Chuck Gijanto – Chairman
- 518-585-6366
- office@northcountryruraldevelopment.org
Since 1984, the North Country Rural Development Coalition (NRDC) has secured more than $50 million in grants and investments supporting housing, economic development, historic preservation, and community revitalization throughout the North Country. This total reflects decades of successful partnerships and project implementation across Essex, Warren, and Washington Counties and does not include the major housing development currently underway in Ticonderoga with Regan Development, which represents a significant additional investment in the region.
NRDC is governed by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors and operates as a New York State Rural Preservation Company. For more than 40 years, we have worked in administrative partnership with local, regional, state, and federal agencies, while collaborating closely with community organizations, businesses, and residents to identify and address critical community needs.
Today, NRDC administers and supports a broad portfolio of initiatives including housing rehabilitation programs, downtown revitalization projects, historic preservation efforts, land bank redevelopment, and major cultural investments designed to strengthen rural communities.
Our work includes:
• Administration and implementation of Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and related downtown investment programs
• Development of the Adirondack Performing Arts Center, a regional cultural venue designed to support arts, tourism, and economic activity
• Administration and redevelopment activities for the Essex County Land Bank and the emerging Washington County Land Bank, transforming vacant and blighted properties into productive community assets
• Housing rehabilitation, replacement housing, and homeownership programs across multiple counties
• Grant writing, project development, and community revitalization planning for municipalities and nonprofit partners
Through these efforts, NRDC has helped communities preserve historic buildings, rehabilitate housing, eliminate blight, support local businesses, and attract new investment to rural downtowns.
NRDC relies on operating support from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), along with technical assistance contracts, grant administration services, consulting work, and membership support to carry out its mission.
As we move forward beyond our 40th year of service, we are proud of the progress our region has made through strong partnerships and community collaboration—but there is still much work to be done.
NRDC remains deeply committed to addressing economic disparities, expanding housing opportunities, revitalizing downtowns, preserving historic structures, and supporting regional arts and culture. Through our housing programs, land bank initiatives, cultural investments, and downtown revitalization projects, we continue working to improve quality of life and create lasting economic opportunity.
We invite businesses, residents, and partners to join us in investing in the future of our communities. Your support helps us continue providing housing rehabilitation programs, addressing food insecurity, supporting local businesses, and driving meaningful revitalization throughout the North Country.
Together, we will continue the mission that began more than 40 years ago:
Preserving homes. Supporting people. Revitalizing communities.
Nicole Justice Green has worked in the non-profit and education sector since 2014, most recently with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Virginia. She has administered historic preservation and freelance competitive grant programs since 2007. Green is a former Fulbright-Gilman scholar who holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in History and Teaching from Christopher Newport University. She lives in Ticonderoga with her husband, Cameron, and their five children.
Green is a passionate advocate for her community and is committed to tackling public health issues locally, specifically lead-based paint remediation and food insecurity. She has reaffirmed NRDC’s long-standing commitment to address the affordable housing crisis regionally and to support continued Ticonderoga’s economic development through historic preservation as well as by assisting local businesses.
Katie Long holds a PhD in Sociology from the University at Albany, SUNY and has primarily focused on topics of family sociology, gender studies, environmental justice, and demography. Originally from Pennsylvania, Katie completed her BA in Sociology at Kutztown University before relocating to Albany for graduate school. Following the completion of her master’s degree in 2017, she moved to the Adirondacks where she currently resides with her husband, Zach, and their daughter, Brooklyn.
Dr. Long is extremely passionate about community development and is dedicated to promoting socioeconomic equality within the community. With a background in teaching and research and over 15 years of customer service experience, she is uniquely positioned to meet the diverse needs of the community through the implementation of grant programs.
Hope Carroll is a recent graduate of the University of Maine, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication. During her time there, she cultivated a passion for community engagement and outreach, which now shapes her approach to building connections and working toward positive change. After graduating, she relocated to Ticonderoga with her partner, Isaac, where they are excited to explore all the Adirondacks have to offer. Hope is committed to supporting housing security and revitalizing downtown spaces in her new community. Her fresh perspective and enthusiasm align with the mission of fostering vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods. Hope looks forward to creating meaningful connections and making an impact in the place she is excited to now call home.
Susan Zacharenko brings over 20 years of experience in customer service and hospitality, along with several years in advertising and marketing. Her diverse background allows her to deliver exceptional client service while helping maintain an organized and efficient office workflow. Susan is committed to creating positive experiences for both clients and colleagues.
Outside of work, she is a proud member of North Country Roots, a volunteer group dedicated to bringing fresh, fun community events to the area. She also enjoys photography and shares her work on social media.
Sophia Palma is a recent UVM graduate with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, where she developed a passion for understanding how we communicate and build relationships. She is eager to apply her understanding of human connection to her new role, focusing on fostering strong relationships with community partners and supporting the coalition’s collaborative projects.
Originally from Portland, CT, she’s excited to trade campus life for mountain trails and can often be found backyard birding with her boyfriend, Sean. She’s looking forward to putting down roots and becoming a part of this vibrant community.
Chuck Gijanto – Chairman
Former Chief Executive Officer, now retired, with a history of managing multiple healthcare facilities
Dr. Katie Alexander – Vice Chair
Owner/Veterinarian at Ticonderoga Animal Hospital
Allison Kaupelis – Director
Regional Director Of Operations, Milya llc
James Monty – Director
Supervisor for the Town of Lewis, Vice Chairman of the Board for Essex County
Brooke Van Ripper Clark – Director
Deb McDougal – Director
Dylan Menke – Director
Fair Housing – Equal Opportunity- Affirmative Marketing Policy
We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law. It is illegal to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex handicap, familial status or national origin.
This link from the Department of Justice provides the full text of the Federal Fair Housing Act.
Anyone who feels they have been discriminated against may file a complaint of housing discrimination:
1-800-669-9777 (toll free)
1-800-927-9275 (TDD)