EDC Warren County, recognizing the vital role broadband plays—not only in economic development but in critical aspects of everyday life such as education, health care, and connection—has brought together a community of carriers, elected officials, nonprofit groups  and citizens to help improve access in the north country.

In the fall of 2020, EDC assisted private internet provider Slic Network Solutions to gain an easement on county-owned land to install a switch cabinet capable of servicing fiber expansion in multiple rural towns. This 200-mile fiber expansion project brought broadband to more than 1,700 unserved rural homes in the towns of Johnsburg, Warrensburg, Thurman, and Stony Creek, plus another 1,000 homes were given access to other internet providers.

This called for a large survey to learn what local households are experiencing and what areas of the county have the greatest need.

EDC Warren County commissioned and completed a comprehensive Broadband Assessment and Survey in the first quarter of 2021. The completed survey identified five unserved areas in Warren County. The project started conversations across county lines pointing out the need for more progress.

Continuing the effort, EDC Warren County has developed a multi-county, multi-provider collaboration called the North Country Broadband Alliance that works to pursue federal grant funding. The alliance consists of local leaders and government officials working together with six Adirondack counties and four private internet providers.

The Moreau Community Center has received a $50,000 grant to develop job training programs and make facility improvements through a philanthropic initiative launched earlier this year by Spectrum.

The Spectrum Community Assist program is a five-year, $30 million initiative that aims to revitalize local community centers and invest in job training programs in underserved rural and urban communities serviced by the utility company.

“Community centers like Moreau Community Center are hallmarks of our neighborhoods, where people go for support, shared experiences and develop new job skills or find new employment,” Rahman Khan, vice president of community impact for Charter Communications, parent company of Spectrum, said in a statement.

The company aims to provide support to 100 community centers in 41 states by the end of 2025.

Through a partnership with Rebuilding Together of Saratoga County, a nonprofit organization that provides free home repairs to those that can’t afford them, the interior of the Moreau Community Center will be revamped.

Work includes landscaping, painting, building shelves and desks and tackling other interior projects throughout the community center. In addition to the funds, Spectrum will provide the center with upgraded internet speeds of one gigabyte at no charge through the end of the program, according to a news release.

Additionally, the company will donate 25 laptops to support the community center’s training and technology programs.

By Jill Nagy

Michael Bittel, president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce said “this just blew me away” when his organization was named this year’s winner of the Henry Crandall Award.

The award was presented by the Crandall Public Library on Oct. 13.

“I am humbled that the entire team has been recognized,” he said.

The Crandall Award recognized the organization for its activities throughout the COVID pandemic, including providing accurate information in a timely manner and encouraging connections between businesses and government entities, including assistance in accessing government relief programs such as the Paycheck Protection Plan, the Small Business Administration, and recommendations from state and federal health agencies.

The breakfast meeting at the Queensbury Hotel, where the award was presented, is also a major fundraiser for the library, which hopes to raise more than $40,000 to help support its programs and services.

Bittel’s team—Tricia Rogers, Amanda Blanton, Carole Ann Conover, and Karen Mattison—has been working full-time throughout the pandemic, some of them in the Chamber’s offices and others from home. Bittel said it is the first time that the award has recognized an entire team rather than an individual.

Bittel thanked his team and the 21 members of the chamber’s board of directors, as well as its and its 23 “ambassadors,” volunteers who help get out the word about chamber events.

SUNY Adirondack and SaratogaCanCode have joined  forces to offer free computer coding education and training programs to serve unemployed and underemployed New York residents.

Funded through a state Department of Labor grant, the partnership will enable coding instruction in two popular courses—Front End Web Development and Python for Data Analytic —to serve up to 45 people.

SUNY Adirondack’s Workforce Readiness Academies Program (WRAP) provides free training opportunities for residents of New York state. Included in the program are customized services based on participant need, such as career coaching, academic advising, job-search skills, and accessing resources such as emergency child care and technology support.

The 12-week computer coding programs are offered virtually through SaratogaCanCode, which is part of CanCode Communities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a trained software workforce throughout upstate New York and beyond.

“We’re seeing such success with the summer cohort of students who are about to finish their IT boot camp training,” said Caelynn Prylo, Assistant Dean for Continuing Education and Workforce Innovation at SUNY Adirondack. “This program is truly transformational for the participants. With the workforce changes we’ve seen over the past year, more people than ever can benefit from this high-impact training program, expanding their skills and securing employment in a high-demand field and strengthen our region’s pool of trained, talented tech professionals.”

“We are delighted to partner with SUNY Adirondack to deliver computer coding education and training that is truly changing lives,” said Annmarie Lanesey, founder and CEO of CanCode Communities. “This is a wonderful opportunity to provide motivated individuals with pathways to exciting careers in the tech industry, and to build our tech workforce to support the rapid expansion of the digital workplace.”

Special Olympics New York is seeking 200 volunteers for its upcoming State Fall Games, which will be held in and around Glens Falls Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23.

Volunteers must be vaccinated and registered in advance. No sports experience is necessary. Volunteers will be trained on site. People can register online at sonylive.nyso.org/pages/app/VAC.

Venue support includes set up, parking assistance, meal distribution, safety assurance, awards, and other specific venue needs.

The following volunteer jobs are available:

Friday, Oct. 22, 5:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., opening ceremonies at Glens Falls City Park: Help with setup and breakdown of a spectacular event. Assist lining up Special Olympics New York athletes in regional delegations.

Saturday, Oct. 23 Sports Competitions, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Bocce at Adirondack Sports Complex, court management, scoring, awards, venue support. Cycling at SUNY Adirondack, course marshals, venue support; Golf at Brookhaven Golf Course, Caddies, spotters, skills stations, venue support; Cross Country Running at Cole’s Woods, course marshals, venue support.

Soccer at Morse Athletic Complex, scorekeepers, timers; Softball at Morse Athletic Complex and Adirondack Sports Complex, scorekeepers, venue support; Equestrian at Skidmore College-Van Lennep Riding Center, experienced riders to serve as walkers and leaders, non-experienced volunteers for venue support.

Lunch, safety squad, and photo/video volunteers are needed at all venues. Safety Squad volunteers will ensure Special Olympics New York and venue COVID-19 protocols are being followed, and will disinfect areas and equipment in between use.