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The 12th annual Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has been set for Thursday, July 19, from 8:30 am to 3 pm at the Lake Placid Golf Club House. Community leaders, business owners and residents are invited to participate in action-oriented conversations about a variety regional issues, focusing on informed policy and lasting impact for Adirondack communities.
Topics for this year’s forum range from promoting electric vehicle use and developing charging stations to workforce issues to managing burgeoning tourism impact in the High Peaks. Community stakeholders from all over the Adirondacks will come together to seek common ground on these and other regional issues in order to coordinate their efforts for collective action.
The goal of the meeting is to gain community and stakeholder input on key issues so that action and policy are more likely to succeed and have lasting impact for Adirondack communities. Recent examples of success include statewide voter approval in November to amend the constitution with the Forest Preserve Health and Safety Land Bank Act and the strategic distribution of free boat wash stations and lake stewards throughout the park to protect lakes from the negative impacts of invasive species.
This year’s forum will address the following topics:
- Clean Energy Economy: Electric Vehicles in the Adirondacks
- Shaping the Future of Our Communities
- Managing Success in the High Peaks
- Workforce Issues
- Private Land Stewardship
- The Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan
- Challenges and Opportunities for Adirondack Vacation Communities
- Climate Change: Building Regional Resilience through Climate Literacy and Action
The agenda will also include presentations from a selection of local entrepreneurs and organizations about successful projects and initiatives taking place across the region.
Action items from the 2017 CGA Forum, including policy and budget considerations, were added to the Blueprint for the Blue Line, a list of the alliance’s priorities for the Adirondack Park. The updated list includes recommendations for improving redevelopment and investment in downtowns, fostering entrepreneurship and supporting sustainable tourism that preserves the natural environment.
The cost of registration is $35, and $20 for students. The fee includes a light breakfast, refreshments and lunch. To register, visit ANCA’s website.
The Lake Placid Golf Club House is located at 88 Morningside Drive.
For more information about registration, contact Jake Vennie-Vollrath at (518) 891-6200 or jvennie-vollrath@adirondack.org.
Photo of 2016 CGA Forum attendees provided.
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I’ve been to a few of these. Very worthwhile endeavors.
However, to gage how well residents of the park are represented, make sure you survey the parking lot. Consider that a large share of the indigenous economy involves pickup trucks – see any? I’m afraid the representation is skewed towards those driving Subarus (some with the proverbial “Coexist” sticker) and Priuses, with the result that farmers markets are talked about a lot, but not the threat to year-round grocery stores. Long Lake, Indian Lake, Newcomb, and Tops in Chapter 9 – I’d sure like to hear this crisis discussed.