|
|
|
|
Promoting Vibrant & Livable Communities in Southwest Alaska
|
August 2014
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
If you live, work or do business in Southwest Alaska, a SWAMC membership is an investment in a strong economy and sustainable communities in the region. Please join us as we work to create new economic opportunities and improve the quality of life in Southwest Alaska. The membership application can be found on SWAMC's website.
Membership Benefits:
- Advocacy on Regional Issues: SWAMC provides a mechanism to speak as a unified voice on issues important to the region. Through resolutions and other advocacy strategies, SWAMC advances the positions that support its core mission and support the collective interests of its members. Reoccuring advocacy topics include transportation and infrastructure development (multi-modal), value-added fisheries, small business development, energy, ferry access, and other economic development topics, including improved fisheries data collection.
- Regional Economic Planning: SWAMC publishes the Southwest Alaska Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and other research on the regional economy. Members receive advance notice of research findings, as well as annual CEDS updates.
- Elect Board Members: Board members are elected by members at the annual meeting based on sub-regional caucuses for the Aleutian/Pribilofs, Bristol Bay, and Kodiak. Two at-large associate seats are elected by an open vote of the members.
- Economic Summit and Membership Meeting: This important annual event serves as a forum for important economic and community development issues as well as organizational governance and membership business. Members receive discounted registration.
- Tourism Promotion: SWAMC promotes Alaska's Southwest as a visitor destination via the southwestalaska.com Web site, a regional lure brochure, as coordinator of the Southwest segment of the Alaska Marine Highway Scenic Byway, and through other planning efforts and promotional strategies.
- Business Development: From year to year, SWAMC sponsors a series of business development workshops addressing key issues or barriers to starting, expanding, or retaining a business in the region.
- E-Tidings Newsletter: This publication provides an update on regional issues, SWAMC activities and projects, and other useful news. Members receive the newsletter electronically. Email notices and online communication are used to inform members between issues of the newsletter.
- Community Planning: SWAMC staff can assist those communities with limited resources in community planning activities. Ask about SWAMC's Community Planning Policy and how it can work for your community.
- Funding Alerts: SWAMC regularly reviews federal, state, and private funding sources. E-mail funding alerts are forwarded to members based on their stated interests.
- Quality of Life Index: SWAMC introduced the Southwest Alaska Quality of Life Index in 2005. The report compares the region with other regions and state averages. Over time, the index will provide a useful tool benchmarking progress on key community and economic development indicators.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open Position: SWAMC Executive Director
SWAMC is seeking a highly qualified executive director to guide our organization and region to a prosperous future.
Applicants should possess the following critical skills:
- Management Experience - with increasing responsibility
- Southwest Alaska regional knowledge / experience
- Budget / Fiscal Management - for $500K or greater
- Writing skills - for variety of documents
- Supervisory experience / skills - able to work independently and to oversee a small staff that tackles a wide variety of tasks
- Public Relations - establishing working relationships
- Ability to work with Boards / Committees
- Municipal experience or familiarity with AK municipal structure
- Problem Solving - mediating sensitive policy issues
- Interpersonal skills -- with staff, Board, stakeholders
- Grant Writing and Grant Management experience
|
Kodiak Regional Energy Plan Phase I DRAFT: Resource Inventory
The Kodiak Regional Energy Plan is part of a state
wide effort led by
the Alaska Energy Authority to identify energy projects that will reduce the long-term cost of power and dependence on fossil fuels in Alaska. The process will look at the total mix of energy needs in the Kodiak region, including electricity, heating and transportation, and consider all local and regional energy resources, including efficiency and conservation.
The Phase I document represents the first step in the planning process. It provides an inventory of energy-related resources and projects in the region, including notes on energy technologies, project economics, funding options, and community-specific issues and opportunities. While this inventory represents a snapshot in time, it has been designed as a tool to focus conversations on the most technically feasible and economically realistic projects given the region's mix of energy
resources and the current state of technology.
The next step is for community and regional leaders, residents, utilities, industry representatives, and other key stakeholders to engage in dialog about their priorities for addressing energy needs in the region. The project team encourages readers to provide updated information about energy use and resources in the region and to tell us about additional projects that should be assessed. At the end of Phase II we will use the input gathered to identify broadly supported strategies and a list of fundable projects that can reduce energy costs in the region while developing local and regional energy resources.
The Final Phase I report will be released in September.
|
2014 Aleutian Marketplace Contest
Are you an Aleutians resident with a unique business idea?
The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association (APICDA) and the Aleut Corporation (TAC) are pleased to announce the inaugural Aleutian Marketplace Competition (Marketplace). The Marketplace is designed to highlight business development and innovation in the 12 communities served by APICDA and TAC.
The Aleutian Marketplace Business Idea contest is a monetary award contest for the best business ideas.
First Prize: $1,000
Second Place: $650
Third Place: $350
You must submit your Business Idea by August 31 2014. Full contest rules and details may be found on APICDA's website.
|
SW Alaska Transportation Plan - Phase II Survey
The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has approved the Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan (SWATP) Update Phase 1 Report, which inventories infrastructure and identifies regional concerns and issues, and has kicked off Phase 2 of the SWATP Update project.
The Phase 1 Report and other project information can be found on the project website at www.swaktransplan.com.
Phase 2 will include analysis of:
- airport runway lengths and
- runway approaches,
- ferry service,
- safety and emergency response,
- land transportation options, and
- aviation, surface, and marine transportation priorities.
To help get Phase 2 of the SWATP started, DOT&PF is asking for your input. Please use the link to complete a brief survey about aviation, surface, and marine transportation projects in the region. Survey results will help develop a list of prioritized projects. This survey is available until August 12, 2014. Click here to take the survey.
|
|
Commercial Fishing Season in Full Swing for SW Alaska
 | | Photo by Carl Johnson |
Commercial fishing season is in full swing in Southwest Alaska, with several commercial salmon fisheries recently opening.
The following ADFG charts display fishery seasons for different species in Southwest Alaska:
|
|
EPA Public Comment and Hearings on Pebble Mine
The Environmental Protection Agency is requesting public comment on a proposal to restrict the use of certain waters in Bristol Bay, a move that would effectively block the construction of the controversial Pebble Mine.
You read the EPA's proposal here.
Comments must be submitted by 8pm (Alaska time) September 19, 2014.
There are a variety of ways to comment:
- (Preferred method): Submit comments online at regulations.gov. Specify Docket # EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505.
- Send an email to OW-Docket@epa.gov. Include Docket # EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505 in the subject line.
- Fax your comments to 202-566-1753. Include Docket # EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505 in the subject line.
- Send a letter to the EPA Bristol Bay Docket at:
- Water Docket # EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code: 2822T
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
- Testify at a public hearing in Alaska (August 12-15, 2014).
Oral and written comments on EPA's proposal will be accepted at the following hearings:
- Anchorage:
Tuesday, August 12 at 2pm - Egan Center - Cook and Artegan Rooms - New Stuyahok:
Wednesday, August 13 at 5pm Cetuyaraq Community Center - Nondalton:
Wednesday, August 13 at 5pm Nondalton Community Center - Kokhanok:
Thursday, August 14, 5pm Location to be announced - Dillingham:
Thursday, August 14 at 5pm Middle School Gymnasium - Iliamna:
Friday, August 15 at 12pm Community Center - Igiugig:
Friday, August 15 at 12pm Tribal Hall
|
|
|
|
Interested in Supporting Southwest Alaska's Economy?
BECOME A SWAMC MEMBER TODAY!
|
|
Our Special Thanks to SWAMC Members!
|
|
Our Supporters
|
|
Visit Southwest Alaska @
www.southwestalaska.com
|
SWAMC Board of Directors
Alice Ruby, Pres.
Carol Austerman, Vice Pres.
Layton Lockett, Treasurer
Cynthia Berns
Dan Clarion Glen Gardner
Paul Gronholdt
Shirley Marquardt Dan O'Hara
Michelle Ravenmoon Joe Sullivan
|
Your Photo Here!
Send us your photos |
|
As always...
|
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.
| |
|
|
|
|
