Corporate Challenge is an event of friendly competition that takes adults from the supportive sidelines of their kids' tournaments and offers them a similar challenge: form a team to design and build a LEGO MINDSTORM robot, and program it to accomplish a series of maneuvers around a common theme better than the competition.

Register soon to compete against these teams: State of Alaska DHSS, Legomaniacs, Integrity Real Estate Inspections & Alaska Robotics.

May 24th | 6:00 PM

The Baranof Hotel

Register now!

For many, the Juneau Maritime Festival is a fun day on the waterfront. For the Juneau Economic Development Council and festival planning committee it's a venue to highlight our city's rich maritime history as well as the importance of this industry for our economy. It is estimated that up to one-quarter of Juneau's workforce is in a maritime-related field. Maritime fields include seafood, government, tourism, education and shipping.

The #1 private employer in Alaska: the Seafood Industry!

New to the 2013 event is an Outerwear Fashion Show featuring many great Juneau businesses selling functional and fashionable outerwear. Juneau restaurants will also get their day in the sun at the Salmon and Beer on the Pier contest, where chefs submit a salmon dish to be paired with Alaskan Amber beer and then judged by a panel of foodies. 

Always a fan favorite is the Fillet Contest, this year supported by ASMI, Taku Smokeries and Alaska Glacier Seafood Company, whose strong presence at the festival reminds us of the significance of the seafood industry to Juneau's economy. Other activities featuring our fishermen, processors and hatcheries will include fillet demonstrations, fishing vessel tours, the popular DIPAC touch tank, and new this year, Fish Tote Races on the water.

Listen to Alaska Fish Radio's broadcast on the Juneau Maritime Festival and the importance of the seafood industry to Juneau's economy. 

764 professional fishermen and crew reside in Juneau

Juneau ranks 39^th of US ports in ex-vessel value of landed fish

The US Coast Guard, which boasts the largest federal workforce in Juneau, is instrumental to the Festival's success. Attendees can don a USCG survival suit, watch a team compete in the Cruise Line Tug o' War or tour a vessel. The Coast Guard Auxiliary will also be on hand teaching water safety with Kids Don't Float activities.

US Coast Guard employs 350 in Juneau

Juneau's significant maritime history and culture infuses the event. One People Canoe Society kicks off the day, the Alaska State Museum and the Alaska Marine Highway will exhibit, and a Native Artist Market sponsored by Jineít expands the Festival to Sealaska Plaza. So come out to the Festival or get involved! Support your local maritime economy and your friends and family whose livelihoods depend on the sea. 

www.juneaumaritimefestival.org

Population change is a combination of natural increase (more births than deaths) and migration into or out of a community. In Juneau, natural increase has been relatively stable over the past twelve years, increasing our population by an average of 250 people per year. Migration is the cause of the swings in population change seen year to year. Overall since 2000, Juneau's population has increased by 2,179 individuals. This growth is the result of a natural increase of 2,985 people, combined with net out-migration of 806 residents over this period. 

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development has recently produced a report entitled "A History of Alaska Population Settlement," which traces the history of Alaska's population growth from First Alaskans through modern day. Southeast Alaska was the most populated region, home of almost 35% of the population of Alaska, until about 1950. The arrival of the military and the discovery of oil led to rapid in-migration to the Rail Belt. Today, about 10% of the state population lives in our region. 

Link to report here. 

  From Facebook..... 

April 25th | Juneau's Economy was the topic in Cindy Pastorino's "Exploring Business" course at JDHS. JEDC Executive Director (and JDHS alum) Brian Holst spoke with the students about commerce in the region and of JEDCs role in maintaining, expanding, and creating economic opportunities.

April 19th  | JEDC participated in the community action team meeting for Any Given Child. Thank you to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for choosing Juneau as one of your partners in expanding arts education!

Get up to date JEDC news - join us on Facebook!         

JEDC offers a friendly and flexible workplace, a chance to be part of a dynamic and well-respected organization, along with salary commensurate with its employees' experience and background. Competitive benefits are available for qualifying positions, including health insurance, 401K retirement contributions, and paid leave and holidays.

FIRST Robotics Program Coordinator

JEDC seeks an exceptionally outgoing, organized, energetic, detail oriented, and graciously professional program officer to lead Alaska's highly successful statewide FIRST Robotics program. This position has statewide visibility, requires extensive travel, and is lots of fun.

JEDC is seeking two summer interns: one college-level or recent high school graduate to help with Summer Science camps and other STEM education programming; and another undergraduate (junior or senior) or graduate intern to assist with research and other economic development projects.