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Economic Development and Advocacy for Southwest Alaska
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September 2013
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Greetings!
Alaska's record-breaking summer temps have now brought a deluge of precipitation, but that won't dampen our spirits for this month's newsletter. Check out a few of the issues surrounding Southwest Alaska below. Thanks for reading this month, keep in touch, and let us know if you have any questions.
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Federal Delegations Taking Great Interest in SW Alaska
Over the past couple weeks, several representatives from key Federal agencies paid visits to Southwest Alaska to learn more about some critical issues and projects facing the region. First, new EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy visited Bristol Bay communities Dillingham and Iliamna and toured the proposed Pebble Mine site to see and hear from local folks how a potential mine might impact the region. The EPA is in the midst of finalizing its Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment for a fall release.
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US ARC in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
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Next, the US Arctic Research Commission paid a visit to Unalaska to learn more about the Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands research needs, shipping and spill response capabilities, regional and Arctic fisheries, and stakeholder dialogue. Alaska's own Arctic Policy Commission also met in Unalaska the following day for a similar fact finding mission.
Finally, late last week Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell landed in King Cove to meet with community residents and discuss the proposed road between King Cove and Cold Bay that would go through the Izembek Refuge and involve a might land exchange. The road is meant to connect King Cove to Cold Bay's paved, all-weather runway. Road approval is in the hands of DoI, and Jewell gave no timeline on her decision regarding the road.
Not to be left out, Kodiak Island hosted Senators Begich and Murkowski in the not-too-distant past for policy discussion over the summer. The Congressional delegation was also instrumental in bringing the various Federal officials to Alaska, so we thank them for helping to highlight some of the important issues facing our state and region.
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GOA Trawl Bycatch Management on NPFMC October Agenda
For many Southwest Alaska communities and fishermen, Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Trawl Bycatch Management punctuates the list of important items on next month's North Pacific Management Council agenda. The Council will consider several proposed management alternatives dealing with prohibited species bycatch in the trawl sector. By most accounts it appears as if the NPFMC will adopt a catch share program as a "tool" for the trawl fleet to reduce bycatch of those species, primarily halibut and Chinook salmon. SWAMC wrote a letter to the Council in the Spring requesting the body to carefully consider the comprehensive needs of fishery-dependent coastal communities as they weigh these all-important alternatives. As they deliberate an action, SWAMC encourages the Council to create management programs that preserve and enhance, rather than detract from, opportunities for employment and competitive markets in the Gulf.
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Tustumena Could be Operational by October 1 
At a Marine Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB) meeting last week, Alaska Marine Highway System officials stated that the Tustumena ferry could be out of the Seward shipyard in early September and ready to sail out the Chain by October 1. That timeline is dependent on the vessel's ability to pass several Coast Guard tests and sailing requirements. In the meantime, the Kennicott will make another sailing on the SW route to fill in, but of course that still means several smaller regional ports will be bypassed. The M/V Tustemena Replacement project will start progress this summer and fall with design work.
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Trident Seafoods Aiming to Operate in Adak
The community of Adak has been without a fish processor since earlier this spring, but that may change soon with interest from Trident Seafoods percolating around the island. When Icicle pulled up stakes in April and the processing equipment they used in the plant went up for auction this summer, the City of Adak put up the $2M to buy the equipment to keep hopes alive of attracting another processor to the remote island in the far western Aleutians. The gamble may have paid off, and if all goes well Trident could be out in the community and processing next winter. The potential to fish for an Aleutian Islands pollock quota is a major attraction for a new processor, and one that may keep Adak and it's local economy "in the black" for the future. With Atka Pride Seafoods now operating several processing lines in the nearby community of Atka, the western Aleutians are hopefully seeing an economic revival.
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Business Member Spotlight: FIRST NATIONAL BANK ALASKA 
Monthly spotlights on a SWAMC member business.
First National Bank Alaska first became a SWAMC member in the mid 1990s. The bank proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and 30 branches in 18 communities throughout the state. Forbes named First National one of the nation's Most Trustworthy Companies in 2012 and 2013. Founder Winfield Ervin said he had faith in the future when he opened what was then The First National Bank of Anchorage in 1922. The bank began with Ervin as cashier, the lone employee and $55,000 in capital. Warren N. Cuddy, a former United States district attorney in Valdez, purchased controlling interest in the bank in 1941. He served as President until his death in 1951, when his son, D.H. Cuddy, became the bank's new President. Through the last seven decades, First National has grown to become Alaska's largest and strongest locally-owned bank. The bank has prospered under the leadership of D.H. Cuddy and recently-named President Betsy Lawer. Much like the bank, the state and its businesses and communities have also thrived. The breadth and depth of banking expertise First National offers Alaskans includes not only the unique experiences of professional bankers, but of local Alaskans living and working in the communities they serve. Our employees have deep roots in the communities where they work, raise families and own homes, working shoulder to shoulder with Alaskans helping to fuel the vitality of the Last Frontier. FNBA also offers a fantastic educational piece on Alaska's economy and it's "Three Legged Stool." Find out more at www.alaskaseconomy.org. |
New AmeriCorps* VISTA  Joins SWAMC Staff
Mickey Morelli will serve as the STEM Education and Workforce Coordinator with SWAMC through the Americorp*VISTA program. She recently moved to Anchorage from the east coast and is excited to begin exploring her new home. Mickey recently completed Rutgers University's dual enrollment program, earning Bachelor's of Art's degrees in Philosophy and Political Science and a Masters of Art's in International Development. During her time with SWAMC she hopes to learn all she can about the Alaskan (and Southwest Alaskan!) way of life. In doing so she will strive to apply her skills and developing awareness in order to better assist the schools, communities, and employers of the Southwest region. She is looking forward to a winter full of ski trips and hot Russian tea. In the meantime, she is pleased to share this " September in Science History", as well as a STEM-inspired trivia question for those of you paying attention. The first correct response wins a prize from SWAMC!
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SWAMC Community Member Spotlight: LARSEN BAY 
Monthly spotlights on a member community.
Written documentation of the native peoples of Larsen Bay and Kodiak Island have been recorded since the late 1700s, highlighting one of the most recognized tribes of Native Americans, culminating with Ales Hrdlicka's prehistorical documentation - The Anthropology of Kodiak Island (1944). The prehistory of Larsen Bay includes three cultural traditions, starting at least 6,500 years ago, distinct from Beringia inhabitants who first populated Alaska over the Bering Land Bridge (though there is some evidence that future generations were derivatives of the earliest peoples). The Ocean Bay tradition represents the first distinct population of current inhabitants defined by a locality fronting the ocean, and bone microblades affixed to harpoons. Around 1400 b.c. the Katchemak tradition developed (possibly in continuity with Ocean Bay) which incorporated greater use of grooved cobble and notched weights for fishing; lip plugs & labrets; advances in slate grinding for cutting utensils and increasing size of stone lamps. Between 1000-1300 A.D. the Koniag tradition developed out of the former, marked by technological advances, although distinct traits suggest the Koniags were not a single monolithic and distinct tribe. In Koniag tradition the banya developed social and ritualistic functions; blade technology advanced and proliferated (changing forest vegetation provided more wood for tools and fire); supporting a more advanced social organization, housing developed to include large multifamily homes, and possibly semisubterranean compound units including community or common rooms.
Today, the community of Larsen Bay is a quiet one with about 60-80 year round residents for most of the year, although between the months of May-November the population jumps to several hundred with the addition of commercial fishing and processing workers, lodge owners and clients, and residents that maintain fall and summertime residences. While predominantly an Alutiq population (Koniag), Larsen Bay is a diverse community with people from all over the country and beyond calling on the surreal natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Commercial activities focus on salmon in the summer, although there is also halibut, cod, herring and groundfish in abundance. Tourism attractions include big game bear, caribou, deer and duck hunters; fresh & saltwater salmon, halibut and groundfish fishing; and eco-tourism whale, bear, seals, otters & porpoises viewing, kayaking, flight-seeing and hiking. Today Larsen Bay is the same island paradise that attracted a vibrant civilization 7000 years ago, thriving on natural beauty and abundance.
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Energy Hog 
Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) and the Alaska Energy Efficiency Partnership have brought up the Energy Hog for an Alaska tour this fall. This fun character and his handler the Energy Hog Buster will be doing 30 minute assemblies in elementary schools around the state as a part of the annual Energy Awareness Month initiative from now through the third week in November. For more information about how to get your school on the itinerary, or about Energy Awareness Month (including free creative for TV, radio, or print media) contact Katie Conway at AEA: kconway@aidea.org or 907-771-3078. You can also see more about the Energy Hog assemblies at
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Interested in Supporting Southwest Alaska's Economy?
BECOME A SWAMC MEMBER TODAY! 
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Our Thanks to These SWAMC Members!
Adak Eagle Enterprises
AIDEA
Alaska Aerospace Corporation
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Comm. Fish & Agriculture Bank (CFAB)
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
Alaska Groundfish Data Bank
Aleutian Housing Authority
Aleutians East Borough
Alyeska Seafoods
APICDA
ASMI
Boyd, Chandler & Falconer
Bristol Bay Borough
BBEDC
Bristol Bay Housing Authority
Bristol Bay Native Association
City of Adak
City of Akutan
City of Dillingham
City of Egegik
City of False Pass
City of King Cove
City of Kodiak
City of Manokotak
City of Old Harbor
City of Pilot Point
City of Port Lions
City of St. Paul
City of Unalaska
Coastal Transportation
Copper River Seafoods
Curyung Tribal Council
DOWL HKM
Era Aviation, Inc.
First National Bank Alaska
Foraker Group
GCI
HDR Alaska, Inc.
High Tide Environmental
Icicle Seafoods
James E Carmichael
Katmailand, Inc.
Kodiak Best Western Inn
Kodiak College- UAA
Kodiak Island Borough
Lake & Peninsula Borough
Marine Advisory Program
Marine Stewardship Council
Naknek Electric Assoc.
Northern Air Cargo
Northern Economics, Inc.
Ocean Beauty Seafoods
Pacific Seafood Processors Association
Pacific Seafoods, Inc.
Petro Star, Inc.
Qagan Tayagungin Tribe
SAVEC
Shumagin Corp.
Sullivan & Richards, LLP
TelAlaska
The Aleut Corporation
UniSea
WACDA
Wells Fargo
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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 Mickey Morelli 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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