Kate Fish (Photo provided)

SARANAC LAKE — The Adirondack North Country Association Board of Directors announced Thursday that Executive Director Kate Fish will retire later this year, after nearly 12 years leading the organization.

The regional economic development nonprofit has launched a nationwide search to fill the position.

“Kate is leaving a lasting legacy at ANCA and Adirondack North Country,” board President Jim Sonneborn said in a press release. “Her vision and bias toward action have helped ANCA become a real leader in sustainable economic development. ANCA’s Clean Energy Program and Center for Businesses in Transition are models for other rural areas, and we have Kate’s innovative thinking to thank for that.”

He added that ANCA will launch a revolving loan fund for small farms later this year. “Kate has worked relentlessly over her tenure to make this happen,” Sonneborn said.

Founded in 1955, ANCA’s goal is to build prosperity across northern New York by creating and sustaining wealth and value in local communities through three core program areas: Clean Energy, Food Systems and the Entrepreneurial Economy. In 2019, ANCA took on operation of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative when state funding enabled the hiring of its inaugural director.

“This is a great time for ANCA to attract an excellent new leader,” Fish said. “I have accomplished what I set out to do over the past 12 years — building a skilled staff and board, establishing a strong clean energy program, securing new revenue sources, and accelerating our entrepreneur and small business programs.”