“OWNING OUR FUTURE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY”

We at CDI are very excited to attend the upcoming 16th annual North Country Symposium, hosted by St. Lawrence University.

This year’s Symposium will include the following:

• Mr. Doug O’Brien, president and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association and formerly Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs to the White House Domestic Policy Council, will discuss the history and role of joint ownership businesses in rural economies, share case studies, and what is possible in the North Country in a keynote speech.
• A panel of representatives of existing North Country and New York cooperatives – such as the Once Again nut butter company, the Saranac Lake General Store, and North Country Showcase – will share their experiences and lessons learned.
• Organizations that support joint ownership enterprises – such as the Cooperative Development Institute, Democracy At Work Institute, and the Syracuse Small Business Development Center – will provide invaluable knowledge on starting and growing such enterprises.
• Together, in group discussions, we will explore how we can create an ecosystem in the North Country that helps cooperatives and employee-owned businesses become established and successful.

This event is free and open to all people who have an interest in enhancing the vitality of the North Country Region. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, but St. Lawrence University requests your pre-registration at: https://www.stlawu.edu/north-country-symposium/form/2017-registration-form