JEDC wishes you a Happy and Prosperous 2017!
 
Juneau Economic Development Council NEWS  |  December 2016
Highs (and a Low) of Juneau's Economy in 2016:  
  1. Outdoor Magazine named Juneau as one of the top trail towns in the U.S.  
  2. Population reached a new high of 33,277 (as of July).
  3. UAS named the lead campus for the state's Teacher Training College.
  4. Arts-based business flourish downtown, including Kindred Post, Annie Kaill's Gallery, Trickster, Haa Shagoon, Sealaska Heritage Institute Gallery shop, Alaska Robotics and more. 
  5. Cruise Passenger arrivals were over 1 million, highest since 2009.
  6. K-12 student enrollment increased slightly, ending a ten-year downward trend.
  7. Air Passenger traffic higher than ever!
  8. Southeast Alaska ranks 3rd in the US for commercial fishery value while 9th in terms of volume of landings
  9. Private Sector jobs reached an all-time high, with an annual average of just over 11,000 jobs.
  10. Juneau opened its first legal cannabis business.
  11. Juneau's Fred Meyer became the 16 highest grossing store in its 100+ store network.
  12. Juneau's Alaskan Brewery celebrated 30 years with all-time high production and expansion into its 18th and easternmost state to date: Ohio.
  13. Alaska's Executive Branch head count in Juneau was down by 378 employees between June 2014 and June 2016.
  14. Alaska's Teacher of the Year, for the 5th time in 40 years (and 2nd time in the last five), is from Juneau (Bryan Grove 1974, Suzie Cary 1993, Vivian Montoya 2002, Lorrie Heagy 2011 and Amy Jo Meiners 2016).
  15. Juneau Hydropower announced $20+ million investment in ocean-powered district heating for downtown Juneau.
  16. At 4.6% in November, Juneau has lower unemployment than most of the state, except for Sitka, the Aleutians East Borough and the Aleutians West Census Area.  
  17. Juneau is a national leader in Electric Vehicle charging stations per capita.
  18. Juneau high schools enjoy their highest graduation rates ever.
  19. Vogue Magazine recognized Juneau as leading a culinary renaissance in Southeast Alaska. 
  20. Choose Juneau www.ChooseJuneau.org campaign launched to highlight Juneau as a great place to live, work, invest, study, retire... 
Early Bird Registration Open for the Innovation Summit

Early registration has officially opened for the 6th annual Innovation Summit.  Alaska's premier innovation conference, on February 15 & 16,  has been re-imagined into something bigger and better for entrepreneurs and business innovators. Each year, the structure of the Innovation Summit changes. You can say that we innovate the Innovation Summit to bring you a fresh experience that educates, inspires and motivates. This year we focused content on entrepreneurs and those involved in building the innovation ecosystem in Alaska. The Innovation Summit is a venue for you to learn from experts, as well as each other.   Purchase your ticket by January 16 for a discounted price! Get your early-bird ticket HERE. 

WHAT TO EXPECT:
  • A series of Innovation Tours to choose from
  • A day and a half conference with over 30 presenters 
  • Summit presentations that speak to the Capacity to Innovate. Some speakers include Robert B. TuckerAngela Rodell, Geoff Larson, Michael Johnson, Jim Johnsen....
  • Innovation Shorts -- dynamic 10-minute presentations with stimulating ideas from colleagues and professionals that are making a difference
  • Celebration of innovation with the entrepreneur Pitch Contest and a panel of experts
  • Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame induction ceremony
  • Opportunity to make new partnerships  
  • Engagement with industry clusters from our region 
  • Innovation Lounge where you can network with other business and civic leaders from around Alaska
  • Recognition of FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award winners
  • Announcement of Haa Aani's Path to Prosperity Winners
Pitch Your Business at the Innovation Summit

Calling all Entrepreneurs & Innovators! We're accepting applications for our Pitch Contest at the Innovation Summit. Pitch your business, product or service to over 200 Innovation Summit attendees and an expert panel for a chance to win a prize that could give you a boost to your early stage venture! Plus, you'll have the opportunity to network with other business professionals and gain exposure for your business. Win - win. Apply NOW at www.JEDC.org/innovation/pitch-contest.




Check out the site at www.JEDC.org/innovation!
2017 Innovation Summit Speakers Announced

The theme of the 2017 Innovation Summit, on February 15 & 16, is the "capacity to innovate."  We introduce to you three captivating Summit Speakers that will focus on different elements of business and how innovation is at the core of all of them.  

Robert B. Tucker
Robert B. Tucker is the president of The Innovation Resource, and an internationally recognized leader in the field of innovation. Formerly an adjunct professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, Tucker has been a consultant and keynote speaker since 1986. His pioneering research in interviewing over 50 leading innovators was published in the book Winning the Innovation Game in 1986. 

Since then, he has continued to publish widely on the subject, including his international bestseller Managing the Future: 10 Driving Forces of Change for the New Century, which has been translated into 13 languages. His groundbreaking book, Driving Growth Through Innovation reveals emerging best practices of 23 vanguard companies, and his latest book, Innovation is Everybody's Business, has been recently released by John Wiley.   To read more about Robert B. Tucker visit www.JEDC.org/innovation.


Geoff Larson
In 1985, Geoff Larson founded Alaskan Brewing Company with his wife and partner, Marcy.  Geoff and Marcy were 28 years old at the time they started the brewery, and Alaskan Brewing has grown to become the 20th largest craft brewery in America, with distribution in 17 states. Alaskan Brewing is recognized as one of the most award-winning breweries in the country.

Geoff is known industry-wide as a leader in craft brewing, in both brewery innovation and brewing techniques.  He co-authored a Beer Style series book on the Smoked Beer category.  His role at the brewery currently is focused on developing the future vision, strengthening industry relationships and working on technology and plant operation issues. One result of that focus has been the development of Beer Powered Beer, which he will be discussing today. Geoff is also a board member of the  Juneau Community Foundation, the Vice Chair of the Juneau Utilities Advisory Board, and a board member and active participant of the Seadogs K-9 Search & Rescue.


Angela M. Rodell 
Angela M. Rodell serves as the CEO/ Executive Director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, having been selected in October of 2015 by the Corporation's Board of Trustees. The APFC is a state-owned corporation, based in Juneau, Alaska, that manages and invests the assets of the $55 billion Alaska Permanent Fund and other funds designated by law. As the CEO, Ms. Rodell is leading the APFC at a pivotal time in history as it continues to emerge as a revenue generating center for the State of Alaska.

Ms. Rodell also served on the APFC's Board of Trustees as a cabinet member, having been appointed Commission of the Department of Revenue in August, 2013 by Governor Sean Parnell. 

JEDC Welcomes 3 New Board Members 

The Juneau Economic Development Council announces the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors.  All three of our newest Board members embody the spirit of the JEDC mission and bring talent, expertise, and energy to the table. We are fortunate to have them on our Board as we continue our work to strengthen Juneau's economy.  

 
Steve Ricci [Delta Western Petroleum] moved to Juneau fifteen years ago to serve as an AmeriCorps member working with at-risk youth throughout Southeast Alaska. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and a certificate in diesel technology from the University of Southeast Alaska. Since graduation, Steve has worked for the State Legislature, Governor's Office, and owned and operated a commercial fishing vessel for seven years.  Currently, he is the terminal manager for Delta Western Petroleum, overseeing the daily operations of a bulk fuel facility in Juneau. Steve is frequently seen walking his Newfoundland dog, Argo, on Sandy Beach with his wife Emily.  


 
Marc Wheeler [Coppa] is the co-owner of Coppa, with his wife, Jessica Paris. Marc is father to Celia (13) and Ferguson (9). Marc formerly served for five years on the Juneau Assembly and directed the Big Brothers Big Sisters program across Southeast Alaska for seven years. Marc won the AEDC Pitch on a Train competition in 2014 and Coppa was the winner of the 2015 Path to Prosperity People's Choice award.  


Nadine Lefebvre is employed by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development at the Juneau Job Center. As a state employee in classified service, she is a member of the Alaska State Employees Association, the largest union in Alaska. Nadine is the Southeast Representative to the ASEA Executive Board, serves on: the ASEA Women's Issues Committee, the Contract Negotiating Committee, the Political Action Committee. Nadine is currently President of the Juneau Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO and represents Organized Labor on the Juneau Economic Development Council and the Alaska Development Corporation. 

JEDC would like to thank Sydney Mitchell, Jason Puckett and Corey Baxter for serving on the board of directors through 2016. For a full list of our 11-member board, please visit: www.JEDC.org/board. 
Support the Completion of Housing First 

Local business owners recently launched a community fundraising campaign to raise the remaining funds needed for the Juneau Housing First project. The goal is to raise $100,000.  The fundraising page is: www.youcaring.com/juneauhousingfirst . According to the press release,  "The Juneau Housing First project will create 32 permanent supportive housing units that target Juneau's highly vulnerable chronic homelessness population who are chemically dependent and exhibit extensive history of emergency service utilization".  
Opportunity for Alaska Innovators and Entrepreneurs 


The Alaska Seed Fund plans to award a total of $50,000 to innovators and entrepreneurs for the development of prototypes in Alaska.  One grand prize winner will receive a $20,000 Seed Grant and several other applicants will receive Kickstart Grants ranging from $3,000 to $10,000.
 
Applications are due by January 11, 2017 at 11:59 PM  The application and eligibility information may be found at www.AlaskaSeedFund.com
 
The Alaska Seed Fund is brought to you by several collaborators who support technology development, business growth, and economic diversification:
Juneau Robot Jamboree a fun success! 

The Juneau Economic Development Council is coordinating FIRST LEGO League qualifiers throughout the state. The Juneau Robot Jamboree, a Southeast FIRST LEGO League qualifier, took place on December 10 in Juneau at Centennial Hall.  Twenty-six teams [over 250 students!] from Juneau, Skagway, Gustavus, Hoonah, Petersburg, and Metlakatla participated in this all-day event. "The Prickles" from Skagway took home top honors with the Inspire Award, and "Happy Daves" from Juneau earned the highest score in the Robot Game. Due to weather, the Skagway team couldn't make the tournament but were able to compete via Skype.  The statewide FIRST LEGO League program is within the Juneau Economic Development Council's talent development focus area.  



Economic Indicator: Retirees Stay in Juneau One Year After Leaving State Employment, 2011-2014

A review of Permanent Fund dividend applications for 2010 to 2011 and 2013 to 2014 provide insight into what state employees do the year after they leave state employment.

Slightly over half of individuals under age 50 continued to pay into the State's unemployment insurance system, indicating that they continued to work in Alaska, either in Juneau or elsewhere in the state. This is in contrast to those over age 50, where just under a quarter continued to pay into the system and, therefore, had taken another job within the state. For both age groups, about the same number, 30 percent, did not apply for a permanent fund dividend in the subsequent year, indicating that they left the state.

The largest difference is in the number of individuals that continued to live in Juneau (receiving a permanent fund dividend here) but were no longer paying into the state's unemployment insurance system, indicating that they possibly retired, took a job with the Federal government, or became self-employed (including fishing). Forty-four percent or more of those over age 50 were in this category, compared to 19 percent or less of those under age 50. One conclusion from this analysis is that a large proportion of the individuals over 50 leaving state employment, up to this point, have been retiring and continuing to live in Juneau.



You can download the 2016 Economic Indicators HERE  
Choose Juneau Partner Button For Your Website 

The Juneau Economic Development Council has been working on the  Choose Juneau  campaign which focuses on positioning Juneau as a great place to live, work, retire, and invest.  We created a Choose Juneau website button that you can include on your website to direct traffic to Choose Juneau.  Link it to your website, now, using this link:  http://choosejuneau.org/link-to-us



Check out the site at www.ChooseJuneau.org! 
Investor Spotlight: Juneau Hydropower 


Providing Sustainable, Value Driven Energy solutions for our community.  Juneau  Hydropower is quickly developing a reputation for Technology, Innovation, and Leadership.

Juneau Hydropower is the developer of record for the Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Facility.  This exciting project will provide new electrical capacity for Juneau's future.  Expanding Juneau's energy portfolio will enable the rapid adoption of electric vehicles and possible future electric public transportation. Additionally, Juneau's new energy capacity can ensure the electrification of visiting cruise ships and provides the renewable energy foundation for displacing expensive fossil fuel use with lower cost solutions for governmental, business, and residential home heating and domestic hot water.

Juneau Hydropower and its subsidiary operations are establishing synergistic and integrated sustainable solutions for Juneau now and for generations to follow. By combining low cost, locally produced renewable and sustainable energy with proven and innovative world class heating and hot water solutions, JHI will create winning combinations for Juneau and our environment.

Learn more about supporting the work of JEDC and consider an Investment in Juneau.
Become a 2017 JEDC Investor 

We invite you to invest in Juneau by becoming a JEDC Investor. Show your support of the work we do to forward Juneau and Southeast's economy.

By supporting JEDC you are supporting the long-term economic success of Alaska's capital city, and creating a business climate that in turn supports your business or organization.  

To learn more about our investor program, please visit www.JEDC.org/investors or send an email to Dana Herndon
Thank you for subscribing to JEDC News!
 
If you find JEDC News to be of interest and value, please forward the newsletter to your friends and colleagues.  Have a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Executive Director
Juneau Economic Development Council

In This Issue
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Board of Directors
Lauren MacVay, Chair
Chancellor Rick Caulfield, Vice Chair
Mitch Jackson, Treasurer
Susan Murray, Secretary
Mayor Ken Koelsch
Alec Mesdag
Susan Murray
Brandon Cullum
Keith Comstock
Marc Wheeler
Steve Ricci
Nadine Lefebvre
Beth Weldon, CBJ Assembly
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