It is hard to believe how quickly the end of the year is approaching. As I reflect on the last 12 months, there is so much that this organization has to be proud of. We have accomplished a great deal and most importantly, have done so safely throughout the ongoing pandemic.
At TDC, we are uniquely positioned to understand the successes of our local business community, through our relationships with our tenant organizations. Even throughout unprecedented times, our tenant businesses continue to operate at high volumes, employ many members of our community, and expand their footprint in our region. Their success is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the public and private organizations that work to make the North Country a great place to work and live.
Despite the pandemic and its challenges, TDC has been able to retain tenants, welcome new businesses to our parks, and maintain 100% occupancy. This achievement is the result of the hard work put forth by our staff and board in 2021. The completion of our new 60,000 sq ft industrial building and subsequent leasing is a positive sign of the strength of our region and the product we provide. We have plans to continue building on this success in 2022.
This year we also started a new grant program centered around workforce development. Our goal was to help employers in the county in training their employees to learn new skills as well as create awareness of STEM careers in our local youth. This program was well received, and we are excited to share that this program helped to support key training initiatives within our park.
At this point last year, we were getting ready to officially launch our new website and updated logo. We are so pleased by the positive reaction that we received from the community around our new look. This brand refresh kicked off our efforts to increase our digital footprint and online marketing efforts. We hope you routinely interact with our website and newsletter and find them both to be positive tools to help us move our business forward.
This fall, we took some time to celebrate our 60 years of existence. With proper safety protocols in place, we met with our board members, tenants, and key partners at a small after-hours celebration. This milestone would not be possible without the help of so many that have come before us and those who continue to support us today.
On that note, I want to recognize four long-term board members who will be departing from our board at the end of the year as a result of the expiration of their terms of service. They are Donald Duley, David Merkel, Alan Booth, and Matthew Spiegel. All four have given so much to our organization and will be sorely missed. While they will no longer be on the board they will always be included in our story of success and part of our family.
Finally, the staff and I want to thank all who contribute to our great organization. Whether you are a member of our board, tenant, community partner, or one of our many support contractors, our success is the sum of your efforts. We wish you and your families all the best this holiday season. We look forward to collaborating with you for a dynamic year in 2022. From the staff at TDC, our best to you!
