By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

INDIAN LAKE - The Indian Lake Planning Committee plans on offering business workshops as part of its plan for growth.

About 15 members of the group met at Town Hall Wednesday, Jan. 18, to share projects and plans being developed by the subcommittees of the umbrella group.

Brenda Valentine spoke for the Main Street Revitalization Committee.

She noted there are 25 small businesses along the length of Main Street. Throughout the township, including Blue Mt. Lake and Sabael, Valentine said her group has counted about 125 small businesses that currently are not members of the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce.

While many are sole proprietorships and only operated part-time, Valentine said her group would contact them individually and alert them to the many workshops her group is planning for entrepreneurs. The workshops will be advertised as times, dates and locations become known.

In addition, Valentine said she has been talking with Indian Lake Historian Bill Zullo about creating a self-guided tour of the historic buildings in town.

Jack Valentine reported on plans to have local craftsmen build and local artists “whimsically” paint Adirondack chairs to be placed in various locations around town. He is looking for business sponsors for the chairs.

The idea, he said, is to entice visitors to slow down, stop, rest, look around town and maybe shop.

JOBS

Bill Murphy of the Economic Development subcommittee spoke on the need for jobs.

He said there was a time when Indian Lake could depend upon mining, logging and tourism. Now only tourism remains, but more than tourism is needed, said Murphy.

Murphy believes telecommuting jobs could help fill the gap, and is working to develop an Adirondack Teleworks website meant to encourage companies to offer telecommuting jobs to Indian Lakers.

MARKETING

Planning Committee Chair Sally Stanton spoke about efforts to improve marketing the town.

She believes one-on-one conversations with part-time residents could be enlightening. “We need to focus on part-timers, on how we can better serve them and learn why they chose Indian Lake,” said Stanton. “We plan to visit with them.”

Stanton also suggested a concerted effort to promote snowmobiling.

DISCUSSION

Nancy Berkowitz and others talked about finding ways to use Facebook and blogs to promote the town.

An effort is being made to have a class from Clarkson University do a feasibility study on attracting a chain or an individual to open a grocery store here.

For more information on the Indian Lake Planning Committee go to indianlake.-wordpress.com/