Register Today for Southeast Conference's 66th Annual Meeting

We are busy making arrangements for our 2024 Southeast Alaska Economic Summit and 66th Annual Meeting to be held in Ketchikan this September 24-26, 2024! Regional business and community leaders will gather to develop an action plan for our economy as we rally around the theme, "Navigating the Changing Tides." We are lining up a fantastic roster of speakers that you won't want to miss!

Southeast Conference Sponsors make our Annual Meeting possible. There is still plenty of time – and lots of opportunities – to become a sponsor of Southeast Conference’s 2024 Economic Summit and 66th Annual Meeting!

Alaska Awarded $38.6 million for Heat Pumps

Southeast Conference, in a partnership led by Alaska Heat Smart and support from the Alaska Municipal League, were awarded $38.6 million through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s competitive Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program (CPRG) to help families offset the cost of converting from residential oil-heating systems and electric resistance heat to energy-efficient heat pumps in Alaska’s southern and central coastal communities.

SASS Reports Triple Economic Impact

Southeast Alaskans are experiencing the economic impacts of nearly $9 million spent in the region after two years of the USDA’s Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS). This milestone is featured in a newly released 2023 SASS Economic Report, which highlights last year’s impacts of direct spending by partners and indirect economic activity following the strategy's launch in 2021. SASS funding was invested in local recreation, fishing, hunting, research, construction, education, agriculture, and forestry projects. Over the past two years, approximately 25 partner organizations in Southeast Alaska have effectively utilized SASS funds, amounting to $9 million, to advance 47 projects. Remaining funds from the overall $25 million investment in SASS will continue to focus on investments that improve the economic, social, and environmental conditions for tribes and communities in Southeast Alaska.

Join us in Ketchikan for our Southeast Conference Annual Scholarship Banquet and Auction during our upcoming Economic Summit and 66th Annual Meeting! Come ready to celebrate the Roaring 2020s and party like its 1924! Dress in your finest Great Gatsby style and receive an extra drink ticket! It'll be the Bees Knees!

Wednesday

September 25, 2024

5:45 PM

Ted Ferry Civic Center

Charles Westmoreland,

Energy Program Manger

Southeast Conference’s Energy and Biomass Team members traveled to Ketchikan on June 28 to survey the location of a planned pellet mill on Gravina Island. SEC team members met with a general contractor who will oversee site preparation ahead of the delivery of equipment this fall. The visit served as an opportunity to finalize layout and design of the mill, and to discuss construction plans with Ketchikan Public Utilities and Ketchikan International Airport officials. 

The trip doubled as an opportunity to touch base with partners in the region. The day-long trip included meeting with the Alaska Forestry Association to discuss issues impacting the state's sawmill operators, visiting with leadership of the Inter-Island Ferry Authority to learn about vessel layout and design, discussing community needs and ongoing projects with Ketchikan Indian Community, and a trip to Saxman to tour the site of an upcoming dock project. These check ins with partner agencies provided the opportunity to listen to concerns, receive project updates, coordinate efforts, and share the valuable work being accomplished by SEC and its members.

First Phase of Equipment Funding through the AMC Grant Program

Under the Equipment & Technology component of the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) grant, Southeast Conference has awarded a first round of funding for the purchase of equipment to support strategic investments in a variety of mariculture operations including processing, nursery, and hatchery development

AFDF Announces

Second cohort for Joint Innovations Project

With funding from the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) has announced a second cohort of applied research and development projects for the Joint Innovations Project (JIP) program. These joint projects form strategic private sector partnerships and are designed to accelerate innovation, address barriers to growth, and stand up Alaska’s emerging mariculture industry

Southeast Conference has begun the development of a new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region, which will guide our trajectory for the next 5 years. We depend on you, our members, to weigh in on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to our region on an industry specific level. If you would like to receive invites to a committee that you are not currently on, please email your request to office@seconference.org

 Upcoming Committee

CEDS Workshops:

Natural Resources August 7, 1pm

Energy August 12, 1pm

Transportation August 13, 11am

Economic Development Aug 19th, 2pm

Seafood & Maritime August 22, 2pm

Become a SEC Board Member!

Any Southeast Conference member in good standing may declare their interest in a seat on the Southeast Conference Board of Directors. Interested parties must submit a letter of intent to the Board of Directors no later than August 15th to run for the available seat. The letter must contain: a statement of the candidate's interest to run, full name, residential address, phone number and signature. Email communication is acceptable. Send email communications to  info@seconference.org  

All nominees will be reviewed by the SEC Nominating Committee and then approved by the entire SEC Board of Directors before being presented to the membership for consideration.

Four open seats (3 year terms):

(2) Northern Private

(1) Northern Public

(1) Southern Private

AMHS Long Range Plan

AMHS is a lifeline service, an essential part of life for people and communities across Alaska, Canada, and the 'Lower 48'. Stay informed on the progress of the AMHS Long-Range Plan, as it sets out to guide the operation and management of AMHS fleet and terminal infrastructure for the next 20 years.