I like the report because it starts right out with measures of success. It also explains this is rooted in some 100 plans and reports already done and instead points action steps. The meeting last Monday was organized into working group to begin work on moving ahead. Public comment is also requested.
If this works, begins the report, we should expect the following benefits:
- wage and payroll growth
- increased business revenue
- improved health and wellness statistics
- alternative energy consumption increase
- educational attainment increase
- real estate values for year round property increase
- level of private capital investment in leverage increase
- availability of cultural and recreational assets grows
- increasing school enrollment
Wow. Now I’m interested! How to we get to this place?
It lays out these 7 business opportunities. They can be done park-wide or at least in more than one location.
- Sustainable forest and natural products
- Sustainable construction and building products
- Recreational equipment manufacturing and retail
- Tourism
- Ecosystem services and nature conservation
- Value added agriculture and food processing
- Non profit employment
Next it lays out four goals, each with metrics, strategies and actions. Here they are:
Goal One: Inspire a culture of entrepreneurship with a globally competitive workforce and diverse business base
Six specific strategies and their actions are described. They include a small and micro business program, a lend local idea, teaching programs, higher ed collaborations, and a leadership program.
Goal Two: Promote a sustainable and connected rural life with quality infrastructure and community amenities.
Ten strategies are described, each with a couple of actions, They begin with be happier, and cover broadband, hamlet restoration, affordable housing, health care, road/pedestrian/bike infrastructure, improve access to water, assistance for towns with larger projects, improving financing for grant funded projects, non profits, first responders and reuse of vacant sites.
Goal Three: Reinvent traditional industry across the working landscapes in forest products, naturals resources and agriculture
Fives strategies and their actions are described. They cover natural resources protection including invasives, promoting local building materials, alternative energy, wood products, and local farming, local food.
Goal Four: Advance the park as a world class destination
It describes 10 strategies and several actions for each one. They cover the trail towns initiative, lodging renovations, tourism ambassadors, more types of lodging moving people across the park, integrated web presence, world class sports, wellness/health tourism, branding, upgrades of non-lodging tourism facilities.
This is the link to the whole report.
This is the link to the web site, Advantage Adirondacks, which has a lot more material and supporting documents.
The project was organized and run by the Adirondack Partnership and AATV. Funding came from the NYS Dept of State, DEC and the ADK Futures Project of the Common Ground Alliance was used as the local match to get the State funding.
The meeting on Monday was associated with AATV and had lots of local government people there. This effort looks like it has traction.
ADK Futures 