October 22, 2008

Contacts:
Molly Ames, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County,
315-788-8450
Anita Deming, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County,
518-962-4810
Ruby Sprowls, NATC, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 877-228-7810

Register Now for Laptop Computer Loan Program to Learn Online Selling

Want to learn what selling online is all about but not ready to buy a computer?

Register now for the Laptop Loan Program that is part of the Marketing Your Product for Profit course that begins Monday, October 27 in Malone, Massena, Watertown and Westport. A limited number of laptop computers will be available to qualified users participating in the course developed by the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative and Cornell Cooperative Extension to help rural entrepreneurs.

Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative Program Director Ruby Sprowls says, “People who have never even used e-mail have taken this course with the aid of a laptop loan and now use their own computers to sell products across the U.S. and around the world. Course participants have added EBay and other online sales to their marketing mix and as a result have added substantial monthly income to their overall sales.”

Sprowls says for those who want a website for their products, but are not interested in designing the site themselves, this course “helps you see how others use the web, and to selling your products and building online customer relationships.”

Sprowls is currently evaluating requests for the laptops and registering people for the marketing course that will be offered 5:30-8:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, Watertown; SUNY Canton at Massena; the North Country Community College Malone campus, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, Westport.

The 20-session course fee is $50; participants can attend all sessions or select those of special interest.

Seventy-nine past graduates of the NATC course include Yesteryears Vintage Doors, making handcrafted doors and screen doors, and Em Bears, making stuffed bears and “other critters.” Recent participants are developing ideas for a horse ranch, biofuel production, and a winery.

For more information and course registration, contact Ruby Sprowls, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 877-228-7810; Molly Ames, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, 315-788-8450; Anita Deming, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, 518-962-4810; or Steven B. Cook, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Office of Economic Development, 518-358-2272 x270; Lindsay Tarbell, 518-358-2272 x168.

The course is sponsored by a partnership of Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Northern New York, the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative, The Rural Opportunities Enterprise Center, Inc., St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, NYS Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, SCORE, Paul Smiths College, ComLinks, Clarkson University, USDA Rural Development, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. # # #