GREAT BUSINESSES START HERE

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to build a business. Throughout the past 28 years, a business incubator program that started in Washington County and today is offered in conjunction with Warren County and SUNY Adirondack has provided that support system.

More than 1,100 rising entrepreneurs participated in StartUp ADK (formerly Microenterprise Assistance Small Business Program or MAP) in its various iterations. Businesses throughout the region have benefitted from the eight-week course, which provides crucial resources to new and aspiring business owners.

“It’s really helpful to learn what you don’t know, to start to understand building connections to the professionals who were brought in, to understand what the options are to get more support beyond the course,” said Holly Rippon-Butler, founder of Farmers Cone Creamery and 2022 StartUp ADK participant.

Area professionals present at the classes on subjects such as insurance, budgeting, finance, developing a business plan, the legalities of starting a business, marketing and more.

“I know how to take people back-country skiing, but all the other aspects of business — banking, or if you need to get a loan, legal, marketing — the course did a great job highlighting how I needed a team of professionals,” said Jeremy Haas, owner of Skylight Mountain Guides and a 2021 participant.

Since its inception by Washington and Warren counties in 1961, SUNY Adirondack has been committed to supporting and developing the regional economy. Partnering with the county local and economic development corporations was a natural next step for the college.

StartUp ADK creates connections between business owners and lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, marketers and volunteers from SCORE Northeast NY, a group of experienced business professionals who volunteer to provide guidance to start-up businesses and existing small businesses interested in improving their profitability.

Kate Austin, owner of Advokate, said even after being in business for more than 12 years, she still uses the connections she developed in MAP in 2010. “My entire time in business, to this day, I consult with SCORE. The business consulting they gave me for free for all these years after the fact has been essential to my business. There’s no way I would have made it without that.”

Camaraderie among StartUp ADK participants also provides support to fledgling business owners. Austin met Ron Miller in the program. When Ron and his wife, Kathy, launched a Lake George tour and specialty gift line, they hired Austin’s Advokate to handle marketing.

“Now, I am the marketing/ social media speaker for StartUp ADK and I’m still getting clients out of that,” Austin marveled.

Country Home Landscape owner and 2022 StartUp ADK participant Corliss Preston enjoys following former classmates’ successes on social media. “I’ve been talking with mentors and people I have connections to from the course,” Preston said. “It’s fun to follow each other and see them grow.”