In 2024, Juneau saw the highest private sector employment on record at 11,332 jobs, with private sector employment numbers surpassing 2019 by about 100. Total employment (private sector + government sector) peaked in 2015, with government employment observing decline since it peaked back in 2004.

Welcome, Melissa and Keith!

A special welcome to our newest Board Members who were recently appointed by the CBJ Assembly and are beginning their three-year term of service at JEDC.

Melissa Beedle



Melissa Beedle is currently an Audit Managing Director at KPMG Anchorage, working remotely and serving clients locally in Juneau as well as in other Alaskan cities and villages, Seattle, and Portland. Over the past 20 years at KPMG, Melissa worked with a variety of industries and organizations, including Alaska Native Corporations, hospitals, seafood, tourism, government, power & utilities, and consumer manufacturing. She earned a Bachelor of Administration in Accounting from Western Washington University and has a CPA license in good standing in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.

Keith Greene



James “Keith” Greene is currently the President & CEO at Kootznoowoo, Inc. Prior to his current role, he served in various financial management roles at Focus Outreach, the City of Valdez, the City of Kotzebue, and Greene Business & Accounting Services, LLC, among others. Keith received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Montreat College before completing an MBA in Business Administration, as well as MSA in Science in Accountancy, from the University of Phoenix.

Get Ready for the 2026 Innovation Summit!

The Innovation Summit is Alaska’s premier innovation event, bringing together entrepreneurs, business and industry experts, policymakers, researchers, and influential change agents from around Alaska and beyond. Experience popular components of this national award-winning event like the Alaska Airlines Pitch Contest, Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame Ceremony, Innovation Tours, Deep Dives, Innovation Shorts and much more!

2026 Theme:

Forces at Work: Alaska's Push-Pull Paradox

This uniquely immersive experience will explore how Alaska's rapidly changing demographics impact business, the workforce, and the economy.

• Be inspired by emerging trends and technologies shaping Alaska's competitiveness and increasing its capacity to innovate both now and in the future.
• Consider ways to prepare for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead related to our state's changing demographics in the context of business/economics.
• Engage with industry leaders, community partners, and experts in various areas being impacted: like eldercare (workforce, quality of life, caregiving, new products/services), housing (built environments, inventory, modifications, universal design), demographics (migration, cohort dynamics), finance (wealth transition, exit strategies), entrepreneurship, and more!

Join your fellow Innovators at the Innovation Summit!

PROMOTE your business!

EXCHANGE information!

BUILD relationships!

JEDC sincerely appreciates our sponsors for their dedication and contributions to the Innovation Summit! Your funding plays an integral role in igniting discovery and making new connections among our attendees.

Check out our 2026 Sponsorship Toolkit for impactful benefits that enhance your exposure throughout the event.

Hear from aspiring Alaskan entrepreneurs!

Co-hosted with the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Airlines Pitch Contest brings together aspiring entrepreneurs who will pitch their business venture to a panel of experts, as well as the ultimate panel – Innovation Summit attendees! Pitch contestants will have 5-6 minutes to pitch their business plan in front of attendees who will crowdfund a cash prize for the winner to take home at the end of the session.

Pitch Contestants* will have access to materials and resources on how to make a pitch as well as have the opportunity to practice and be coached by a seasoned entrepreneur.

Application Deadline: January 25, 2026

*Previous competitors include: Remote Hands, AirVitalize, Amalga Distillery, Attently, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Coppa, The Sawmill Farm, Tundra Tonics, Salty Lady Seafood Co., Kartorium, Sitkana, AirVitalize, and many others!

Engage around original ideas and forward-thinking topics!

JEDC is seeking thirty (30) presenters to showcase their original ideas through 10-minute “Innovation Shorts” presentations at the 2026 Innovation Summit. Innovation Shorts offer conference attendees a glimpse into a host of topics that surround the larger conference theme. Each short is just enough time to pique the attention of the audience. Presenters gain experience speaking publicly on their chosen topic while growing their network and creating buzz.

Application deadline: February 16, 2026

JEDC Platinum Investors

JEDC proudly serves on the organizing team for the Alaska Angel Conference (AAC), which aims to increase the number of angel investors in Alaska's statewide startup ecosystem by pairing experienced angel investors with novice investors and leading them through the process of identifying, filtering, selecting, and managing a group angel investment. The AAC also helps nurture the companies and mentor the entrepreneurs who apply for funding. The end goal is to award an investment to one of the startups that apply. Since 2019, the AAC has invested $665,000 into six Alaskan startups, made possible by the Innovating Alaska Act (informally named the Alaska Crowdfunding Act).

The final pitch event took place on December 11 at The Nave in Anchorage. After undergoing extensive due diligence and deliberation, four finalists presented at the event: beadedcloud, AirVitalize, SWOOP, and Adivo.

A big shout out to the organizations helped put it together this year: the Alaska Investor Network (AIN), Alaska Version 3 (AKV3), the Center for Economic Development (CED) at the University of Alaska Anchorage, the Center for Innovation at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, 49th State Angel Fund with the Municipality of Anchorage, and the Juneau Economic Development Council.

JEDC Gold Investors

JEDC Silver Investors

Does your business employ seasonal workers? We need your input!

Juneau’s economy depends on a strong seasonal workforce, yet employers across industries report that a shortage of available, affordable housing is limiting their ability to recruit and retain employees and meet demand during the busy season. To better understand the scale and specifics of this challenge, we are conducting a brief survey of Juneau businesses that employ seasonal workers.​

Your responses will help quantify the actual number of seasonal “beds” needed, document the housing solutions employers are already using, and identify where unmet demand and financial or operational burdens are greatest. The results will inform the planning and design of potential seasonal workforce housing solutions in Juneau, including employer-focused and public–private partnership models.​

If you have colleagues or other employers in your industry who employ seasonal workers, please share this with them. We want the most complete picture possible. The survey should take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. We encourage one response per business location or operation. Individual responses will be kept confidential and only aggregated results will be shared.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate and for helping shape practical housing solutions that support Juneau’s seasonal workforce and overall economy.

JEDC Bronze Investors

Teamwork and problem solving in-action last Saturday.

JEDC is proud to be a leading provider of high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programming in our efforts to develop talent and support Juneau’s future workforce. This work includes the internationally-recognized FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program, which engages thousands Alaskan youth in exciting mentor-based programs to foster teamwork and critical thinking skills, inspire innovation, and build well-rounded, informed individuals. As the official FIRST® Program Delivery Partner for Alaska, JEDC organizes 20+ energy-filled youth robotics events annually for K-12 students throughout the state.

On December 13, the Southeast Alaska FIRST® LEGO League (FLL) Qualifier, the “Juneau Robot Jamboree”, was held at Centennial Hall in Juneau. This event is essential in growing experience and skills through the FIRST® in Alaska program: a pivotal day for our students from Juneau and throughout the region. The energy-filled event was a BIG success, with more than 100 youth competing on 18 teams, supported by nearly 70 volunteers, including coaches, mentors, and high school robotics team helpers.  

Special thanks to our local tournament sponsors for supporting this successful event: Hecla Greens Creek, Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine, and Dawson Construction!

Call for FIRST® Tournament Sponsors

FIRST® in Alaska events are the culmination of months of hard work for teams across the state. Each tournament will be a pivotal day for students in these regions, and we need local business and community support to make them happen! Your sponsorship of a FIRST® in Alaska event will not only provide your company with increased reach and recognition; it will also have a direct positive impact on Alaskan youth.

Event sponsorships range* from $1,500 (for regional qualifiers) to $5,000 (for state championships) with increased benefits, including:

• Your Company listed in event program
• Your Company logo on FIRST® in Alaska website and Facebook page
• Your Company logo in tournament software
• Shout-out during opening/closing ceremonies and throughout the event
• Sponsor signage at event
• Sponsor table at event (if desired)

*We welcome and appreciate any amount of support! Packaging is customizable. We look forward to connecting with you about an option that best fits your company's goals!

Invest in Juneau in 2026!

The JEDC Investor Program is specifically designed to engage businesses and organizations who support economic development in Juneau. By becoming a JEDC Investor, you will directly contribute* to programs and initiatives that foster a healthy and sustainable economy: help make Juneau a great (capital) city; strengthen key regional industries; promote entrepreneurship and small business; develop next generation talent; and, deliver core economic development services.

Your investment will provide vital, flexible funding enabling us to act where the need is greatest: conducting timely and relevant research, responding to emergency situations, convening partners to address housing and workforce challenges, supporting business startup and expansion through our lending and investment programs, and much more!

With our comprehensive and consistent marketing, your business or organization will be recognized on the JEDC website and all presentations, publications, newsletters, and collateral materials. Investment levels* range from $700 to $10,000+ with increasing benefits. Additionally, your sponsorship of specific JEDC programs and events, such as FIRST® in Alaska, the Innovation Summit or the Juneau Maritime Festival, will increase your overall Investor recognition level.

*All packaging is customizable, and we look forward to connecting with you and discussing your company's goals, so you get the most return on your investment!

JEDC Investors

JEDC Affiliate Investors

JEDC | Website