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Continued Efforts Around COVID-19
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 Since April, JEDC has been busy offering business assistance related to CVOID-19. Most significantly, we've been connecting businesses to funding through grant and loan programs. Our core JEDC team and more than 40 temporarily-hired grant analysts have helped implement and process grant programs for both the City and Borough of Juneau and the State of Alaska.
JEDC staff has been working with CBJ to provide almost 200 Juneau businesses with $3,000,000 in emergency loan funding.
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| We have also received and processed 467 Business Sustainability Grant applications, which will assist in getting $14,000,000 in relief to Juneau businesses, including some non-profits.
Additionally, we're proud to have been able to work with the State of Alaska to process AK CARES Small Business Grants. To date, JEDC has processed over 1,530 grants for Alaskan businesses! Our team continues to connect businesses with the financial relief they need.
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New Juneau Renewable Energy Advocate
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In September 2020, JEDC partnered with United Way of Southeast Alaska, Travel Juneau, Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, Juneau Chamber of Commerce and Tlingit & Haida to develop and distribute an online survey to Juneau businesses to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses in Juneau.
At the time of the survey, the COVID-19 pandemic was widespread and affecting many aspects of life and business. The survey aimed to identify how businesses and non-profits in Juneau are pivoting, starting to recover, and planning for the future in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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We extend a warm welcome to Alaska Heat Smart, a community advocate for air source heat pumps. Their goal is to provide information and advisory services for households who are ready to make the the conversion to an air source heat pump.
Created by AEL&P, Renewable Juneau, SEABIA, CBJ Commission on Sustainability and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. The goal is to help people save money and reduce their carbon footprint by converting to heat pumps.
Focusing on residential customers, this newly formed organization is working to increase the amount of homes in Juneau that use renewable energy to heat their home. Currently, there are an estimated 400 heat pumps in use in households in Juneau.
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Innovators Hall of Fame: Seeking Nominations
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We are pleased to join the Alaska State Committee for Research (SCoR) in encouraging nominations for the Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame.
SCoR invites interested persons to nominate outstanding innovators to be inducted into the Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame. Nominees who are selected by SCoR will be members of the 2021 class and will be inducted at the Innovation Summit held in Juneau in February 2021.
Deadline for applications: December 1, 2020
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JEDC Board of Directors Openings
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Deadline to Apply: November 13, 2020
- Three Open Seats Available
- One Seat Reserved for a representative of a Non-Profit Environmental Organization
- Appointed for Three Years
| JEDC Board Members are interviewed and recommended by the current JEDC Board and then appointed by the CBJ Assembly based upon their experience and expertise in fields relating to economic development, including but not limited to large and small business, entrepreneurship, mining, oceans products, tourism, research, banking and finance, engineering and construction, and government.
Follow the link and search for "Juneau Economic Development Council"
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2020 FIRST Season Preview
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| | FIRST LEGO League Challenge #RePLAY - Sneak Peek |
The FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge are in full swing--for some teams. Other teams are getting a late start this year, and that's okay. Tournaments will be delayed to allow everyone to have an opportunity to participate, no matter what the COVID situation in their community happens to be.
This season will be particularly good for teams in our less accessible communities. For the first time, FIRST Tech Challenge teams (high school) anywhere in the world will be able to compete remotely. No travel costs, great Do It Yourself game field options, plenty of online resources, and an abundance of Rookie team grants make this the perfect year to start a FIRST Tech Challenge team.
Check out the FIRST Website for information on the FLL Kickoff, any of our programs, and to keep abreast of season updates, or email [email protected] for details.
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FIRST activities in Alaska are coordinated by JEDC with statewide funding from state and local organizations.
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Indicator of the Month: Juneau Labor Force
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Juneau saw a large decrease in its labor force in April with the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to 2019, the labor force was down an average of 1500 individuals from May through September.
For historical context, this is about three times the drop Juneau experienced during the Great Recession. The gap between 2019 and 2020 labor forces widened in August and September reaching nearly 2000. Even though it is likely that a large portion of this drop is due to the lack of non-resident tourism and seafood workers, the fact that we are seeing the labor force decrease even more as summer turns to fall indicates that residents are a significant portion of this drop as well.
Note that the further decreases in Juneau's labor force in August and September are coupled with Unemployment Rates of about 5.8%. This is not because more people are working (this number is actually decreasing) but is because the number of people seeking work is decreasing.
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JEDC Job Announcement: Administrative Assistant
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Summary
This high-visibility administrative position supports program staff of the Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC) to provide a smooth-running and professional office.
Essential Job Functions
- Provides general business support to include accounting tasks, office logistics/supplies, program activities, ad hoc projects, conference materials, equipment needs, and other duties as assigned.
- Assists Executive Director, Business Manager, and JEDC Program Officers with routine tasks, community outreach, and special events.
- Screens and directs calls, sets up conference calls and assists with phone-related staff requests
- Creates monthly newsletters for various organizations
Download Job Description
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Learn more about our investor program, please visit
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Become a 2020 JEDC Investor
We invite you to invest in Juneau by becoming
a JEDC Investor. Show your support of the
work done to advance Juneau and Southeast Alaska's economy.
Supporting JEDC impacts the long-term economic success of Alaska's Capital City while creating a business climate that bolsters your business or organization.
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Executive Director
Juneau Economic Development Council
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Alec Mesdag, Chair
Garrett Schoenberger, Vice Chair
Brandon Cullum, Treasurer
Jake Carpenter, Secretary
Mayor Beth Weldon
Chancellor Karen Carey
Susan Murray
Lauren MacVay
Melissa Kookesh
Alexander Kotlarov
Chris Dimond
Maria Gladziszewski, CBJ Assembly Liaison |
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Bartlett Regional Hospital
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