The Peru Gazette

L-R City Mayor Wendell Hughes, Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman, Chamber CEO Gary Douglas, CC Legislature Chairman Mark Henry

The North Country Chamber of Commerce has released the results of its 2025 Annual Issue Survey, defining the position of regional businesses on a number of key issues and expressing expectations for the year ahead.

2025 BUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX:

“A year ago, the North Country business community told us they remained generally confident about 2024,” says Chamber President Garry Douglas. “The 2024 Business Confidence Index was 82%, with 60% expecting their business activity to be up and 22% expecting business to remain steady. For 2025, we are at a higher level of 87% with 65% anticipating that business will be up and 22% expecting it to be steady, which is very encouraging for the year ahead.”

At the same time, responses to questions on several key federal and state issues identify concerns, such as possible tariffs on Canada, and matters needing further attention, such as childcare and housing.

FEDERAL ISSUES:

• 97% call for optimizing the secure flow of legitimate cross-border commerce and travel at our northern border, including adequate staffing at all times.
• 97% declare that tariffs must be avoided on Canadian goods crossing the border.
• 81% support making the 2017 federal tax cuts permanent.
• 78% support federal tax relief for tips and overtime as a means of workforce recruitment and enhancement.

NEW YORK STATE ISSUES:

• 97% say “affordability” should be a key theme for the state, both for businesses and residents and to help stem out-migration.
• 80% say the State Budget must be free of any forms of tax increases.
• 98% say it is important for employment and the economy to enhance the capacity and affordability of child care.
• 89% call for enhanced support for BOCES and community colleges to assist with workforce needs, including a successful transition for Clinton Community College and the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing.
• 85% agree that the state must address in a major way the growing inadequacy of electricity transmission capacity and access in support of our economy.
• 95% agree that we must enhance regional availability of quality affordable housing including funding and approaches to scale that can work in the Adirondacks.
• 81% support the enactment of the pending MTA Capital Plan for the N.Y.C. metro area, recognizing its importance to the North Country in light of our large role in the production of transportation equipment.

The top four priorities for state action are as follows:

#1 – Enacting a new State Budget with no tax increases.

#2 – Regional availability of quality affordable housing.

#3 – Enhanced capacity and affordability of childcare.

#4 – Support for BOCES and community colleges to develop the workforce.

The Chamber’s 2025 Issue Survey results have been shared with federal and state officials and will be used to help guide the Chamber’s advocacy efforts in the coming months in Washington, Albany and elsewhere.