By David MacDonald E ric, Brittany – can you please tell the readers a little bit about your- selves and what Lewis County means personally to you both? EV: I was born and raised in Lewis County. In the middle of my previous career – I have a background in accounting and finance – I decided that community service, the idea of making Lewis County an even better place, was important to me. I became a board member for the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation and that led to an interest in this work. I have worked in public service for almost 20 years now and with Lewis County Economic Development for ten years. This type of work constantly brings new challenges, not to mention a great sense of mission: to benefit our citizens. BD: Lewis County will always be home to me. I grew up on a farm here in Lowville, New York and I have always loved the scenery, the hard-working, dedicated people, and the friendly and safe towns and villages. I have always seen the opportuni- ties for growth in the County. After gradu- ating with my Masters, I came to work with Lewis County Economic Development with hopes of taking my drive and ambition and making Lewis County even better than it already is. I am very involved in community initiatives to bring more opportunity to the County, and so far, when you hear “outsid- ers” say things like “Wow, things are hap- pening in Lewis County,” you know you are going in the right direction. Lewis County has been a great fit for me and I want to make sure it is a great fit for future gener- ations. It’s our aim to continue to inspire young people to live, work, and play here in Lewis County. I have always said – even through high school and college – that I wanted to help my community and be a part of the growth in some way. This opportunity to work for the Economic Development office could not have come at a better time: there is a renewed drive to better the community and it felt like the perfect fit for me. Like Eric said, working for the Council gives you opportunities to learn something new each and every day because every day brings something new to Lewis County. Let’s say, hypothetically, that I’m a small
Low was a prominent New York City land developer and merchant – and staunch supporter of General Washington and the rebel cause during the American Revolution. Following the evacuation of the British Army and British Loyalists in 1783, Low purchased tracts of land in Upstate New York, laid out townsites, and began to develop Lowville – and nearby Watertown – by dividing his holdings to sell both land and lots. Brittany and Eric are nothing short of stewards of Low’s vision. They’re a part of a development process that’s been going strong for 235 years. And while Lewis County is “Naturally” connected to its historic economic roots – its agricultural and resource-based abundance and productivity still does more than its share fueling the trade and industry supremacy of the Empire State with the likes of Kraft-Heinz setting up shop inside county lines – it’s also a progressively “green community” with wind, water, and solar projects reshaping the idea of local opportunity in a county of roughly 30,000 residents. The following are highlights from our conversation which include information about Lewis County Economic Development’s incentives for entrepreneurs and small business owners, a few words about some of the major manufacturers on the ground, the “Naturally Lewis” and “Naturally Dairy” campaigns,the green future of business opportunities, and the annual Cream Cheese Festival.
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DECEMBER 2018 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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