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Economic Development and Advocacy for Southwest Alaska
August 2012   
Greetings!
Hello, and thanks for reading the latest SWAMC newsletter for members and friends of the region. The summer has been an absolute blur for most of us, but at least our lawns and gardens have been getting enough moisture these last few months. And hey, nobody in Alaska is facing a drought and threat of dropping livestock, so I guess that's a positive. This month we'll talk about a new seafood cluster award, energy and broadband planning, and more. As always, thanks for reading and keep in touch.
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SWAMC Broadband Strategy in Draft Form, Seeking Comments micro tower

When it comes to broadband service, Southwest Alaska is fortunate to be better-connected than many other vast regions of rural Alaska. The northeast portion of Kodiak Island has fiber running from the Kenai Peninsula. Bristol Bay and Lower Kuskokwim villages will soon gain access to a fiber optic-microwave middle mile system that represents the first terrestrial broadband network in this corner of the state. And we will keep our fingers crossed that next generation satellite technology (and spot beam positioning) can provide the Aleutians and Pribilofs with some of the same Anchorage equivalent speeds that other SW Alaska sub-regions will experience. There is still a lot of work remaining to increase broadband access in the entire region,   

Technology improvements are grand, of course, but how can folks use new system improvements? Can educators and health care providers improve their services? Can governments engage with citizens more effectively? Are first responders provided network tools to react faster? And perhaps most importantly from SWAMC's perspective, can broadband access create new economic development and business opportunities in a knowledge-based economy? Essentially, what do you do with faster internet and improved telecommunications? With assistance from a rural technology group, SWAMC convened several SW Alaska stakeholders in a series of meetings over the summer to address some of these questions. A draft report entitled Regional Applications for a Digital Economy is available for review and we would love feedback from Southwest Alaskans on what possibilities you see for the region with technology improvements. The report contains findings and action recommendations creating more broadband opportunities in Southwest Alaska, but please lend your voice if we are missing some of the issues you feel are important!   

Bristol Bay Partners Win Major Grant Award for Jobs Accelerator fishy

Earlier this month USDA Rural Development announced that a collaborative of Bristol Bay partners won an exclusive funding award from USDA-RD and the Economic Development Administration as part of the Rural Jobs & Innovation Accelerator Challenge. The Bristol Bay Jobs Accelerator Project was one of only 13 projects selected in a nation-wide competition, and one of only two sited west of the Mississippi River. According to the press release, "BBNA will provide technical assistance to the Southwest Alaska Vocational and Education Center (SAVEC) to build training capacity in the Bristol Bay fisheries and seafood processing industry cluster," said USDA-RD Alaska State Director Jim  Nordlund. "In addition, funds will be used to provide technical assistance services, organization and management of an industry conference event, and development of a regional fisheries business cooperative. The project will accelerate job creation in the fisheries and seafood industry through boosting workforce skills, growing seafood manufacturing and developing effective marketing linkages." You can read the full press release here.    

A hearty congratulations from SWAMC; we look forward to supporting the "BB's" any way we can with this effort! 

SWAMC Working with Regional Partners on Energy Plans  kokhanok wind

SWAMC recently signed a pair of contracts with the Alaska Energy Authority to facilitate regional energy planning efforts in Southwest Alaska. The plans will include rigorous resource assessments and inventories, energy data analysis, research of past planning efforts, a methodology for prioritizing energy projects in a region, and in some cases even GIS mapping. 

SWAMC and the Bristol Bay Native Association are partnering to develop the Bristol Bay plan. We've worked with BBNA on several energy projects in the past including the Energy Savers Tips booklet and the SWAMC Energy Policy. A majority of the "BB" entities will be involved in this process at some phase as we seek feedback from regional organizations and stakeholders.

SWAMC will work with the "A Team" to develop the Aleutian/Pribilofs plan. The A Team consists of organizations such as The Aleut Corp, APICDA, APIA, Aleutian Housing Authority, and others. SWAMC has also worked with most of these organizations on energy issues and we expect a solid partnership going into this effort.

 

Both regional teams will commence work on the energy plans this summer, with the goal of finishing Phase I of the plans by next Spring. We intend to hold a one-day energy workshop in conjunction with SWAMC's Annual Conference next February to go through the planning processes more in-depth for all SWAMC members and those SW Alaska stakeholders interested in getting involved in the energy plan efforts. Stay tuned for more updates!       

Community Spotlight: NEW STUYAHOK
spotlight

New Stuyahok, a long-time member and supporter of SWAMC, is a dynamic community located on the beautiful and bountiful Nushagak River. New Stuyahok, which means "going downriver place" in Yup'ik, has moved twice down the Nushagak to its present location 50 miles northeast of Dillingham, from where it receives regular flights (or used to- PenAir's announcement at the time of this writing will change the flight service landscape in SW Alaska). The primary economic base in "New Stuy" is the salmon fishery, and in 2012 29 residents held commercial fishing permits.  

 

The community is poised for long-term growth and health thanks to the salmon fishery and recent infrastructure investments, like the new and modern sanitation facilities built in 2009 in cooperation with ANTHC's Department of Environmental Health and Engineering. The joint project overcame challenges like transporting all the required fuel and supplies up the Nushagak, creating local jobs and a best-in-class facility that New Stuyahok residents and businesses can rely on for years to come. Along with other Bristol Bay communities, New Stuyahok will also benefit from GCI's TERRA-SW broadband initiative and SWAMC's own efforts to expand and utilize high-speed internet adoption and access in the region. Together with New Stuyahok's natural wealth and rich history and culture, these improvements promise to bring new, imaginative opportunities to the community. 

From the VISTA Desk: STEM Education Update swamcblade

July brought a couple of exciting new possibilities for STEM education in Southwest. First, ACEP and REAP unveiled their new Alaska-specific K-12 energy efficiency curriculum, AK Energy Smart. The curriculum challenges students to consider how they use energy and where it comes from, and the lessons explore everything from how polar bears keep warm, to solar energy, to the efficiency of Alaska Native dwellings. Students even get to design their own energy-efficient (or not) house. AK Energy Smart's lessons would couple very well with the KidWind and Wind for School renewable energy programs we descibed this spring.  

 

We are also continuing to work on the ocean science curriculum. There's been a lot of interest from K-12 teachers in Kodiak, as well as from teachers with the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program in Southwest. We were happy to learn this month of a new, simpler procedure to process shellfish tissue samples and test them for PSP. This new process should be much more accessible for schools, allow more students to participate and even let classes test their samples in the field without a lab.

Business Spotlight - Each month we'll highlight one or two member businesses  of SWAMC.
HIGH TIDE ENVIRONMENTAL & EXPLORATION: High Tide HTE Environmental was formed in 2010 to help clients responsibly develop their infrastructure and respond to resource agency concerns regarding endangered species. High Tide Environmental is the prime environmental consultant on the Akutan Harbor Access Road project, which is in the final stages of the NEPA process and permitting. In 2011, High Tide Exploration was formed to compliment the coastal ecology role of High Tide Environmental and utilizes a small remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to gather high quality underwater video. Our ROV is highly portable and can be deployed with one person, which is a major asset in remote communities. We focus on ecological surveys and marine infrastructure surveys and the ROV can even fit inside a potable water tank for inspections. As a single member company, clients are insured a rapid response and the benefit of over 12 years of experience in SW Alaska on issues related to Steller's eiders, sea otters, harbor development, underwater noise, and coastal ecology. Southwest AK has been a second home for over a decade and we keep coming back for the wildlife, weather, and the people. Please visit www.HighTideAlaska.com for more information and to view sample videos. High Tide E & E is a new SWAMC member.    
Life from the Fish Camp- West Side Kodiak
Musings from Erik O'Brien, SWAMC Economist & Development Specialist.

Come summer time SWAMC's resident economist, Erik O'Brien, participates in SW Alaska's main economic engine, commercial fishing. Erik's parents began spending summers in Naknek working on the processing lines in the late 1960s, and soon fell in love with Southwest Alaska. By the mid-1970s they were entrenched in the Alaska lifestyle, living in Kodiak, working for the local area Native organization and commercial fishing. Today Erik runs the family set-net operation with his brothers, spending summers in Larsen Bay on Kodiak's Westside.


Fishing being what fishing is, the boom years of the 1990s and 2000s came to a halt in 2008 when the runs collapsed. Luckily for Kodiak fishermen, Alaska's marketing efforts had begun to pay dividends, and salmon prices were stronger then they had been in years. The current season is showing signs of reprieve for weary fishermen as the salmon are once again flowing and nets are in the water.
(at least on Kodiak)eob skiff
 
There is no typical day at fish camp, although there are certain things that you expect. Whether they pan out is another issue. Setting up the camp at the beginning of the season is where everyone comes together for the first time over the long winter to knock the rust off the machines, set anchors and prepare the nets. The early season starts off with lazy days, as nets are clean, tides calm and fishing is relatively slow, catching only the money fish, sockeye. As the season wears on, volume fishing begins, jellyfish arrive and the current gains velocity. During the busy season, the working hours are many with daylight (and some without). Over this period, everyone is tired, but satisfied with the accomplishment of hauling in thousands of pounds of fish. The season closes out as the volume fishing for pinks and chum slows and the lazy days return of slow steady sockeye fishing. When the fish finally slow to a trickle everyone collectively agrees its time to pack up the gear, wrapping up another year at fish camp.  
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In This Issue...
Draft Broadband Strategy
Bristol Bay Jobs Accelerator
Regional Energy Plans
Community Spotlight
STEM Ed Update
Business Spotlight
Life from the Fish Camp
join swamc
These folks already have:
Adak, City of
AIDEA
Akutan, City of
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Aerospace Corp.*
Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers*
Alaska Cruise Association
Alaska Groundfish Data Bank
Alaska Scallop Association
Alaska Village Electric Coop.
Aleutians East Borough
Aleutian Housing Authority
Alyeska Seafoods
APICDA
At-Sea Processors Assoc.
Atka, City of
Belkofski Tribal Council
Boyd, Chandler & Falconer
Bristol Bay Borough
Bristol Bay Campus- UAF
Bristol Bay Housing Auth.
Bristol Bay Native Assoc.
Bristol Bay Native Corp.
Coastal Transportation Inc*
Commercial Fishing & Agriculture Bank (CFAB)
Crowley Petroleum Dist.
Curyung Tribal Council
Dillingham, City of
DOWL HKM*
Egegik, City of
False Pass, City of
First National Bank Alaska
The Foraker Group
Grand Aleutian Hotel
HDR Engineering
High Tide Environmental & Exploration*
Icicle Seafoods
Karluk Village Council
King Cove, City of
King Cove Corporation
Kodiak, City of
Kodiak College- UAA
Kodiak Inn - Best Western
Kodiak Island Borough
Lake & Peninsula Borough
Marine Advisory Program
Marine Stewardship Council
McDowell Group
New Stuyahok, City of
Northern Economics, Inc.
Nushagak Cooperative
Old Harbor, City of
Pacific Seafood Processors Association
Pebble Limited Partnership
Pedro Bay Corporation
Pilot Point, City of
PND Engineers, Inc.
Port Lions, City of
Qagan Tayagungin Tribe*
St. Paul, City of
Sand Point, City of
Shumagin Corporation
Southwest Alaska Vocational Education Center (SAVEC)
The Aleut Corp.
UniSea, Inc.
Vitus Marine LLC*
WACDA
Westward Seafoods

*Denotes new member.

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DCCED

USDA RD

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SWAMC Board of Directors
Shirley Marquardt, Pres.
Alice Ruby 
Glen Gardner
Joe Sullivan 
Kathleen Totemoff 
Lamar Cotten 
Layton Lockett 
Louise Stutes
Patrick Jordan 
Paul Gronholdt 
Trevor Brown 

SWAMC Staff

 Andy Varner
Executive Director


Erik O'Brien 
Economist; Development Specialist 
 
Cameron Dean 
STEM Coordinator/VISTA 
Upcoming Events & Dates to Remember
As always...
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