The annual Common Ground Alliance Forum will be held on Tuesday, July 11, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, at View in Old Forge. Topics for this year’s event range from attracting young people to the region to combating invasive species, and were selected based on survey responses from nearly 300 community leaders, business owners, government officials and Adirondack residents.

Community stakeholders from all over the Adirondacks are expected to come together to coordinate their efforts for collective action.

Action items from the 2016 CGA Forum, including policy and budget recommendations, were added to the Blueprint for the Blue Line, a list of the group’s legislative priorities for the Adirondack Park.

The updated list includes recommendations for changes to the Adirondack Park Agency’s procedures, suggestions for growing the local economy, addressing opioid and suicide awareness and prevention, and promoting women’s leadership in the Adirondacks.

At this year’s meeting, working groups will address the following eight topics:

Attracting, Retaining and Supporting Young Families in the Adirondack Region
The Value of Curb Appeal: Creating a Toolbox to Encourage Redevelopment and Investment in Our Core Adirondack Downtowns
Capitalizing on the Park’s Resources to Leverage Economic Development
Managing Success: Overuse in the High Peaks
Accessing Data and Science to Make Decisions About Park Issues
Combating Terrestrial Invasive Threats: Imminent Forest Pests and Pathogens
The Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan
Adirondack Entrepreneurship and Smart Growth

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS Deputy Secretary for the Environment Venetia Lannon and other state and local elected officials are expected to attend this year’s CGA Forum.

View is located at 3273 State Route 28 in Old Forge. For more information, visit the View website.

The CGA Forum registration fee is $30, and $20 for students. Cost includes light breakfast, refreshments and lunch. To register, visit ANCA’s website. For more information about registration, contact Jake Vennie-Vollrath at (518) 891-6200 or jvennie-vollrath@adirondack.org.

Photo: Adirondack Common Ground Alliance Forum group photo 2016, courtesy Adirondack Common Ground Alliance.