Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Group
The LCLGRPG is asking local businesses to take part in a planning survey, as part of their “Forward Together” initiative. It is aimed to help bring businesses into a new post-COVID economy. Specifically, the group is looking at business retention and economic resiliency, a press release about the initiative says.
Part of the initiative will look at what businesses have done to survive and what they need into the near future. The other part will measure the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the North Country economy and look for possible economic opportunities for the region, the press release says. A 10-member working group has been established. Public input will be sought.
The group is asking businesses to fill out a survey. Click here to do so. The initiative is being funded by the federal CARES Act. The group covers five counties in northern New York: Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington.
Candidate JoAnne Kiernan initial statement on the budget.
We ran a piece about JoAnne Kiernan’s announcement to run for Commissioner of Finance on the Saratoga Springs City Council (read it here). An email came in after our deadline, responding to a couple questions.
The question: What is Ms. Kiernan's take on the budget? We know it's tight and times are tough. We are wondering how she would handle a situation we faced earlier: the potential of a $7 million shortfall and no money come June.
The email from Rachel Trott, Kiernan’s campaign manager, thanked us for the interest in an interview, and wrote:
In the meantime, here is JoAnne’s response to the questions you sent over to me:
“This past year has been very difficult for businesses both financially and operationally. The businesses I work with had to look in depth into their financials and with a different lense. Everything was on the table and decisions needed to be made that would have the least impact on the business, employees and services provided. Hard decisions were made and projects were put off. Prudent financial planning is required in any business to minimize financial instability.
“I have to believe the city has done the same thing -Everything on the table and decisions made that will have the least impact on the city and services provided.”
The current Commissioner of Finance, Michele Madigan, is stepping down at the end of her term after 10 years in the position.