A Place to Thrive
Doing Business Here
Where Opportunity Meets Quality of Life
The Lake Champlain Region offers the ideal balance of economic potential and lifestyle appeal. Home to over 900 thriving businesses, the region supports a vibrant economy, from local artisans, boutique retailers, and farm-to-table restaurants to major international manufacturing operations.
Positioned along the Interstate 87 corridor, the regioin provides effortless connections to major commercial hubs like New York City, Montreal, and Boston. With international airports in Albany, Plattsburgh, and Montreal, direct Amtrak service along the NYC-Montreal route, and Canadian Pacific freight rail linking to deep-water ports, moving people and products to global markets is fast and efficient.
Diverse organizations offer business development support across the Adirondacks.
Often the point-of-first-contact for businesses seeking to locate in the Park, the APA’s Economic Services Unit provides businesses with project siting and permitting, regulatory approvals, business planning, and market analysis assistance. Contact the APA at 518-891-4050 to learn more about locating your business on the Adirondack Coast!
The Essex County IDA is a one-stop shop for all business development needs. In addition to providing loans, tax exempt bonds, sales and mortgage tax exemptions, and payment in lieu of taxes agreements (PILOTs), the IDA can help you with business planning, project siting, grant development, and regulatory approvals
The North Country Chamber of Commerce has taken the lead on may regional economic development initiatives. The Chamber also assists businesses in grant development, assistance procurement, business services, and relocation assistance.
The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is a nonprofit destination marketing and management organization dedicated to strengthening the economy and quality of life in the Adirondack region through responsible tourism.
Adirondack Harvest is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County and serves as a marketing platform for the North Country region’s farmers and producers and an educational resource for locals and visitors alike. Their mission is to increase opportunities for profitable and sustainable production, sale of high quality and nutritious agricultural products, and expanding consumer choices for locally produced food.
Flexible loan programs are available to support both new startups and established local businesses.
The Essex County IDA provides low cost loans to diverse businesses located in Essex County. Eligible projects include manufacturing, retail, transportation, utility, communications, agriculture, hospitality and professional service ventures.
Small and medium sized businesses on the Adirondack Cost are eligible for up to $150K in below market rate loans through LCLGRPB’s Revolving Loan Fund. Potential uses include land acquisition & improvement, buildings, plant & equipment, and working capital for the start-up of new business or expansion of existing business.
Administered by the Development Authority of the North Country, this loan program is available to firms in the manufacturing, agri-business, clean/green bio-tech, assembly, wholesale distribution, and warehouse industries.
AEDC offers diverse loan programs and can issue loans ranging in size from $500 to $50,000.
NYBDC offers loans for manufacturing, wholesale, retail and services businesses. Funding ranges from $50,000 - $1,000,000.
Founded in 2014 with $1 million from the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, this loan fund seeks to improve productivity and crop yields and increase the availability of value added agriculture products.
Lake Champlain Region
Champ's Local Tips
Skip the I-87 traffic — take the ferry between Charlotte, VT and Essex, NY. Twenty minutes, and the view beats the highway.
