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2025 Annual Forward Together Conference

Presented by the Lake Champlain - Lake George Regional Planning Board

Registration is now SOLD OUT

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This year's conference will be held on October 1st, 2025 at The Lodge at Schroon Lake, Schroon Lake, NY

8:30 - Opening Remarks

Kisha Santiago, Deputy Secretary of State for Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure

New York State Department of State

Agenda and Speakers:

Track A: PLANNING TO PROGRESS

9:15 - 10:15: Making Your Plan Work: Take the Next Step

  • Turning Plans into Action: Tips and Tricks to Ensuring Your Plan Doesn't Sit on the Shelf - Norabelle Greenberger, LaBella Associates
  • Forward Together: Implementing Big Ideas - Beth Gilles, LCLGRPB
  • Recreation Economy for Rural Communities: Planning in Action - Megan McConville, EPR

10:45 - 12:00: Plans that Paid Off: Stories of Impact and Innovation

  • Lessons in Action: Planning Done Right - Allison Gaddy, LCLGRPB
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (NJIT TAB) Program


Track B: KNOW YOUR WORTH

9:15 - 10:15: Work Your Assets - Capitalize on what you have

  • Planning with Purpose to Connect Assets with Economic Opportunities - Allison Gaddy, LCLGRPB & Ethan Gaddy, Warren County
  • Value Chain Mapping and Wealth Creation in Small Communities -Melissa Levy, National Association of Development Organizations

10:45 - 12:00: Local Motion - Adventure, Art and Ag for Economic Development

  • Building Tourism in an Agricultural County - Laura Oswald & Amy Hoffer, Washington County
  • Creating Economic Value through Arts and Culture - Tanya Tobias-Tomis, Lake George Arts Project
  • Connecting communities, businesses, and visitors through the Adirondack Rail Trail and The Value of Building Community by Bike - Julia Goren, Adirondack Rail Trail & Doug Haney, Bike ADK

SOLD OUT - 12:15 - 2:00: Lunch-Hour Conversations with State and Federal Funding Agencies (Optional add-on session; extra cost applies)

An optional add-on to the Forward Together Conference, this lunch session offers attendees the chance to sit down with Program Directors from state and federal funding agencies. Enjoy a catered meal by The Brown Swan while discussing funding opportunities for projects that drive our region Forward, Together


Attending Agencies include;

  • New York State Empire State Development
  • Lake Champlain Basin Program
  • National Grid
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • New York State Department of State
  • New York State Department of Transportation
  • New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
  • New York State Homes and Community Renewal
  • Northern Border Regional Commission


Thank you to our Conference Sponsors: