JEDC News

News from the Juneau Economic Development Council | JEDC.org
Wednesday June 12, 2013


Electric Vehicles for Juneau The Renewable Energy Cluster Working Group has plugged in a new Action Initiate. Read more...	Halibut Heads to Heavy Metal JEDC connects fish processors to new technology for mining. Read more...	Corporate Challenge is Friday! Grown ups get thier chance at building NXT robots. Come watch the teams compete. Read more...

The Electric Vehicle Action Initiative is charging up!

The Renewable Energy Cluster has a new action initiative that could put Juneau on the map for green transportation. The relatively short road systems that characterize Juneau and Southeast communities nearly eliminate the concern of miles driven between charges, potentially making them ideal for electric vehicle use.

JEDC staff met in Seattle earlier this year with Innovation Summit speaker & former Washington Senator Jim Kastama who helped connect the Renewable Energy Cluster Working Group with electric vehicle resources in the Pacific Northwest.

The Electric Vehicle Action Initiative Team meets Thursday, June 13th at JEDC to move forward on specific actions set by the group in May. If you would like to learn more please contact Zach Wilkinson at JEDC. zwilkinson@jedc.org

JEDC connects fish processors to new technology for mining

JEDC recently facilitated a shipment of Halibut heads and carcasses from Juneau's Taku Smokeries to ETS Partners, an Arizona based company. ETS plans to use the Halibut heads and carcasses to manufacture a product they call Nureus. Nureus is a new environmental technology that uses fish bone for heavy metal remediation. The potential adoption of this technology by the mining industry and/or by government agencies and others involved in processes involving heavy metals could represent a new market opportunity for a waste stream from Alaska's seafood processing industry.

JEDC's involvement with ETS Partners and these technologies goes back over the last couple years. This technology was developed by scientists at the US Army Corp of Engineers ERDC- Environmental Lab in Vicksburg, MS. JEDC's Technology Transfer program has facilitated two CRADA's in Alaska related to this technology, as well as assisting in the licensing of the patent for this technology from ERDC to ETS partners.

For more information, please contact JEDC Technology Transfer Manager, Zach Wilkinson, at zwilkinson@jedc.org

Corporate Challenge is this Friday!

We say our kids teach us things every day - but it's not every day that you see kids actually coaching their parents in a real-life competition. Jessie (grade 8) and Jordan (HS Sophomore) have been mentoring their parents, John and Alyson Cooper, in building and programming robotics. Both girls have competed with the Girl Scouts FIRST LEGO League Robotis team and Jordan recently advanced to the state level with her all girls FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team from Thunder Mountain High School. The team, Genetic Advantage, was the only from Juneau to receive an invitation to the FTC State Championship.

This year John & Alyson compete for the title on the Integrity Real Estate Inspections team, sponsored by the business they own and operate.

Five teams will go head-to-head Friday night building and programming a Lego NXT robot to complete a mission focused on the theme "Senior Solutions". The event is open to spectators of all ages.

Emcee:

Andy Kline

Teams:

Legomaniacs

Dads 1.0

Alaska Robotics

Integrity Real Estate Inspections

State of Alaska DHSS

Corporate Challenge

Friday June 14th | 6-8 PM

Baranof Hotel

Junior Achievement SY 2012-2103 Wrap Up

It is never too early to teach financial literacy, entrepreneurial understanding, and work-readiness skills that will help students make smart decisions and inspire them to be successful. That's the philosophy of Junior Achievement, the largest international educational non-profit dedicated to providing educational tools and lessons for our future entrepreneurs and workforce.

Junior Achievement is a volunteer driven program that connects teachers and their classrooms with the local business community to deliver lessons from money management to how a business works.

This past school year, over 380 K-12 students in the Juneau School District took part in 18 Junior Achievement programs

The Juneau Junior Achievement Planning Committee-Bob Varness of Alaska Communications, Lance Stevens of Alaska USA FCU, Ted Quinn of Capital Office, and Brian Holst and Jessy Post of JEDC would like to thank the 30 volunteers and teachers for their tremendous support and contribution to our community's students.

Volunteers:

Elementary:

Ricardo Worl - Tlingit & Haida Regional Housing Authority

Kelly Shattuck - Shattuck & Grummett Insurance

Jolene Rielly & Wello Raidmae - Alaska Pacific Bank

Vickie Williams - University of Alaska Southeast

Middle School:

Bill Wilds

Kevin Ritchie - Retired

Mary Angaiak, Chelsy Maller, Katrina Mitchell - State of Alaska, Division of Banking

Maryann Ray - Pearson's Pond

Larry Gaffney - Huna Totem

High School:

John Logan - Logan General Tax Practice

Lisa Ibias - Alaska Dames

Lindsey Doctorman - University of Alaska Southeast

Teachers:

Elementary:

JoAnn Jones - Auke Bay, 5th

Jenna Munroe - Mendenhall River, 5th

Rebecca Watts & Monika Haygood - Gastineau, 5th

Carole Bookless, Mitch Haygood, Rocky Eddy - Gastineau, 3rd

Middle School:

Luke Fortier, James White, Jody Levernier, Jim Sheufelt - DZ

Sam Davis, Rebecca Goertzen - FD

High School:

Adriana Northcut - TMHS

Lesslie Knight - JDHS

Assisted Living for Juneau Seniors

Help solve the senior living crisis in Juneau

Meny seniors are opting to retire outside of Juneau. These residents are important to our families, our community and our economy!

Join Juneau residents in a community movement to build an assisted living facility for our seniors. You are invited to a free public meeting where questions will be answered & solutions will be posed. Find out what work has been done so far and how you can help.

ASSISTED LIVING FOR JUNEAU SENIORS

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 | 6:30 PM

Nugget Mall Community Room

Hosted by: Juneau Commission on Aging, Juneau Community Foundation, Senior Citizens Support Services, Inc., Juneau Economic Development Council

Economic Indicator:

Juneau's jobs held by residents over the age of 50

Jobs held by residents nearing retirement may hold insight into future opportunities

The State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Research and Analysis Division produces statistics on all Alaska occupations. They provide information on the number of workers in each occupation, the number of male and female workers in each occupation, the number of workers over 50 in each occupation, the average monthly wage, and much more.

In Juneau there are 18 job categories in which 70% or more of the workers are nearing retirement. Most of these are among the higher paying jobs in town. (The monthly average wage shown below is a state-wide average, not the Juneau average, but serves as a close approximation.) For younger workers, the information on Alaska occupations can be helpful in deciding a career direction. State occupational information can be found here.

Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Research and Analysis Section.

2013 Maritime Festival a Success!

The 4th Annual Maritime Festival, held on Sunday May 19th was a king salmon sized success according to attendees and those in the maritime industries who participated to celebrate their professions. Juneauites showed their resilience to the Southeast weather (rain, wind and yes, hail) by coming out in record numbers to participate and compete.

juneaumaritimefestival.org has the full list of contest winners including: culinary contest winners (most with ingredients of the winning recipes), the Fillet Contest winner plus Fish Tote Race and Team Tug o' War champions.

JEDC wishes to thank all sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and entertainers, organizations the steering and planning committees for making 2013 a success. Read more

www.juneaumaritimefestival.org

Calling All Heroes!

Alaska Communication Summer of Heroes

JEDC is proud to help Alaska Communications and the Boys & Girls Club Alaska announce the Summer of Heroes program. Now in its third year, this community program aims to promote awareness and support for youth development programs throughout the State.

The program recognizes six young heroes between the ages of 6-18 who are making a difference in their local communities. The 2013 final heroes will each receive a $1,500 scholarship and a trip to a special ceremony in late August.

A hero can be any youth who has:

Raised significant funds for a cause
Saved a person's life
Made a difference in school through education or sports
Made a significant contribution to his or her community

If you know a young person doing something heroic in their community please visit the Summer of Heroes website for instructions on how to nominate. The nominations period is open until July 22.

Alaska Communications is also generously donating $25 to the Boys & Girls Club Alaska for certain smart phones purchased through July 22, 2013

JEDC Around Town

From Facebook.....

May 30 | It's a don't-miss Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon today. Calvin Goings, U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Director will present "Helping Small Business Start, Grow & Succeed".

May 15 | Jessy Post & Marie Franklin of JEDC will be guest presenters today at the Glacier Valley Rotary meeting. The topic: The what, where, when and especially "why" of the upcoming Juneau Maritime Festival

May 7th | JEDC paid a visit to Taku Fisheries & Smokeries today who are busy processing black cod & halibut this time of year. Did you know that they purchase over 7 million pounds of fish from Alaskan waters annually?

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