October 6, 2008

Contacts:
Molly Ames, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, 315-788-8450
Steven B. Cook, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Office of Economic Development, 518-358-2272 x270; Lindsay Tarbell, 518-358-2272 x168
Anita Deming, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, 518-962-4810
Ruby Sprowls, NATC, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 877-228-7810

Malone, Massena, Watertown, Westport to Host Marketing for Profit Course

If you live in Malone, Massena, Watertown or Westport, own a farm, craft or small business or are ready to start a new enterprise, plan to attend the Marketing for Profit course designed to turn ideas into profits. Monday and Wednesday evening sessions will focus on selecting a proper website domain name, developing a website, reaching online markets, business planning, value-added licensing, insurance liability, product seasonality, financing information, and the opportunity to have your business proposal reviewed by a ‘mock’ loan committee.

The course, developed by the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative and Cornell Cooperative Extension, starts Monday, October 27, 2008 and will run 5:30-8:30pm Mondays and Wednesdays through March 4, 2009. Course fee is $50; participants can attend all 20 sessions or select those of special interest.

Meeting sites are Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, Watertown; SUNY Canton at Massena; the North Country Community College Malone campus, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, Westport.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Office of Economic Development is co-sponsoring this course. Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative Program Director Ruby Sprowls will interview potential candidates prior to registration for this training program.

Steven B. Cook, director of the Office of Economic Development, says, “If you are thinking about starting a business or expanding the market for your business to include the internet, this course is for you. The key elements in this course will teach you how to market your product for profit and how to make use of the internet to expand your sales. Each successful business will, in turn, contribute to a greater regional economy.”

Course co-host Anita Deming, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County in Westport, says, “This course has been well-received on the western side of the Adirondacks and we are thrilled to offer it here on the eastern side to help our small businesses, crafters and small farms make the most of opportunities to sell their products.”

Deming says now would be a good time for those who are learning to make wine from the cold hardy grapes that have been introduced to the North Country to also learn how to market and sell wine.

“This course will help people with business planning, marketing and other tools for increasing profits. The long-term benefit of a course like this will be a lasting positive impact on the Essex County economy,” Deming says.

The course is sponsored by a partnership of Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Northern New York, the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative, The Rural Opportunities Enterprise Center, Inc., St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, NYS Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, SCORE, Paul Smiths College, ComLinks, Clarkson University, USDA Rural Development, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Those interested in reserving a space for the course in Westport, may call Anita Deming, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, 518-962-4810. For Watertown, call Molly Ames, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, 315-788-8450; for Malone: Ruby Sprowls, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 877-228-7810; and for Massena: Steven Cook, St. Regis Mohawk Economic Development Office, 518-358-2272. # # #