Adirondack Community Foundation

10/30/2026

Employers and the greater Adirondack business community came together today in Lake George to launch a five-county business coalition aimed at one of the region’s most stubborn problems: families can’t find child care, and providers face an unsustainable business model.

The coalition is called Child Care Is Everyone’s Business: Building a Stronger Adirondack Region. It's bringing together business owners, economic development leaders and child care advocates from Warren, Franklin, Clinton, Essex and Hamilton counties.

Common Roots Brewing Company and kids boutique (g)row are the coalition’s first signers and sponsors.

“As a mom and a business owner and someone who cares deeply about the future of this region, I believe child care is everyone’s business,” said Melanie Weber, representing Common Roots Brewing and (g)row. “When families struggle, businesses feel it. I’m not asking the business community to solve the problem on its own. I’m saying that the business community has a responsibility to be part of the conversation.”

The coalition builds on years of work by the Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance and Stand Up for Child Care. It is convened by the Economic Development Corporation of Warren County, the Adirondack Community Foundation and the Rockefeller Family Fund.

It marks a significant step forward in the region’s business sector recognizing child care as an essential economic need. And it comes at a critical time, as NYS has committed to a dramatic expansion of child care resources and programs statewide in recent years.

“We are building a region-wide coalition to ensure the unique needs of our area are understood and addressed in this investment,” said Kate Ryan from the Birth to Three Alliance.

Photo caption (from L): Lisa Guide, Associate Director Rockefeller Family Fund, Melanie Weber, Board Chair of the EDC Warren County, Mary Feldman, Rural Child Care Lead Consultant, Kate Ryan, Director of the Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance at the Adirondack Community Foundation, Jim Siplon, President and CEO of EDC Warren County, and Jen Russell, VP of Grants and Programs at Adirondack Community Foundation.

10/28/2026

Thank you to Adirondack Explorer for featuring Wilmington resident Jenn Munsie, whose Auspex Intelligence is one of five finalists in the Small Towns, Big Ideas Pitch Event, hosted by Center on Rural Innovation and the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth.

We’re excited to cheer on this local startup and part of the A2i: Adirondack Innovation Initiative community, tomorrow, October 9, from 5:0-7:30 p.m. ET.

Tune in via virtual livestream and celebrate this incredible milestone for our local entrepreneurs. Let’s show up and make some noise (and vote) for AUSPEX Intelligence!

Register now: https://ruralinnovation.us/community-impact/small-towns-big-ideas-pitch-event

A Wilmington woman is advancing to the finals of a pitch competition to show off her latest interactive, virtual idea

10/27/2026

Congratulations to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) on the official opening of their new cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation center.

Last week, ACF joined CVPH in Plattsburgh to celebrate this major achievement. With double the square footage, the new space eliminates rehab waitlists and ensures North Country patients receive the dedicated care they need to heal.

We are proud to have supported this milestone project through the generosity of our fundholders, including the R. Dennis Allen Cardiac Prevention Fund and the 8650's Gravelly Point Fund.

10/26/2026

Have you heard of Adirondack Community Foundation's Local Impact Investing?

Rural areas are highly disinvested, so every dollar that is directed towards these areas is highly catalytic.

Since 2021, ACF has invested more than $1.8 million into: three workforce housing project loans, 26 small business loans that have collectively retained or created 46 jobs, 6 bridge loans to non-profits, and 13 low-interest car loans.

This is thanks to generous donors, because the money we're investing is a small percentage of ACF's main asset pool!

10/24/2026

Congrats to our 2026 Kindling Awardee, Carol Van Gorp 👏👏👏

Carol treats her unpaid role running the Schroon Lake School District Backpack Program and local food pantry like a full-time profession — and she pours her whole heart into it. She is a master at making everyone feel welcome and respected. By partnering with the local farmers market to provide fresh produce to clients, and gently guiding a dedicated team of volunteers, Carol creates an atmosphere of genuine care and dignity for everyone who walks through the doors.

Carol is directing a $1,000 grant from ACF to Schroon Lake School District Backpack Program.

See all of the 2026 Kindling Awardees at adkcommunityfoundation.org/kindling-awards

10/22/2026

Supported by a 2025 Generous Acts grant, the Giving Garden at the First Baptist Church of Oswegatchie provided free, fresh produce to local residents facing fixed incomes, limited transportation, and long drives to the nearest grocery store.

More than just a source of healthy food, the garden became a place of community connection and youth engagement. Students from a local school garden club visited to plant and learn about food access, while a local sports team volunteered at the end of the season to clear the beds for winter.

As Project Manager Alison Frizzell shared, the project demonstrated a practical approach to addressing local food insecurity while fostering a deep sense of shared care among neighbors.

We are proud to support grassroots efforts that nourish families and bring Adirondack communities together.

10/21/2026

We’re excited that another workforce housing project supported by an Adirondack Community Foundation loan broke ground this fall in Lake Placid!

Homestead Development Corporation's Fox Hill development will include 23 single family homes specifically built for local residents. It’s modeled after Homestead’s Fawn Valley project, which was completed in 2024.

To purchase homes in either development (which are sold at below market prices) buyers are required to live and work in the area year-round, make less than a certain threshold, and can’t use the home as a short-term rental.

ACF supplied a $300,000 low-interest loan to help fund this project, as part of our Local Impact Investing. Since 2021, Adirondack Community Foundation has been making loans to families, small businesses, and non-profits that otherwise would not receive a loan from a traditional bank. Rural areas are highly disinvested, so every dollar that is directed towards these areas is highly catalytic.

So far, ACF has invested more than $1.8 million into: three workforce housing project loans, 21 small business loans that have collectively retained or created 46 jobs, 5 bridge loans to non-profits, and 13 low-interest car loans.

Donors make this all possible, as the money we're investing is a small percentage of ACF's main asset pool.

10/19/2026

Sometimes small changes can make all the difference!

With support from a 2025 Generous Acts grant, the Speculator Region Chamber of Commerce improved signage, marketing, and the user experience at the local Visitor Center and Farmer’s Market.

Chamber Director Mary Caldwell reported that new signs and a dedicated welcome table at the Farmer’s Market were a particular success. “They had an immediate positive impact,” said Calwell, “creating a stronger sense of place and community, benefiting both vendors and shoppers.”

After those improvements were made, vendors reported that customers were more engaged and stayed to shop longer. The market also saw a 25% increase in full-time vendors for the season, and a marked decrease in no-shows.

“As a result, the market remained full and active throughout the season, which represented a substantial improvement over the prior year,” said Caldwell. “Notably, customer activity remained steady throughout the market; in contrast to last season, when the final 1.5 hours typically saw very low attendance.”

The Adirondack Community Foundation and its donors are proud to support projects that contribute to local commerce and food systems. Photo courtesy of the Speculator Region Chamber of Commerce.

10/17/2026

Congrats to our 2026 Kindling Awardee, Tori and Jeremy Thurston 👏👏👏

Tori and Jeremy are a duo whose combined efforts in Saranac Lake make the community stronger and more supportive. Tori has been instrumental in the Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living, stepping in to manage renovations and ensure the space remains a welcoming resource for people with disabilities. Jeremy, a local plumber, is praised for his responsiveness and willingness to help neighbors with urgent home issues at all hours of the night. Together, they represent the "fabric of the community" through both their professional skills and their volunteer efforts.

Tori and Jeremy are directing a $1,000 grant from ACF to the Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living.

See all of the 2026 Kindling Awardees at adkcommunityfoundation.org/kindling-awards

10/15/2026

With support from a 2025 Generous Acts grant, the Saranac Lake Adult Center launched functional health and fitness classes designed for adults aged 50 and older.

Led by skilled instructors, the programs focus on functional movements to help seniors stay active, independent, and confident in their daily lives. Beyond the physical benefits, the classes have created a welcoming space for social connection and community.

As one Tai Chi participant shared, "I feel better than I have in years."

We are proud to support the Saranac Lake Adult Center in keeping local seniors healthy, connected, and thriving.