Essex-Whallonsburg Entrepreneurs Unite!

Essex Inn decorated for the holidays — The next meeting of for the Essex-Whallonsburg entrepreneurs (including business/organization representatives) will take place at the Essex Inn on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, 6:30 p.m. (Credit: Essex Inn on the Adirondack Coast)

I believe a major event occurred in Essex on December 10th—a meeting was held to brainstorm and assess the needs and future of the Essex & Whallonsburg economic community. An unbelievable 25 individuals(!!!!) attended, some representing several organizations, all wanting to make an effort to explore how to unify the community and to promote and support economic vitality in Essex, Whallonsburg and the region.

Micro Metropolis?

Suomi: Pilkkireiän kairausta kairalla. — At first glance Essex may appear sleepy, but look under the ice and reveal a different story! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I think the cold weather has gotten the best of me… Do you ever wonder what goes on under that frozen crust of ice on the lake or pond or river? I’m beginning to look at Essex in a similar way…. it may appear at first glance that Essex/Whallonsburg is this sleepy, quiet, dormant community. But tap on the ice, or go bolder, drill a hole and throw in some bait, and you could be as amazed as I was to see what lies beneath, a bustling micro-metropolis! Swimming schools of fish or a lone large mouth bass, the range of businesses, organizations, and individuals contributing to the local economy here in Essex is as varied as the many species of fish cruising under the ice.

Just take a look at this list: the national model for CSA Farming (Essex Farm, Full and By, Reber Rock); CFES; CATS; The Grange Hall; Two Wellness Centers with top notch practitioners (Lake Champlain Yoga & Wellness and NEW Health); The Arts (Adirondack Art Association and our many independent artists); History (Historic Essex); The Theater (Essex Theater, CVFS); Lodging (Essex Inn, Cupola House, Cabins By the Lake); Dining (Essex Inn, Pink Pig, Dock House, Essex Ice Cream Cafe, Chez Lin); Retail (Neighborhood Nest, Pantoufs, Pink Pig, Cupola Gallery, RENEW); Education (Lakeside School); Library; Churches; Marinas/Boating; Housing Rentals; Small Businesses (DAK Bar, MacMan, PAC Studio, Bateman Design, Bateman Architecture, Emmet Carter Design, Hall Design, Heritage Properties, Pedal Power, Cloudsplitter, Gardner’s Heating, Pribble Excavating); the Essex on Lake Champlain Blog; and more!

This is all going on in Essex, really!! I am sure I’ve missed someone or maybe we’ve not heard from you? Our next meeting is coming up, a perfect opportunity to get involved!

January 14th Meeting at the Essex Inn

Our second meeting will be held at the Essex Inn (Major Thanks to Keith and Lanai for the offer to host!) on Tuesday January 14th at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to egphillips@me.com so I can give the Inn a rough headcount and also so I’m not completely blown away by the overwhelmingly large number of folks attending!

The agenda as it currently stands (a few changes may be made prior to the meeting):

Essex-Whallonsburg Entrepreneurs’ Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
6:30 p.m.
At the Essex Inn, Essex, NY

Purpose of Meeting: To continue efforts to strategically plan a cohesive, collaborative, cooperative, and inclusive group of Essex & Whallonsburg Entrepreneurs to promote and benefit the community.

Our Mission: Promote economic vitality, quality of life and sense of community in Essex, the Boquet River Valley and surrounding areas.

Our Name?: Essex- Whallonsburg Entrepreneurs (E.W.E), other suggestions?

Group Committees:

Organizational- Michelle Maron & Emily Phillips – Co-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.
Marketing-
Website-
Additional- ?

Our Liaisons:

Town of Essex; Essex Initiatives; Westport Chamber; Willsboro Dev. Corp.

Possible Goals of Group to Consider:

– Support Essex Initiatives community group that organizes events year round in Essex.
– Contribute to Essex on Lake Champlain Blog- Online community blog resource with events calendar and daily/weekly posts. Stay Tuned for a workshop for the Blog!
– Collaborate with Town of Essex.
– Create material to promote and market Essex.
– Organize Bi-Monthly or quarterly social mixers at local businesses.
– Part of the Lake Champlain Region –Willsboro Dev. Corp; Westport Chamber of Commerce -Mixer at Westport Hotel and Tavern, January 23^rd 5:30 -7:30pm

Other efforts, ideas?

When Do We Meet Again?

February – Suggestions?

Bi-monthly Social Mixer at one of our local businesses; name out of a hat to decide location?

Thank You, Essex Blog Readers, Writers and Boosters (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Essex Initiatives’ Holiday Projects (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Postcard: Essex Bay (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Essex-Whallonsburg Entrepreneurs Meeting (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About Emily Gardner Phillips

Emily returned to her hometown of Essex, NY to live, work and play, after several years away exploring, educating and ultimately earning an MA in Painting Conservation from Buffalo State College in 2008. In addition to running a business, Phillips Art Conservation Studio, LLC, she has made efforts to serve and contribute to her professional field, a founding member of the Collections Care Alliance & board member of the New England Conservation Association, as well as to her community, founding and organizing the Boquet Valley Studio Tour and co-founder of the Committee for Economic Vitality in Essex. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.