The North Country Chamber of Commerce and ROOST (Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism) have announced the endorsement of one another's plans to assist with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. ROOST recently released its "Adirondack Tourism Strategy: Pathway Forward,” outlining strategies and approaches to transform the way it markets the northern Adirondack region as the state begins to move toward eventual economic reopening, including resumed travel activity. The North Country Chamber also recently released "North Country Forward: A Plan for Supporting Business Reopening in the North Country,” committing to a multi-faceted agenda of business support services before and during the reopening of various business sectors. "The North Country Chamber and ROOST have had a great working partnership for many years," states Garry Douglas, Chamber President. "We are now committed to an active working collaboration through this new challenge which is confronting thousands of North Country businesses and organizations. We have both known for years that partnership is indispensable to success in our region, and this is clearly one of those times when the whole will exceed the sum of the parts." "ROOST and the North Country Chamber will implement a coordinated strategy to assist our region's businesses and communities in taking the best steps forward to ensure economic recovery," said James McKenna, CEO of ROOST. "We will work in concert with New York State, our counties and local governments, our public health authorities, and our medical facilities to make certain that the best and most relevant programs are implemented as we move forward to secure sustainable economic growth." ROOST is a regional destination marketing organization, overseeing tourism marketing and destination management in Essex and Hamilton counties, the Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake regions of Franklin County, and Piercefield of St. Lawrence County. The North Country Chamber is a full-service business and economic development organization serving Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and northern Warren counties and Akwesasne. "We have different but highly complementary missions and our continued cooperation and sharing will benefit the entire region, especially those counties where we have a shared commitment to service and success," notes Douglas. "Our partnership will ensure the Adirondacks and the North Country's distinguished characteristics are highlighted and a coordinated approach is taken to re-imagine our region's economy," says McKenna. Among expected areas of collaboration will be informational services and training programs for businesses, as well as coordination of business community input for various federal, state, and local planning processes. Weekly consultations between the two partner organizations will share information and identify on-going opportunities.

Garry Douglas, President and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, and James McKenna, President and CEO of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) have been pleased to accept appointment to the NEW YORK FORWARD Reopening Advisory Board by Governor Andrew Cuomo. They join Dr. Ty Stone, President of Jefferson Community College, as members from the North Country region. The statewide board has been created to help guide the re-opening and rebuilding strategy for New York State as it recovers from the COVID-19 public health emergency. The goal is to safely resume public and private sector industries through a region-based, industry-specific, and data-driven approach that allows people to get back to work without triggering widespread transmission of the virus, which could endanger lives and overwhelm the healthcare system. "The North Country is the largest geographic region of New York State," notes McKenna. "Having Dr. Stone, Garry Douglas and myself on this Advisory Board guarantees that all areas and industries of our region will be represented, which will ensure our re-opening is following the protocols as iden\fied by the Governor and in synergy with the en\re state." Dr. Stone added, "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this board to plan for the reopening of our state." "I thank the Governor for the opportunity to par\cipate in this important process," states Douglas, "and to be a part of the statewide team of advisors from various sectors and regions that the Governor has brought together."

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has released a set of “Politely Adirondack” posters that encourage social distancing, hand washing, and mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement Wednesday that the North Country had met all the criteria necessary to begin the four phases of reopening, businesses in Phase I will be able to operate starting May 15, 2020. However, local, state, and national health officials are still encouraging everyone to maintain social distancing or wear a mask when that is not possible. ROOST’s in-house design team created a series of posters encouraging these measures with friendly messaging and cute Adirondack animals. These signs are part of a campaign to create an upbeat, visually pleasing and Adirondack-branded message. Politely Adirondack posters have each region’s logo, and can be downloaded and printed from the ROOST website. ROOST will also be distributing the designs to its communities on larger posters and outdoor yard sale signs for higher traffic areas. “As we start the first of the four phases, it is important we follow the guidelines set forth by the state, in order to proceed to the next steps. Following the guidelines will ensure everyone stays healthy as we start the region's economic recovery,” ROOST CEO James McKenna said. The posters are part of a toolkit that ROOST has developed for local businesses. In addition to the Politely Adirondack posters, the toolkit includes photos and videos from each region that can be shared on social media, and information on keeping social media channels fresh. The toolkit, images, videos, and posters can be found at www.roostadk.com/toolkit. ROOST conducts tourism promotion for seven regions in the Adirondacks, including Essex and Hamilton counties, along with the Lake Champlain Region, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, and the Adirondack Hub, which includes the towns of Minerva, North Hudson, Newcomb, and Schroon Lake.

Please join us for a regional update on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. During the call we will be covering the following important topics: Public Health UpdateStatus of OpeningBack to Business TrainingLocal Kick-start InitiativesHiker Parking and Information Video and Screen Share Link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1489259204 (Preferred as visuals will be shared) Call-in Information: Phone: +1 (470) 869-2200 Meeting ID: 148 925 9204 Please remember to follow us on Facebook for quick access to the latest updates.

ADIRONDACKS, NY - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has released a new Love Your ADK toolkit to help Adirondack businesses increase awareness of the importance of following the Leave No Trace principles when enjoying the outdoors. The Love Your ADK pledge and accompanying hashtag (#LoveYourADK) are meant to be used on websites and social media to encourage anyone who recreates in the Adirondacks to be a better steward of the lands, waters, and communities. The pledge asks that everyone make the commitment to check for invasive species, be respectful of wildlife and other people, and follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles. Education is key in bridging the gap between tourism and environmental stewardship. To help, ROOST has developed the toolkit containing a set of Love Your ADK web banners and social posts for Adirondack businesses to use. These will help educate first-time outdoor recreators on Leave No Trace principles and other Adirondack information. “Adirondack businesses can use this toolkit to reach customers and visitors before they get to the Adirondacks,” ROOST CEO James McKenna said. “By engaging everyone - locals and visitors alike - we hope everyone will abide by these best practices, which will keep the Adirondacks a special place. “We really encourage anyone who is preparing to travel here to visit the website and take the Love Your ADK Pledge. We want people to be equipped with the proper education to enjoy the Adirondacks responsibly and safely. If all businesses use these resources and have a consistent message, it is another step that we can take as a community to protect our outdoor spaces.” The pledge was developed by ROOST in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the Adirondack Council. As of May 27, more than 400 people from numerous states had signed the pledge. The Love Your ADK pledge can be found at www.loveyouradk.org, and the business toolkit can also be found at www.loveyouradk.org/toolkit. Businesses and organizations can download the social media posts and website banners to promote responsible stewardship. The website also has the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, as well as an Adirondack Park fact sheet.