The Adirondack North Country Alliance (ANCA) held its 2025 Annual Meeting last Friday morning, and while there were no cameras flashing, the room was full. People came from across the 14 counties that stretch from Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain, showing just how much energy and focus this region is putting into its future. At PentEdge, we were there because we believe deeply in what ANCA stands for.
ANCA’s work is centered around one big idea: growing the economy of northern New York by connecting people, capital, and innovation. From farmers and business owners to banks and local government, this alliance brings together voices that don’t always get heard at the same tables. The region itself is rural, mountainous, and known for its breathtaking natural beauty. But that beauty comes with real challenges when it comes to jobs, infrastructure, and opportunities for the next generation.
This week, another event picks up that thread. The Adirondack Innovation Initiative, known as A2I, celebrates its first year. Backed by the Adirondack Foundation, A2I is all about building a local tech economy that works for rural communities. As a firm focused on helping financial institutions solve modern problems, PentEdge is joining these conversations with purpose. We want to be part of the engine that helps small towns not just survive but thrive.
TL;DR
- Why rural communities like the North Country are chasing innovation
- What ANCA is doing to connect economic growth across 14 counties
- How the Adirondack Innovation Initiative (A2I) is seeding a tech ecosystem
- What it takes to build opportunity without leaving home
- Why local banks and credit unions are key to the future
- Where PentEdge fits into this changing landscape
A long stretch of small towns with big ideas
The North Country isn’t just a dot on the map. It covers a wide swath of northern New York, running along the Canadian border and touching two of the largest lakes in the state. You’ll find forest preserves, family-run farms, seasonal businesses, and a growing list of community projects. The region includes the massive Adirondack Park, which by itself is larger than several U.S. states.
Most towns here are small. The industries are diverse but thin. And the brain drain is real. Young people who grow up in these areas often leave after high school or college, searching for broader horizons and bigger paychecks. What they leave behind are towns that need new lifeblood and systems that are overdue for transformation.
ANCA has stepped into this space with the goal of building connections between sectors that typically don’t work hand in hand. Community banks, farmers’ markets, local startups, transportation co-ops, and energy experts are all in the mix. By bringing people together and helping them share resources, ANCA is slowly changing the playbook for rural economic development.
Innovation doesn’t need skyscrapers
The Adirondack Innovation Initiative is planting seeds where most people aren’t looking. Instead of setting up shop in New York City or Boston, A2I is building a support system for entrepreneurs who want to work in or return to the towns where they grew up. The idea is simple: technology and innovation can happen anywhere, even in a place without a single traffic light.
Thursday’s A2I celebration marks one year of growth. The keynote speaker is Matt Dunne, founder of the Center on Rural Innovation (Source: Center on Rural Innovation). His work focuses on building digital economies in small towns across the country. That mission fits perfectly with the goals of the Adirondack Foundation, which sees innovation as a core part of community development.
People attending this event include tech founders, local leaders, and folks in what we call “tech-adjacent” roles. These are the teachers, business owners, and bankers who help create the conditions for tech to thrive. Broadband expansion has opened new doors. Now, it’s about what people choose to build with that access.
Why staying home should feel like moving forward
The big question behind A2I is one that matters everywhere: Why are rural areas losing young talent, and what can be done about it?
The old story goes like this. A kid grows up in a small town. They finish school and go to college. Then they leave for a job in a city, because that’s where the opportunities are. They might come back to visit, but the idea of building a future back home seems out of reach.
A2I challenges that script. With more jobs going remote and more funding flowing into digital infrastructure, there’s less reason to think of home as a dead end. The key is making sure people actually see those opportunities. That takes visibility, mentorship, and pathways that feel real. It also takes collaboration across public and private sectors.
From our seat at PentEdge, we see financial institutions as central players in this process. Community banks and credit unions already have the trust of their neighbors. They know the people. They understand the cycles of local economies. If these institutions get the right tools and partners, they can become springboards for innovation.
What local banks bring to the table
Banking is not just about checking accounts and mortgages. At the community level, it’s also about relationships, risk management, and resource flow. Local banks are often the first place a small business owner goes for a loan. They’re also the ones who understand seasonal cash flows and rural real estate better than any algorithm ever could.
So what does it look like when these banks lean into innovation? It might be a local grant program for startups or a partnership with a broadband company or a local tech co-op. It could even mean sponsoring events like A2I, helping to draw in new ideas while supporting homegrown talent.
At PentEdge, we help community banks modernize and respond to change without losing the values that made them trusted in the first place. Innovation is not one-size-fits-all. In a rural economy, it needs to be built around what people already know and care about.
The big picture is made of local parts
This part of New York has always been a mix of grit and beauty. You’ll find lakes that stretch for miles and mountains that block cell service. You’ll also find people working double shifts to keep a general store running. Innovation here isn’t about building the next Silicon Valley. It’s about making small, smart changes that lead to big outcomes over time.
Organizations like ANCA and A2I are helping those changes take root. They’re creating spaces for connection and putting resources behind ideas that used to sit on the shelf. More than anything, they’re giving people a reason to believe that where they live doesn’t have to limit what they can do.
PentEdge is proud to be part of that effort. We’re exploring a partnership with ANCA and getting more involved with the Adirondack Innovation Initiative. We’ll be attending more events, meeting more leaders, and working to help financial institutions support these bold, local visions.
Key Takeaways
- ANCA is bringing together 14 counties in northern New York to grow a rural economy through collaboration and shared investment
- The Adirondack Innovation Initiative is focused on building a tech ecosystem rooted in small towns, not big cities
- Remote work and broadband access are opening new doors for young professionals to stay and build careers in their hometowns
- Community banks and credit unions are key players in supporting innovation because they already have deep relationships across the region
- PentEdge is stepping into this space to help connect capital with opportunity, bringing modern tools to trusted institutions
