The 2013 Innovation Summit brought together over 180 business, government and education leaders to cultivate ideas and collaborate on behalf of the Southeast Alaska economy. The two-day summit featured 37 presenters and panelists, was packed with sessions focused on key industries and challenges specific to our region, and offered a wide variety of professional development and networking opportunities.

 

In 2012, JEDC facilitated two scoping meetings to gauge interest in aligning research interests among federal and state laboratories, the University of Alaska and private industry in Southeast Alaska. In January 2013 JEDC convened a steering committee composed of representatives from the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station, UAF's School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, the UAS School of Arts and Sciences, and the Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center to move a framework of research collaboration forward. The committee subscribed to JEDC's Cluster Working Group model of collaboration as a platform for developing specific action initiatives to align research interests.

 

The first meeting of the R&D Cluster Working Group was subsequently held on February 21st to identify areas of opportunity for collaboration, cooperation and expansion of research capability. Eight focus areas were identified and volunteers are now developing actionable initiatives to recommend at the group's next meeting. 

 

Read more about the R&D Cluster Working Group at JEDC.org/seclusterinitiative. 

The Juneau Maritime Festival is an annual event that is fueled by community volunteers and local sponsors. Join the planning committee, participate as as a vendor, provide a maritime-related activity or showcase your organization as a sponsor or exhibitor.  Contact Jessy Post at maritime@jedc.org, 523-2335, for more information or to get involved. Take a peek at this year's festivities at juneaumaritimefestival.org.

 

Juneau's economy is far more dependent on tourism than any other region of the state. In Southeast Alaska, visitor industry employment accounts for nearly a quarter of all jobs (10,200 full and part-time jobs, including both direct and indirectly induced) and represents 15% of all labor income, according to a recent study released by the McDowell Group.* While half of all visitor-industry employment occurs in Southcentral Alaska (18,900 jobs), this represents only 7% of total employment and 4% of total labor income in that much larger economy. At 7,000 jobs, the interior region comes closest to Southeast in visitor industry employment, but here, too, this is only 11% if total jobs in that region.

 

The majority of Southeast visitors arrive by cruise ship. However, between 2008-09, the last time impacts were evaluated, and 2011-12, the composition of visitors to Alaska changed, with cruise volume dropping by 14 percent while air visitor volume increased by 14 percent. The drop in cruise passenger visits resulted in an employment decline in Southeast Alaska by approximately 400 jobs (a decline of 4%), while Southcentral added 1,300 jobs (a 7% increase) and the interior added 800 jobs (a 13% increase) largely because of the increase in the air visitor market.

 

KTVA Channel 11 News, March 8 

 

Alaska Journal of Commerce, March 3

 

Juneau Empire, February 26  

 

CoastAlaska Public Radio, February 20

 

Juneau Empire, February 12

 

Innovation Summit Draws Southeast Industry 

Juneau Empire, February 11 

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Sincerely,

Executive Director