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Hello Alaska,
January is the season for economic recaps and forecasts. This week the calendar included luncheons sponsored by the World Trade Center and the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, while the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation is on the schedule for next week. The outlook from this week's events was cautiously optimistic, but to paraphrase Jon Snare, Senior Vice President and Regional Investment Manager from Wells Fargo, who provided an international economic update for the WTC event, "if all economists were laid end-to-end, they still wouldn't reach a conclusion". Naturally economic forecasting is very industry specific. While construction may continue to see flat numbers, other sectors are projected to grow and thrive. In general all speakers spoke about continued improvements in the local economy, which already held its own very well in the last couple of years.
What struck me this week and will continue to do so is the staggering amount of information and indicators that offer insights into potential economic trends and the fact that they often point in different directions. Economists choose those factors that they deem viable and base their projections on that interpretation. Similar to Las Vegas betting houses who set the odds for games, economic prognosticators predict a result given all the available data and like those odds makers they seem to be right about fifty percent of the time.
Although consumer confidence is mentioned often, I am always surprised how little social factors and the human spirit are taken into consideration during the interpretation of economic models. In general we are perceived as sheep, who follow trends that are dictated by our confidence in the economy, our politicians and our fellow man. There are several obvious reasons why Alaska was less affected then almost every state in the union. However, I am a firm believe that the "sheep" mentality simply doesn't apply to Alaskans entrepreneurs. We have a little more drive, motivation and chutzpah than the next guy in the lower 48 and more often than not we look out for our neighbors.
Unlike most economists I contribute our steady economy and slow upswing to you Alaskans and specifically to those of you that owned a small business three years ago and still do so today. Thank you for persevering and fighting. Things are getting better! To those of you that may have had to throw in the towel recently, hang in there and think about jumping back into the mix. Slowly but surely, the water is getting nice again.
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I made what I consider to be a long overdue adjustment to the bids section and separated the Mat-Su Valley from South-Central. Don't want to have those get lost in the Anchorage shuffle. Additionally just a reminder that I segregated the State of Alaska bid opportunities a while a go and if you'll notice, there is a pile!
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Winter Alaska Gift & Food Show 2011 is in full swing. I'm not sure how you might get in at this late daye to be able to take advantage of this buying opportunity, but you can try to give Mike a call...................
January 21, 22 & 23, 2011
Dana'ina Convention Center in Anchorage, AK
Summer/Tourist Season. Wholesale Show. Call Mike Anderson at (907)929-2822, or visit www.alaskagiftshow.com for more information or to register
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If you haven't been to www.alaskanstateofmind.com in a while, please check it out again and snoop around a little bit. The site is not only the home of the "Alaska owned and operated" T-shirts, but a phenomenal resource when it comes to our fair state. Becky recently added a very good Lance Mackey video here: http://www.alaskanstateofmind.com/Trivia.html
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Here is the first business to send me their valentine's info.
Thank you Land's End Resort!!
Lea has hooked up a very cool Valentine's Weekend Package that includes a wedding expo, dinner and a Sweethearts Dance on the weekend of Feb 11-14. Please email, landsendsales@alaska.net, or call her (907) 299-4210 to get the details. Check out their revamped website at www.lands-end-resort.com to always get the latest info.
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City-Wide Career and Job Fair at UAA
Friday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wells Fargo Sports Complex
The annual City-Wide Career and Job Fair features about 100 local and national companies and organizations offering full-time, part-time, seasonal and internship opportunities in various career fields. This event is open to UAA students and alumni of all majors and community members. Attendees should dress professionally and bring resumes to give to prospective employers.
This fair is sponsored by the UAA Career Services Center. For more information, please contact Devon Rust at drust@uaa.alaska.edu, or call (907) 786-4513.
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The Rasmuson Foundation is inviting all Alaska artists to apply for grant funding
Alaska artists are invited to apply for Individual Artist Awards to support the activities and experiences necessary to nurture and foster their creative work. Artists who are currently producing or performing work, are at least 18, and who have lived in Alaska for at least two years are eligible to apply. More information including the full guidelines is available at http://www.rasmuson.org/index.php?switch=viewpage&pageid=92
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The Health Fairs continue around the state next month and here are the February dates:
FEB 5 9am- noon Rogers Park Community Health Fair (in memory of Gerrie Ivy)1st Christian Church 3010 La Touche Anchorage
FEB 5 9am-noon Bethel Community Health Fair Yuiit Piciryarait Cultural Center. Blood draws are 9am-noon, health faircontinues until 4pm
FEB16 9am-noon Kenai Peninsula College Community Health Fair 156 College Rd. Soldotna. Blood draws go until noon, Health fair continues until 4pm.
FEB 19 8am-noon Mt.View Community Health Fair
Held at Boys and Girls Club, 315 Price St, Anchorage. This health fair is specialized for those with language barriers in several languages. Interpreters are planned to be available to help with Spanish, Hmong, Samoan, and Tagalog. We may add other languages if Interpreters become available. Brought to you by, AUY Family Services Collaboration.
Claudia Hering has the 411. You can reach her at ahfaa@gci.net, or 907-278-0234
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You're cordially invited to join the Palmer, Wasilla, Houston and Mat-Su Borough Mayor's in an evening of fun and help fight hunger in the Valley with live music by Bill Tull's Big Band
January 29th, 8:00pm-11:00pm at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fair Grounds.
Tickets are $30 each, or purchase a table of 8 for $200
All proceeds to benefit the United Way, Salvation Army and Mat-Su Valley Food Banks
For more information call 907-745-2880, or click here to purchase online
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Alaska Top Forty Under 40 Awards - Now accepting nominations
Sponsored by the Alaska Journal of Commerce, the awards recognize the state's top young professionals younger than age 40 who have demonstrated professional excellence and a commitment to their community. Attached is a flyer that you can post to encourage nominations to this prestigious recognition program.
Criteria for Selection:
- Must be younger than age 40 on January 1, 2011
- Must live and work in Alaska year-round
- Must have demonstrated professional excellence in their field
- Must display a commitment to the community
Find nomination forms at http://www.alaskajournal.com.
Simply download the form, fill it out, and e-mail it as an attachment to editor@alaskajournal.com.
An event to honor those selected is set for March 2011.
For questions, contact: Melissa Campbell, Managing Editor of the Alaska Journal of Commerce - (907) 275-2158, or editor@alaskajournal.com
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