AdkAction emerged during the summer of 2007 when a group of more than 30 Adirondack residents held meetings in their living rooms to discuss environmental and community challenges.  The idea of forming an action committee to make progress for the Adirondacks arose at the earliest meetings. The group concluded that such a committee, with its ability to raise money, and support important issues, was needed to advocate for the specific interests of the Adirondacks.

We were founded on the principle that a small number of passionate people can make a big difference.

During the fall of 2007 AdkAction moved from concept to reality. A community survey produced the following high-priority issues which at least 2/3 of the respondents Agreed or Strongly Agreed were important:

• Broadband access throughout the Adirondacks
• Improved state planning and oversight of water quality, control of invasive species,
• Management of road salt and its environmental impacts
• Fair and consistent property assessments for all residents, both local and seasonal
• Strengthened enforcement of existing land and water use codes
• Elimination of State-imposed and unfunded mandates
• Property tax reform, including seeking alternative means to funding education and caps on property tax increases until a property is sold
• More projects that generate jobs and attract visitors, like the Community Store, Adirondack Carousel, etc.
• Control of boats moving from lakes with invasive species
• State tax-equivalent support for State land, equal to private taxation levies
• Control of “sprawl” through better planning and land use regulations, plus retail building and plaza size limits throughout the Park
• Park-wide standards for personal watercraft use

Many of the ideas from the survey became AdkAction projects.  With such a rich variety of project ideas, the non-profit board of directors that formed to govern AdkAction decided that the number of project areas that the organization would take on would depend only on the number of passionate people on the board. AdkAction became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit early 2011.

Today, each of our projects is lead by a passionate board member with the help of AdkAction staff.  Experts are brought in as necessary, and we work with partner organizations and consultants to ensure adequate capacity and expertise in each project area.  With this structure we are able to have a positive, out-sized impact on Adirondack communities. 

Our current projects include conserving pollinator habitat, preventing road salt pollution, promoting local artists, increasing access to high-speed internet, and revitalizing Adirondack communities, and increasing food access.  We manage and execute our projects to the highest standards with clear measures of success in place.