the decline in the number of farm families, we must do all that we can to reduce regulatory costs and expand market opportunities,” David Fisher, president of the New York Farm Bureau, said in the statement. “New York Farm Bureau has stressed that the costlier it is to do business in this state, the harder it is for farms to stay in business. The loss of farmland and food production has major impacts on the economy and quality of life for all New Yorkers. We must work together to reverse this trend, include passing a strong Farm Bill that supports New York’s diverse agriculture.”

Additional N.Y. figures

The Agriculture Census figures also showed 6,502,286 acres in production in New York, down from 6,866,171 in 2017; average farm size is 212 acres, up from 205 acres in 2017; and the average net farm income of $76,281 per farm is slightly below the national average.

The data for New York also indicate 21,894 female producers and 35,664 male producers; the average producer age is 56.7 years old, up from 55.8; and 6,335 farmers are under the age of 35, a drop from 6,718 producers in 2017.

ANCA: Center for Businesses in Transition announces 2024 team, programs

Regional News, Subscriber Only

SARANAC LAKE — The Center for Businesses in Transition (CBIT) partnership has announced upcoming networking and learning opportunities that aim to connect retiring business owners and prospective buyers with customized business-transition support. CBIT is a program of the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA). North Country business owners who are ready to sell now or in

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CBIT is a program of the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA).

North Country business owners who are ready to sell now or in the next several years, as well as entrepreneurs who are interested in purchasing an existing business, can participate in CBIT’s programs, ANCA said.

Programming for this year includes matchmaking events, educational workshops, and opportunities to meet with any of the 20 CBIT community liaisons and partners who represent 16 organizations across ANCA’s 14-county service area.

The partnership confirmed its 2024 team at its annual retreat held in Lake Placid on Jan. 26, ANCA said.

Returning liaison and partner organizations include Franklin County Economic Development Corporation, Hamilton County Economic Development, Lewis County Economic Development/Naturally Lewis, LivingADK, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Adirondack Economic Development Corp., Adirondack Park Agency Economic Services, Essex County Industrial Development Agency, SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the Ti-Alliance.

With the goal of expanding CBIT services to more North Country communities, CBIT welcomed two new liaisons who are based in the Mohawk Valley — Denise Cavanaugh of the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce and Heather Devitt of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. (MVEDD). A grant from the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties supports the inclusion of those two organizations, ANCA said.

The program’s reach has also been expanded with the addition of Robert Griffin of the Onondaga Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College to the partnership.

“This is a big step for CBIT to reach an additional six counties located on the fringe or border of the Adirondack Park,” Dan Kieferbach, director of community engagement at LivingADK, said in a news release. “We are excited to see this program enter new territory and look forward to strengthening our partnerships as the program continues to grow.”

The nonprofit LivingADK serves communities in the Western Central Adirondack region. Kieferbach has been a CBIT community liaison since 2023.

Goals for this year

The CBIT partnership is focused on four main goals for 2024. They include expanding opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to visit the region through its Familiarization Tour Program, along with “enhancing the experience of aspiring entrepreneurs who engage with the Center.”

The CBIT also wants to work at measuring the program’s economic impact on local communities and the broader North Country region and preparing for the “2025 Small Communities. Big Opportunities Conference,” a two-day gathering that focuses on matchmaking, networking, and sharing business transition information and resources.

Since 2019, CBIT has supported more than 250 owners preparing for retirement or other life changes and engaged over 120 individuals interested in owning a business in the region. The partnership supported successful ownership transitions at 63 North Country businesses, which retain local jobs as well as key products and services that enhance quality of life in their rural communities. Business-transition success stories are shared in CBIT’s Five-Year Case Study, which can be viewed on the center’s website (https://www.adirondack.org/center-for-businesses-in-transition).

“Even the smallest of these businesses have a big impact on the overall economic health of our region,” Danielle Delaini, entrepreneurial economy program director at ANCA, said in the release. “Each shop, each restaurant, each service provider — they serve local needs and bring diversity and vibrancy to their communities. Our 2024 team is extremely knowledgeable about their local areas and passionate about CBIT’s mission. We are all eager to support more North Country businesses with the connections and resources they need to successfully move on to the next generation.”

CBIT launched in 2018 with grant funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and has since been supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Community Development Initiative, National Grid’s Project C, Franklin County Government Office of Economic Development, Adirondack Foundation and local-business sponsors.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: M3 Placement and Partnership thrives during uncertain economy

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Small Business, Subscriber Only

M3 Placement and Partnership, an Albany–based recruiting firm that services areas that include the Mohawk Valley, says it would like to expand its outsourced-recruitment (RPO) services, or what is also known as recruitment-process outsourcing. It’s a division of the business that offers outsourced-recruiting services to companies “looking place a high volume of candidates in open

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It’s a division of the business that offers outsourced-recruiting services to companies “looking place a high volume of candidates in open roles,” Amanda Bogorad, VP of marketing for M3 Placement and Partnership, tells CNYBJ in an email.

The company also wants to increase the number of executive searches and direct placements that it’s involved in during 2024.

“So far this quarter, we have already added new clients and are seeing a number of successful searches,” Bogorad adds.

M3 Placement and Partnership also says it has “doubled in size” over the past five years, both in its employee count and revenue generation, although declining to disclose specific sales figures.

The business has also been awarded Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) recertification from the state, along with the U.S. Small Business Administration Upstate New York District’s Women in Business Champion of the Year award for its CEO’s “unwavering commitment to women entrepreneurs,” per M3’s Feb. 6 announcement.

“We attribute this growth to our integrated services model that looks to understand the root causes of a company’s challenges and our highly talented team’s dedication to delivering exceptional customer service,” Mary Malone McCarthy, CEO and founder of M3 Placement and Partnership, said in the announcement. “Whether a company is in a stage of transition or high-growth, or they’re searching for stability during a fluctuating market, we’re able to help companies thrive with the talent they need to achieve their long-term vision. At the end of the day, all companies start and end with the right people in the right positions.”

Launched in 2012, M3 Placement and Partnership offers executive search, direct placement, and recruitment-process outsourcing services to clients in industries such as health care, professional services, renewable energy, nonprofits, and manufacturing.  

The majority of the M3’s 20 employees live and work within the Albany, Rochester, Utica, and Saratoga Springs areas, the company said.

“Our philosophy is to learn the why behind each company, understanding not just the needs of the position but also the strategy and vision behind the decisions that have made the company who it is today,” McCarthy said. “Because of this philosophy, we’ve attracted some incredibly talented experts that really want to be a part of this growth journey with us and are thrilled to match top talent with the top talent of our region.”

Over the past two years, M3 says it has placed more than 60 individuals in executive and direct search positions and more than 800 individuals through its outsourced recruitment-process service. Many of its clients utilize a combination of services to meet their business needs and strategically grow as an organization.

“My father was an entrepreneur, mentor, and an incredible guiding force in my life. From an early age he taught me to care passionately for your team, customers, and community while living by the phrase ‘do a little more, a little better every day.’ Much of my success today is based on those life lessons and the exact philosophy I’ve applied to M3,” McCarthy said. “We have so many repeat clients that seek out our services year after year, in addition to our ever-growing list of new clients, many of whom we become connected with via referrals from current clients. In a time when the economy has been so uncertain, I think this really speaks to how much companies rely on a trusted partner to help them find talent they can navigate these uncertain waters with.”

Prior to launching M3 Placement & Partnership, McCarthy spent more than 15 years as senior VP at Northland Communications, a company her family owns. She was responsible for the firm’s public relations, marketing, and customer relations.

Before her service with the family business, McCarthy worked as a regional manager for the staffing unit of Olsten Corp. in Albany, which Adecco, a Switzerland–based staffing company, acquired in 1999.

OPINION: New Yorkers are Not Happy, and It’s Not Surprising

Opinion, Subscriber Only

I t’s no surprise New Yorkers expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s direction in a Siena College poll [released on Feb. 20]. We are [about] two full months into 2024, and Gov. Kathy Hochul and her legislative counterparts have done little to address the root causes of New York state’s major economic challenges and spiraling cost-of-living

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t’s no surprise New Yorkers expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s direction in a Siena College poll [released on Feb. 20]. We are [about] two full months into 2024, and Gov. Kathy Hochul and her legislative counterparts have done little to address the root causes of New York state’s major economic challenges and spiraling cost-of-living issues.

Budget talks have danced around big-ticket policy problems like a looming multi-billion-dollar deficit, one of the worst tax climates in the U.S., and the staggering expense of accommodating the thousands of migrants arriving here, which continues to grow, but there has been little talk about overhauling what is a clearly misguided agenda.

According to the Siena poll, 56 percent of New Yorkers reported that the quality of life in the state is worsening while only 14 percent indicated they believe it is improving. That is an overwhelming margin and clearly shows the existing policies are not working. What makes this data even more frustrating is the fact that none of these issues are particularly new to New York. For years, the Assembly minority conference has been calling for a friendlier business and taxpayer environment only to watch the out-of-touch Assembly majority conference double down on failing tax-and-spend policies that exacerbate our struggling economy.

As elected officials, it is imperative we listen to the concerns of those we represent. Polling matters. The voice of the constituency matters. And you don’t have to simply rely on the survey data to see the problems here. New Yorkers continue to leave the state in record numbers, and the overwhelming outmigration numbers tell you all you need to know about what is wrong with New York state. I’m not really sure what else the governor and her allies need to see; the people have expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the work being done here, and many of them have simply left.

Earlier this year, I spoke on the Assembly floor about how we can make wholesale improvements to New York’s quality of life. [The changes include] stop treating criminals better than law-abiding citizens, expand the availability and visibility of vocational job training in our schools to fill much-needed labor gaps, deliver increased resources and improve services for our state’s rural communities, and bring ethics oversight, transparency, and accountability to government operations. [That is] so we stop wasting money on programs that do nothing to make residents’ lives better and enhance and create programs to make childcare more affordable and accessible.

[In budget negotiations], I sincerely hope that the voices of our constituents rise to the second floor of the Capitol and provide the push needed to give the people what they want — and need. The people aren’t happy, and we must do something about it now.

William (Will) A. Barclay, 55, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.

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