2015 North Country Symposium
This year's event: "Opportunities for Strategic Business Development in the North Country"
The 13th North Country Symposium will feature the role of small business in the North Country economy, look at opportunities to grow the sector, and investigate how leakage of capital from the regional economy represents business development opportunities. The region leads New York State in number of small businesses per capita, and the vast majority of businesses in the Region have five or fewer employees. There are some remarkable North Country businesses with unique products or services and national and international customer bases. This is a solid foundation upon which the Region can build.
Examining the role of small business in the North Country economy has raised a number of compelling questions that are at the core of the 2015 Symposium:
- How do we build upon this strength and grow this sector?
- How do we identify and create champions, entrepreneurs?
- What are the missing businesses (and hence opportunities)?
- How can we stem leakages of capital from the region through business development?
In planning the program it was logical l to turn to Michael Shuman to speak at this year’s event, given his understanding of economic leakages, and his knowledge and experience with alternative economic development strategies. Michael will give the initial presentation of the Symposium, speaking to areas in which the North Country Region is leaking capital to imports and how these areas of loss actually represent opportunities for development of new businesses. Following Michael’s opening remarks, a panel of local business owners and business development assistance organization representatives will speak.
An afternoon panel will provide important information on sources of funding and financing for the entrepreneur seeking to start or expand a business. It will include representatives of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and venture capital firms operating within our region. Helping to organize this panel and moderating it is staff from the office of Senator Kirstin Gillibrand.
The culmination of the program will again be the afternoon breakout sessions – a critical feature of the Symposium for creative thinking, planning, and networking amongst Symposium participants. Each group will report out as the whole regroups to conclude the day.
There is no cost to attend and a buffet lunch will be served
Program: Click here to review this year's program.
Michael Shuman's Keynote Presentation PowerPoint
Background Information
The North Country Symposium is Partnering with North Country Public Radio to offer a "special page" of business development related stories, at NCPR 2015 Symposium Page . Thanks to NCPR and Assistant News Director David Sommerstein for this useful resource.
Upstate Revitalization Fund articles: