ANCA 2012 Strategic Plan

Adirondack North Country Association

Building vibrant rural communities and resilient local economies

Updated Oct. 2012

Strategic Plan 2010-2015

In 2010 we set the following goals. As of the last quarter of 2012, we have achieved all of them:• Createnewwebsitetobetterservetheregion• Broaden our funding base• Identifycross-programsynergiesandensurethatourprogramsmutuallysupporteachother• Buildstrongerpartnershipswithbusinessesanduniversities• ExpandourboardtobetterrepresentNorthCountrybusiness,non-profit,geographic

diversityInaddition,wehaveaccomplishedthefollowing:• LaunchedanewEnergyprogramandsecuredmorethan$600,000infunding.• WorkedintensivelyaspartoftheNorthCountryRegionalEconomicDevelopmentCouncil

(REDC)towinBestPlanAwardin2011,bringing$103Mtotheregion.• Identifiedcleanenergyasakeyeconomicdriverfortheregionandheldthefirst-ever

NorthCountryCleanEnergyConference,attractingmorethan250people.• PlayingakeyroleincreatingaNorthCountrySustainabilityPlan,throughGov.Andrew

Cuomo’sCleanerGreenerCommunitiesinitiative• Facilitatedtwoground-breakingCommonGroundAlliance(CGA)Forumevents:In2011,

CGAlaunchedayear-longscenarioplanningprojectfortheAdirondackParkregion.Thereportoutatthe2012CGAForumdrewarecordnumberofattendees.

• Expandedourcapacitytoserveinanadvocacyrolefortheregion,throughExecutiveDirectorKateFish’sinvolvementwiththeNorthCountryREDCandseveralstateadvisoryboards,suchasanewNYSERDATechnologyandMarketDevelopmentBoard,andNYSScenicBywaysAdvisoryCouncil.

• HostedasummitontheStateoftheAdirondackNorthCountrythatfeaturedexpertsfromEmpireStateDevelopmentandtheFederalReserveBankofNewYorkaskeynotespeakers

• IncreasedeffectivenessandcapacityinservingtheAdirondackNorthCountry:Throughournewsletter,growingourconstituencybaseandamoreeffectiveandvisibleidentity.

• CompletedanumberofnoteworthyScenicBywaysprojects,andsecured$1.2Minfundingtocompleteamulti-modalrecreationpathconnectingLakePlacidtoSaranacLake.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

We need a far bigger job of promotion than ever before. We need to cooperate with

other Adirondack communities because we cannot afford to do an effective job alone.

— Roger Tubby, ANCA Founding Director ”“ABOUT

THIS STRATEGIC PLANIn2010,ANCAconduct-edanexternalsurveyasking stakeholders and regionalleaderstohelpusassessourimpactsontheregion.Specialemphasiswasplacedon gathering data about ANCA’smission,stature,effectiveness,andpres-ent and future role in advancingtheeconomyoftheAdirondackNorthCountry.

Thisprocesshasen-hancedourconfidencethatANCA’smission,goalsandobjectivesareon the right track while clarifyingtheneedformore strategic focus on howweoperateandwhatprogramsaremostimportant.

2010-2015 KEY ELEMENTSTheStrategicPlanen-ables us to:• Determineclear

criteriaforsettingpriorities

• Focusourprogramstoachievespecificand measurable goals

• Communicateeffec-tivelyinnewwaysand through new technologies

• Bettersupportthe needs of and capitalizeonop-portunitiesfortheAdirondackNorthCountry

WeintendtocompletethefollowinggoalsnolaterthanDecember2013:• ExpandourconnectionstothethreeotherRegionalEconomicDevelopmentCouncilsin

theANCAregion• Furtherincreaseourworkinenergyconservation&renewables,throughsecuringadditional

grantsandhostingasecondCleanEnergyConference• Launcharegionwideproductbrandinginitiative,tohelpalargernumberofartisansandfood

producersgetaccesstobroadermarkers• Supportcommunitiesinidentifyingandsecuringfundstoimprovetheireconomies• Expandourcapacitytoserveourcommunitiesthroughrobustoutreachefforts

2013 ORGANIZATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Building vibrant rural communities and resilient local economies

67 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983518.891.6200 | [email protected]

www.adirondack.org

ANCA at a glance”

1. RESILIENT LOCAL ECONOMIESProvide the foundation for business development that creates family-sustaining jobs in rural communities

2. VIBRANT COMMUNITIESFoster connections between communities; enable visitors and residents to fully experience the region’s abundant cultural and natural assets

3. A STRONG SENSE OF PLACERecognize and highlight the exceptional assets that make this region unique and build the case for investment in the region

ALL OUR

WORK

SUPPORTS

3 BIG GOALS:

The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) is an independent not-for-profit organization working to strengthen key sectors of the economy in the Adirondack North Country.


5 PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE OUR WORK:1. Entrepreneurs and small businesses are the engines of our economy

2. Clean energy is a powerful economic driver for the region

3. Working Landscapes — farmlands, forests and wild places — are the foundation of our economy

4. The unique and special characteristics of our small towns, villages and hamlets need to be preserved and promoted

5. A strong common identity for the Adirondack North Country region is fundamental

REGION AT A GLANCE

TheANCAregionincludesthefollowing14counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson,Lewis,Oneida,Oswego,St.Lawrence,Saratoga,Warren,andWashington

Important resources: • 14cities• 255towns• 1.26millionpeople• 1,000 small businesses

(with 100 or fewer employees)

• 781 large businesses (more than 100 em-ployees)

• 21 colleges and univer-sities

• Around 8,404 farms• Expandingbroadbandcapacityregionwide

• Maineconomicsectorsare health care, retail, tourism and manufac-turing

• Renewableenergypro-duction(hydroelectric,wind,biomassandsolar)

KEY FACTS

Reaching from north of the Erie Canal to the Canadian border, from Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain, the largely rural Adirondack North Country lies within a day’s drive of 90 million people, and sees millions of visitors each year. Definingnaturalassetsinclude:• ThespectacularAdirondackPark,aunique,6million-acremixofprivateandpublicland

thatishometo103communitiesandthehighestmountainsintheState

• ThepastoralandscenicTugHillPlateau,with63communitiesandthedeepestsnowfallintheEasternUnitedStates;

• Thelandmark1,000IslandsRegion,fromLakeOntarionorthontheSt.LawrenceRiver;

• FertilevalleysalongtheBlackRiverandSt.LawrenceRiver,LakeChamplain,theHudsonRiverandtheMohawkRiver.

• 8.8 million forested acres • Morethan2,500ponds,lakesandrivers• 31,000milesofstreamsandrivers

The AdirondackNorth Country covers the 14 northernmost counties of New York’s upstate region, comprising 38% of the State’s geography, and 6.4% of its population.

Where we work

• BusinessandCommunityDevelopment• Energy• Explore/ScenicByways• ArtisanSupport• WorkingLandscapes:Agriculture,ForestEconomy,

Recreation

What we doANCA’s reach across the region, and its history of providing practical support to a broad constituency positions ANCA to take a strong lead in working with the region to map a more sustainable future.

Where we work

CORE VALUESInourdailyworkweareguidedbyourcoreinstitutionalvalueswhichinfluenceourprogramsandpartnerships.• Inclusiveness… working with a diverse

setofpartners• Integrity…candorandopennesschar-

acterizethewaywework• Innovationandcreativity… we em-

braceabroadrangeofapproaches• Beliefindialogue…. we work to facili-

tate shared strategies • Non-partisan....weworkwithpart-

nersacrossthepoliticalandideologi-calspectrum

APPROACH ANCA‘sapproachisbuiltonaconvictionthatchangeisinevitable,thatpeoplecanworktogethertoinfluencethedirectionofchange,andthattransformationstartswithanobjectiveunderstandingofwherewearetodaycoupledwithavisionforthefuture.Itcontains the following elements: • Partnerships:Weworkwithbusinesses,localgovernment,othernon-profits,univer-

sitiesandcommunitiestobuildimpactfulprogramsandactionableoutcomes• Objectivity:Ourdecisionsarebasedonfacts• Economicdiversity:Wesupportsmallandlargebusinesseswiththepotentialfor

enhancing the region’s economic well being • Resultsoriented:Wegetthingsdonethroughexcellentprojectmanagement.We

continuetoattractfundingbecauseofourhistoryofdeliveringonprojects• Vision:Weinspirelarge,longertermgoals

MISSION ANCA’s mission is to catalyze sustainable economic development across the Adirondack North Country and to enhance the quality of life of the people who live, work and visit here.

We: • Fostertheconditionsnecessaryforbusinessdevelopment•Manageprogramsthatincreaseregionalself-reliance•Developprojectsandpartnershipsthatsupportregionalbusinessesandbringinvestmenttotheregion’sruralplaces

• Spotlighttheextraordinarynatural,culturalandhistoricassetsoftheregion•AdvocatefortheregionattheStateandnationallevels

THE NEXT SIX PAGES PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF ANCA’S PROGRAM AREAS

Within the largely rural Adirondack North Country, we have long known that there are significant business opportunities in agriculture and specialty foods, energy efficiency, tourism, other business services, wood products and biomass-based energy, manufacturing, and crafts. ANCA recognizes that economic stability comes from greater diversity throughout the region, from larger anchor businesses and institutions as well as start-ups and existing small businesses.

All our programs support entrepreneurs that make up the core of our communities: artisans, farmers, contractors, and those who serve our region’s visitors.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses are the foundation of resilient rural economies

• ANCAExecutiveDirectorKateFishwaschosenbyGov.AndrewCuomotoserveontheNorthCountryRegionalEconomicDevelopmentCouncil.TheCouncil’sStrategicPlanreceivedoneoffourBestPlanAwardsgivenStatewide,andbroughtin$103Minfundingfortheregion.

• HostedaneconomicsummitforANCA’s2011AnnualMeetingontheStateoftheAdirondackNorthCountry,thatfeatureddata-drivenpre-sentationsfromexpertswithEmpireStateDevelopmentandtheFederalReserveBankofNewYork,attractingmorethan175attendees.

• PlayedakeyroleinfacilitatingtheAdirondackFuturesProject,ayear-longscenarioplanningprocessfortheAdirondackPark.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:• Buildingonourrelationshipswiththeregion’scollegesanduniversities.

RecentcollaborationshaveinvolvedPaulSmith’sCollege,ClarksonUni-versityandSt.LawrenceUniversity

• HighlightingsuccessstoriesinANCA’snewsletter,websiteandothercollateral.• Advocatingforincreasedaccesstobroadbandacrosstheregion.• Advancingaregionalbrandinginitiativetoeffectivelymarketproducts

basedonastrongsenseofplace.

Business and Community Development

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

• Alongwith7-countyconsortiumteam,willoverseecompletionofHomegrownSustainabilityPlanfortheNorthCountry,aspartoftheState’sCleanerGreenerCommunitiesprogramandbeginimplementationofgoalsandprojectsidentifiedinthePlan.

• Continuetobuildonourvisibilityasago-toorganizationforenergyconservation:Expandouroutreachandeducationprogramtoreach50%ofthetargetedaudiences,includinghome-owners,businessowners,municipalitiesandmeetourtargetsof76homesand10businessesperformingenergyupgrades.

• ContinuetoconnectNorthCountrycontractorstotrainingprograms• HostsecondannualNorthCountryCleanEnergyConference• PartneringwithotherorganizationsonasuccessfulapplicationtoNYSERDA’sEconomicDevel-

opmentandGrowthExtension(EDGE)program,whichwillallowustoexpandouroutreachtoincludecoordinationofresourcesforenergyefficiencyandR&D/renewableenergyprojects.

Energy

TARGET OUTCOMES 2013

Renewables and Conservation

ANCA’s objective is to reduce energy costs for people and communities, spur a transition to renewable energy sources, and increase the number of energy-related jobs.

ACHIEVEMENTS• Launchedenergyefficiencyprogramforresidentsand

smallbusinessesin10counties,throughtwogrants:GreenJobs,GreenNewYork,aprogramtoassistresi-dentsandsmallbusinessesinperformingenergyretrofitwork,aswellasaccessprojectfinancing.Inaddition,wehavepartneredwithWorkforceDevelopmentInstitutetohelpcontractorsupgradetheirskillstoperformworkinthisemergingfield.Energy$martCommunities:ANCAhaspartneredwithCornellCooperativeExtensionofJeffersonCountytoprovideenergyeducation,outreachservicesandcleanenergybusinessdevelopment

• OrganizedandhostedthefirstannualNorthCountryCleanEnergyConferenceinJune2012,whichattractedmorethan250participantsin6topicareas

• TooktheleadondevelopingtheNorthCountryRegionalEconomicDevelopmentCouncil’svisiongoalof“CreatingtheCleanestEnergyEconomyintheState”

• Playedakeyroleinsecuring$1MthroughtheStatewideCleanerGreenerCommunitiesprogramandarehelpingtocreateaSustainabilityPlanfortheNorthCountry

This group of young people helped pitch in to implement energy efficiency measures on St. Vincent of Paul Catholic Church in Cape Vincent, Jef-ferson County. ANCA’s energy efficiency program operates in partner-ship with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Workforce Development Institute and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County to connect homeowners and businesses to resources that cut energy bills for consumers, create jobs for building professionals, help build more self-reliant, sustainable communities and support the State’s goal of creating a Clean Energy Economy.

New York’s Scenic Byways connect visitors to more than 200 dynamic communities along 2,000 miles of routes statewide. Of the thirteen Scenic Byways in the Adiron-dack North Country, ANCA manages seven. Through Byway planning, marketing, interpretive and accessibil-

ity projects, ANCA empowers communities to reap the benefits of these important tourism assets. Since 2000, the Federal Highway Administration has invested more than $6M in ANCA’s Byway projects through the New York State Department of Transportation.

• Worktowardcompletionofmulti-userecreationpath• Enterpublicationphaseforaculturaltouringguidebook• BeginworkonelectronicmediakitsforthreeByways• PublishBikeMapanddesignBicyclistDayTripPlannerfor

AdirondackTrail(willbeprototypeforotherByways).• BeginimplementingANCA’sBywaySignageContinuityPlan• ContinuedevelopmentofMilitaryTrailCorridorManage-

mentPlan(CMP)• CelebratecompletionofWhitefaceMountainOlympic

RegionNaturalHistoryInterpretationProject• ContinueworkonAccessibilityAssessmentandPublic

AwarenessGuideforthreeByways

• Increaseeffortstoeducatebusinessowners,governmentofficials,tourismleadersandcommunityleadersonim-pactsandbenefitsoftheprogram

• Consider source of funding to maintain individual bike and bywayswebsites

• BeginrecruitmenttofindmanagementpartnerstotakeoverimplementationofeachBywayCMP

• CelebratecompletionofBlackRiverTrailandMapleTrailCMPsanddistributecopiesofplantocommunityleaders

• ContinueascommunicationsliaisonbetweenDOTRegions1,2,and7,andtheirservicecommunities

• SecurenewBywaysprojects


Touring routes highlight region’s assets; contribute to a thriving tourism market

Explore Community Connections

ACHIEVEMENTS• Secured$1.2MinFederalHighwayAdministrationfunding

tocompletemulti-modalrecreationpathconnectingLakePlacidandSaranacLake

• Launched14-countyBiketheBywaysWebsite

• PublishedWildlifeInterpretationBrochureandInvasiveSpe-cies Alert Brochure

• CompletedDuaneObservationDeckandInterpretiveSig-nageProject(FranklinCounty)

• SubmittedcompletedCorridorManagementPlanforDudeRanchTrail(soontobeFirstWildernessScenicByway)toState

• StateScenicBywaysAdvisoryCommitteeapprovedplansforBlackRiverTrailandMapleTraditionsScenicByways

• Increasethenumberofparticipantsatthe2013BuyerDaysshowto100vendorsand300retailers

• WorktoexpandgeographicalreachoftheshowtoincludemoreparticipantsfromtheNorthernNewYorkcounties,CentralNewYorkandtheHudsonValley

• DevelopnewpartnershipswithChambersofCommerceandothernonprofitstoassistwithshowmarketing

• Updatetheshow’smarketingmaterials,re-evaluateeffectivenessofshow’snameandidentityinmarketingitselfintheregion


ArtisanSupport

Buying locally made products keeps dollars circulating in the region

For 26 years, the Adirondack North Country Association’s juried gift products trade show has connected shop owners and other buyers to handmade and locally sourced goods and specialty foods, pur-chased directly from regional artisans and pro-ducers. The show draws vendors and buyers from New York State and New England generates an estimated $200,000 in sales during the two-day event. Since the show operates on a not-for-profit basis, we keep the booth fees low so exhibitors can further maximize their profits.

Locally Made and Locally Owned

• Organizedsuccessful26thBuyerDaystradeshow,attracting70 vendors, 19 of which were new to the show, and more than 200buyers

• Expandedthenumberoffoodproducersatthe2012show,up25percentfrom2011

• SecuredSaratogaSpringsCityCenterforMarch27-28,for2013show

• DevelopednewpartnershipwithTraditionalArtisansinUpstateNewYork(TAUNY)onanapplicationtotheNewYorkStateCouncilontheArts.Ourproposed“InvisibleFactory”projectwillhelpartisansprepareforwholesalemarkets.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Our vision: To strengthen the North Country’s cultural identity through transforming the “invisible factory” into a thriving and visible economic engine in our rural communities. Through building capacity for traditional artisans, we will enable them to reach larger markets, achieve greater visibility and be able to successfully make a living on their craft.

ANCA works in collaboration with USDA Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and other partners to help establish more robust local food economies

Successful local food systems are a key part of building regional self-reliance

• Developnewgrazingplansacross12NorthCountryCountiesincludingFranklin,St.Lawrence,Clinton,Essex,Warren,Washing-ton,Saratoga,Oneida,Herkimer,Lewis,JeffersonandOswegoandconductfollowupvisitswithproducerswhohavepreviouslydevelopedgrazingplans

• Co-hosteducationeventsacrosstheregion

• Betterpromotetheinnovationsinlocalfoodeconomiesacrosstheregion

• WorkwithlocalfoodproducersinlaunchofproductbrandinginitiativeandincreasenumberoflocalfoodproducersatannualBuyerDaystradeshowinSaratogaSprings

Working Landscapes

FarmsForestsWild Places


Farms

WITH MORE THAN 8,000 FARMS

IN THE ANCA REGION

CONTRIBUTING TO NYS’S $4 BILLION

IN ANNUAL AGRICULTURE SALES,

FARMING IS CRUCIAL

TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY

ACHIEVEMENTS• ANCAprovidesthetechnicalassistanceacross12North

CountryCountiestodevelopandmonitorgrazingplansforinterestedfarmers.In2012,wedeveloped28newgrazingplans,oversaw54followupvisits,andco-hostedapasturewalkandseriesofgrazingevents

• Helpedfarmersaccessenergyefficiencyincentives• Supportedprocurementoffundsforinnovativefoodpro-

cessingfacilitiesandfooddistributionprojects• ParticipatedinregionalhearingbyHouseAgricultural

CommitteeforreauthorizationofU.S.FarmBill

Fueling support for renewed interest in sustainably produced wood products

• Continuetoincreasecommunityawarenessabouttheeconomicbenefitsofanactiveandlocalthermalbiomasseconomythroughthe2ndannualNorthCountryCleanEnergyConferenceandotheroutreachefforts

• Monitorandassistinevaluationofcriticalquestionssuchaslong-termresourceavailability

• Advocateforretentionandexpansionofexistingwood-basedenterprisesincludingsolidwoodmanufacturingandpulpandpaperproducers.

• Promotetheappropriateuseoflandforbiomasscropsandbiofueldevelopment


The 8.8 million forested acres in the Adirondack North Country region serve a number of essential roles. Forestry and paper production continue to provide much-needed jobs, and a growing interest in woody biomass is becom-

ing a key component to this industry. ANCA advocates for the expansion of existing locally invested wood-based enterprises including value-added wood manufacturing, pulp and paper, and the cleaner use of biofuels.

Forests

Wild Places

ACHIEVEMENTS• HeldsuccessfulinformationaleventinpartnershipwithBiomass

EnergyResourceCenter(BERC)andNorthernForestCenterthatresultedintwopilotprojects,inTownofSaranacandHopkin-ton-ParishvilleSchoolDistrict

• SawstrongattendanceinBiomassTractatthefirstNorthCountryCleanEnergyConferencethatANCAledin2012.

• Highlightedsuccessstoriesinnewsletterandonline• Supportedtheallocationof$30Minindustrialrevenue

bondstoRe:Energy

Elevating global recognition of the region as one of the special places on the planet to visit, live, work and study

Many of ANCA’s projects highlight the extraordinary assets our region has to offer. While many of these projects fall within our Scenic Byways program, we believe they are worthy of special attention in this new category.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND 2013 OUTCOMES • PublishedanddistributedaWildlifeInterpretationbrochureinEnglishandFrenchwithpartnersat

WildlifeConservationSociety.• PublishedanddistributedanInvasiveSpeciesAlertpocketguide,withpartnerssuchasAdirondackParkInvasivesProgram• Launcheda14-countyBiketheBywayswebsitethatfeaturesmountainbikingaswellasroadcycling• Bluewayswebsitedevelopment:ContinuetoseekfundingforaprojectthatwillpromotetheBluewaysoftheANCAregion• Consider source of funding to maintain individual bike and bywayswebsites• Exploreanddevelopnewprojectsthatwillhighlighttheregionasaglobaldestination

WeleveragetheinvestmentsmadeinANCAbyoursupportersthrougheffectiveprogramsthatreinvestthemoneybackintoourcommunities.

Oursupportersincludebusinessesandcorporations,ourcountiesandcommunities,culturalandartsorganizations,residentsandpeoplewhoseheartsareintheAdirondackNorthCountry,notforprofitsandsmallbusinesses,universitiesandcolleges,ChambersofCommerceandothers.Wewillcontinuetobroadenourbaseofsupportaswereach further milestones.

TheStateofNewYorkinvestsinANCAtoimplementitsprioritiesintheregion.IndividualStateagenciessuchasNewYorkStateEnergyResearchandDevelopmentAuthority,DepartmentofTransporta-tion,EmpireStateDevelopmentandtheOfficeoftheGovernorhaveentrustedANCAwithmanagementofeconomicdevelopmentprojectsfor the region.

SupportPARTNERSHIPSANCAcollaborateswithtechnical,business,localgovernment,non-profitand/oruniversitypartnersineachofitsprograms,andwewillcontinuetobroadenourpartnershipstobestservetheAdirondackNorthCountry.ANCA’skeystrengths-deepandlong-standingnetworksintocommunitiesacrosstheregion;excellentprojectmanagementskills;longhistoryofsuccessfulgrantprocurement;abilitytofacilitatecollaboration–areaugmentedbytheexpertiseofourpartners.

ANCA — working as an agent of change for the regionin collaboration with our partners, our supporters and the State of New York


www.adirondack.org

Since 1955, ANCA has brought people together around a common goal: working to strengthen the Adirondack North Country economy.

Documents

ANCA 2012 Strategic Plan