by Nick Rose

As 2015 ends many of us look back on the past year, and hopefully your year was as positive as CAP-21’s. The organization completed its year in its new home in the Adirondack Bank building, with a new office manager.

Incorporated in 2001, CAP-21 has emerged as a major resource for our communities, bringing over $8.2 million in investments and grants back to the region. CAP-21 continues to work across 3 counties, serving the five communities of Forestport, Webb, Inlet, Long Lake and Indian Lake.

The focus of CAP-21 remains on the three core areas of economic revitalization, social responsibility and environmental balance.

The Board of CAP-21 measures its progress by hands-on activity in all of these three areas.

At the core of CAP-21 is its community grant writing program which provides assistance to any of our five towns as well as any community organization committed to working with us.

During 2015, CAP-21 was able to secure grants on behalf of the Woodgate and Inlet libraries, the North Woods Community Center, the Inlet Community/ Senior Center, the Town of Webb recreation programs, the Town of Long Lake, the Inlet Barn-stormers Snowmobile Club, and just recently, for completion of the Niccolls Mission Boutique building.

CAP-21 was also instrumental in working with the Central Adirondack Association (CAA), the Town of Webb and Herkimer County to implement the Old Forge Thendara Community Transportation Shuttle this past summer.

The Community Grant Writing program was initiated with support from the Com-munity Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and receives sustaining support from the CAA, Herkimer County and the towns of Webb and Inlet.

CAP-21 continues to administer the hanging flower basket and holiday basket programs as a means to help maintain the beauty and attractiveness of our communities.

CAP-21 also continues to administer the Old Forge Farmers’ Market during a 16-week market season, providing support for regional farmers and artisans, as well being a local Friday economic driver for Old Forge.

All of the market proceeds are put back into the community, supporting our two local food pantries.

A major role for CAP-21 has developed as a voice for the region in projects that impact the entire Adirondack Park.

CAP-21 is on the advisory board for projects like the Recreation Portal & Mobile App; the Adirondack Lodging & Trail Systems project; the Great South Woods project; and the Adirondack Trail Towns project.

We are a regional partner with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program and member of the Adirondack Nonprofit Network (ANN), the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA), the NY Council on Non-Profits (NYCON), and the Common Ground Alliance.

Our local voice was added to such Park-wide topics as the Remsen-Lake Placid Transpor-tation Corridor Unit Management Plan, the Essex Chain of Lakes UMP, and the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.

Most of the NY State grant funding now occurs through the annual Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process which takes place every summer.

During the most recent CFA award announcements, CAP-21 was successful in helping to obtain a NY Main Street grant for Indian Lake as well as a waterfront revitalization project for the Town of Inlet.

CAP-21 continues to work with Long Lake on a waterfront project within that community and the Arrowhead Park revitalization project in Inlet.

CAP-21 also administers the Inlet Barnstormers trails equipment grant through the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation.

All in all, not a bad year but there is so much to accomplish.

Our wish list for 2016:

• We need a new board member, want to be a part of a great organization?

• We need watering teams for the summer hanging basket program, do you have just a few hours a week to help make your community look like a great place to live, work and play?

• We need volunteers to help us with our CAPPY Duck adoptions. The Duck Derby is our only fundraiser and we need help to get those ducks in the river. The Derby makes the difference between the organization being in the red or the black.

• We need members, want to support a great organization? Donate by mail (P.O. Box 642, Old Forge, NY 13420), on-line at www.cap-21.org or drop by the office. Please help us continue our good work.

• And most importantly, prosperity, vitality and health for our Adirondack communities in 2016 and beyond. May the Duck Be With You!