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Economic Development and Advocacy for Southwest Alaska
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May 2013
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Greetings!
There's a lot to report this month, so we'll just get to it. Thanks for reading, keep in touch, and let us know if you have any questions.
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Southwest Alaska Featured at Energy Conferences 
As we reported last month, SWAMC has contracted with the Alaska Energy Authority to develop regional energy plans for Southwest Alaska's sub-regions. Energy is an economic driver (or inhibitor) in the region, and two conferences in Anchorage last week solidified that point. The Rural Energy Conference and Business of Clean Energy in Alaska event both provided excellent learning opportunities for SWAMC, as we continuously seek ways to lower/stabilize the cost of energy in SW Alaska. This can be accomplished through better planning, innovative projects and technologies, creative project financing, and better training for our workforce. All of these topics and more were featured at the energy week, and several SWAMC region projects and initiatives were also under the spotlight. These included the Pillar Mountain Wind project in Kodiak; I-N-N Electric Coop's hydro project expansion; the Kvichak River hydrokinetic project in Igiugig and Diesel Electric Propulsion in Kodiak (both Emerging Energy Technology Fund grant recipients); Egegik and St George Island's integrated power system upgrades; the False Pass tidal project, and more. As you can see, there is no shortage of innovation and ingenuity in Southwest Alaska, and last week's energy meetings provided a lot of inspiration. The human resource is just as important as the energy resource as we seek to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
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Legislature Wraps Up in Juneau
The Alaska Legislature gavelled out of their most recent session on April 14, and instead of detailing the ins and outs of the oil tax debate or the small diameter gasline, we will note a few projects and items of importance to Southwest Alaska. First off, $10M of planning and design funding to replace the 50 year old M/V Tustumena was added into the capital budget. With the vessel currently laid up in Seward for repairs, this is an important step in the process of replacing the aging vessel and was a priority for SWAMC members at our annual conference in February.
Eight Southwest region Round VI Renewable Energy Fund projects were also included in the capital budget, including wind projects in Kokhanok, Levelock and Egegik; hydro expansions for I-N-N's Tazimina River and King Cove's Waterfall Creek; hydro design in Pedro Bay; and heat recovery in Cold Bay and New Stuyahok. A few other notable capital projects are landfill improvements for Dillingham and the Kodiak Island Borough, dock work for Port Lions and Ouzinkie, road link work between Iliamna and Nondalton, harbor improvement in Akutan, heavy equipment and water/sewer upgrades in Unalaska, fire hall in Port Alsworth, lighting in Adak, Aleutians East Borough road access, and major airport improvements in Old Harbor, King Salmon, Adak, Kodiak, and others. All of these projects and others not listed should contribute to the economic well-being of Southwest Alaska's communities.
Not everything came out smelling roses, however, as the bill to reauthorize the ARDOR program failed to pass the Legislature on the final day when it was caught in a political crossfire. The ARDOR program has been around for 25 years (established the same year as SWAMC), but as of July 1 will no longer exist unless some agreements can be reached among a few involved parties. If not, its demise represents an unfortunate end to the program and for regional economic development planning in rural Alaska.
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From the VISTA Desk: STEM Education Update 
As the school year winds down, SWAMC is looking to summer STEM opportunities. Back in February, SWAMC worked with the Juneau Economic Development Council to bring their Engineering is Elementary workshop to elementary and middle school teachers in Kodiak. Teachers learned how to incorporate engineering and experimentation into their lessons, and each participant received materials to teach the curriculum's units on engineering disciplines like civil, mechanical and environmental. This summer and fall, we hope to bring JEDC back to Southwest to do more workshops in more schools. Most STEM education focuses on high school, but students need a background of applying math and science concepts first. The Engineering is Elementary curriculum introduces students to the skills they'll need for more advanced STEM studies. We also hope to start some STEM summer camps this summer, and after observing a rocketry camp in Juneau last year, we think it could also fit well in Southwest. The region has a very unique resource in the Kodiak Launch Complex, and a field trip there (and maybe even viewing a launch) would be a spectacular end to a camp. This summer, SWAMC will also begin work on the Southwest Alaska Career Mentorship Program we introduced last month. In April, SWAMC applied for a grant from the Alaska Workforce Investment Board to create a mentorship program in Southwest based upon the Anchorage School District's extremely successful Gifted Mentorship Program. The mentorships will pair high school students with people working in their fields of interest, teaching them about available careers and the steps needed to enter them. In addition to work experience, students will write resumes and cover letters and interview with their prospective mentor to practice work readiness skills. We've already spoken to many businesses and groups who have agreed to mentor students, like the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, Bristol Bay Environmental Science Lab and Alaska Ship and Drydock, and we will continue to reach out to businesses to create a diversity of mentorships and ensure that students will be able to find fitting opportunities, no matter what their career interests. |
Phase I Report of Southwest Transportation Plan Released 
The Alaska Department of Transportation and DOWL/HKM have been working on the Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan update since 2011, and the Phase I report Executive Summary is now available. The project team looked at transport needs and issues in the region in Phase I, along with examining economic trends and existing infrastructure systems. After compiling comments, Phase II will commence where DOT will recommend multi-modal system improvements, determine construction schedules, identify projects for inclusion in the STIP and other infrastructure improvement documents, and more. We encourage SW communities to visit the project website and submit comments. |
Southwest Economic Indicator: Herring Opportunity With the Sitka herring fishery season in the books and Togiak herring on deck, we have herring on the brain. 90% of Alaska's herring harvests are converted to the lowest value product and then largely sold as cheap feed for fish farms, which ultimately compete with wild Alaska product. The other 10% are sold inthe most valuable form - roe. An economicbalance is somewhat achieved, and Alaskan ex-vessel prices are comparable to that of other global markets. A 2012 McDowell Report, Herring Market Analysis, investigates opportunities for Alaskan stakeholders to receive an even better price.  | | What if...? |
Pacific Herring, about 10% of supply, nearly corners the Japanese roe market, while much of the rest is packaged into fillets - fresh, frozen, canned or smoked. Wholesale frozen fillets for human consumption range between $1.04 to $1.35. The McDowell report finds that if Kodiak and Togiak harvests could capture this value, $15 million could be added to those fisheries - nearly double the 2011 value. Variations on market opportunity drastically increase or decrease the total contribution of Alaska's potential herring fillet market. The point is that we may be missing a substantial foregone value and huge benefit to our small boat fleet, local communities and the State.
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Visit Southwest Alaska @
www.southwestalaska.com
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SWAMC Board of Directors
Louise Stutes, Pres.
Alice Ruby, Vice Pres.
Layton Lockett, Treas.Dan Clarion Dan O'Hara
Glen Gardner
Joe Sullivan Michelle Ravenmoon Paul Gronholdt
Shirley Marquardt Trevor Brown
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SWAMC Staff Andy Varner
Executive Director
Erik O'Brien Economist; Development Specialist Cameron Dean STEM Education Coordinator / VISTA |
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| Upcoming Events & Dates to Remember | |
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As always...
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Thanks for your support of SWAMC. Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts, ideas, concerns and events. For previous newsletters, click the link below.
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