About Us | Mission
NAGC’s mission is to be the unifying voice of gateway communities and the center of collective action on their behalf. The association acts as a liaison with public land agencies, serves as an advocate for Gateway communities, and provides resources and technical support for the long term challenges influencing community vitality brought about by proximity to public lands.
NAGC focuses on the following goals:
• Balanced legislative, regulatory, and natural resource public policy,
• Appreciation for Gateway communities and the role they serve in public land management planning actions, and
• Serve as the premier resource for information influencing gateway community vitality.
Gateway communities fulfill an integral part of the mission of public lands by providing necessary services such as schools, roads, emergency service, medical support, living quarters and drinking water to both visitors and employees of land management agencies. The provision of these vital services is an essential ingredient for meaningful and enjoyable experiences by visitors to America’s public lands. These communities often serve as entry points for persons visiting public lands, providing important visitor information and acting as an essential element of a visitor’s public lands experience.
Public land visitors have significant impacts on gateway communities, either passing through enroute to other destinations or as visitors in these unique settings. These visitors are significant contributors to gateway community economies. Conversely, visitors may present challenges to communities as they seek to maintain the balance between growth and development and protect the unique setting that attracts visitors. Because of the unique relationship between communities and public land resources, development in some gateway communities may impact the management and protection of these lands.
Planning and management decisions of public land management agencies can have unintended consequences for gateway communities and the public lands when decisions are not adequately evaluated, communicated or coordinated with officials and residents of gateway communities. Working with both agencies and communities, the association works to facilitate effective community engagement in planned resource decisions. The desired outcome is a foundation of cooperation for informed, coordinated decisions. We believe effective communication and coordination will sustain the balance between community viability and long term stewardship of America’s public lands.
NAGC focuses on the following goals:
• Balanced legislative, regulatory, and natural resource public policy,
• Appreciation for Gateway communities and the role they serve in public land management planning actions, and
• Serve as the premier resource for information influencing gateway community vitality.
Gateway communities fulfill an integral part of the mission of public lands by providing necessary services such as schools, roads, emergency service, medical support, living quarters and drinking water to both visitors and employees of land management agencies. The provision of these vital services is an essential ingredient for meaningful and enjoyable experiences by visitors to America’s public lands. These communities often serve as entry points for persons visiting public lands, providing important visitor information and acting as an essential element of a visitor’s public lands experience.
Public land visitors have significant impacts on gateway communities, either passing through enroute to other destinations or as visitors in these unique settings. These visitors are significant contributors to gateway community economies. Conversely, visitors may present challenges to communities as they seek to maintain the balance between growth and development and protect the unique setting that attracts visitors. Because of the unique relationship between communities and public land resources, development in some gateway communities may impact the management and protection of these lands.
Planning and management decisions of public land management agencies can have unintended consequences for gateway communities and the public lands when decisions are not adequately evaluated, communicated or coordinated with officials and residents of gateway communities. Working with both agencies and communities, the association works to facilitate effective community engagement in planned resource decisions. The desired outcome is a foundation of cooperation for informed, coordinated decisions. We believe effective communication and coordination will sustain the balance between community viability and long term stewardship of America’s public lands.