JEDC News, March 2016

STEM Summer Camp Enrollment Open!

See the full schedule at www.JEDC.org/stemak/summerprograms

Calling all Parents! Enrollment has opened for the STEM Summer Camps. Sign up your children for a hands-on experience where they will learn through exploration! What better way to spend the summer than by building an underwater robot, for example? There are a variety of summer programs to choose from, including: WeDo LEGO Robotics, NOAA Sun2Sea, Girls Rock Robotics!, Rocketry, Robotics Summer Camp and SeaPerch. Find out more at www.JEDC.org/stemak/summerprograms, or c ontact Courtney Weiss with any questions.

7th Annual Juneau Maritime Festival Coming Up!

Friday, May 6: Port to Starboard Progressive Dinner to Support the Festival

For the past three years the Maritime Festival steering committee hosts a Port to Starboard progressive dinner to raise funds for the community event. This year we are excited to announce that the Port to Starboard progressive dinner is hosted by Juneau Food Tours . We've put a new slant on things and will take you on a walking, eating and drinking tour of Juneau's history connected to the sea.

Each ticket will include:

Set Sail Cocktails at the historic Red Dog Saloon - Meet up with the rest of your crew and batten down the hatches as we set sail into the night
A historical journey down the Seawalk to your next port stop by dedicated Cruise Directors
First Excursion Appetizers at Twisted Fish - Think: halibut cheeks, salmon collars, and black cod tips provided by Taku Smokeries
Full speed ahead to the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway and get a dose of history before the main event
All Aboard Dinner at the Timberline Bar & Grill on Mount Roberts- fresh Alaskan seafood dinner, live and energetic entertainment, silent auction, delicious dessert auction, and Port toast to end the night
Catch the 9PM sunset and epic views on the way down the tram. All Ashore!

To purchase tickets please click HERE.

Saturday, May 7: The Juneau Maritime Festival from 11AM-5PM!

Be a sponsor: Help keep this Festival going in our community!

Get a booth: Have direct access to hundreds of people in the community!

Participate: We need volunteers AND participants for marinade, Take Tote Races, Tug of War and more!

JEDC's STAR AmeriCorps Program

JEDC is proud of its STAR AmeriCorps members and the services they provide in Juneau.

STAR AmeriCorps Member runs LEAP Robotics Program


	This Glacier Valley LEAP participant built a LEGO alligator that is programmed to chomp its mouth. Good Job!

JEDC is proud to have its AmeriCorps Member, Courtney Weiss, introduce robotics to a under-served population. Robotics enrichment has been added to the LEAP program ( Learning Enrichment After-School Program), along with the ongoing STEM instruction led by Clay Good and Geri McLeod. The LEAP programs are currently at the Riverbend and Glacier Valley schools.

STAR AmeriCorps Member teaches at The Learning Connection in addition to her service with United Way

JEDC is proud to have its AmeriCorps Member, Felicite Toney, help teach ESL and serve at United Way.

If you're interested in learning more about how to get involved with the STAR AmeriCorps program, as a Member or a Host Site, visit, www.jedc.org/americorps. For more information on the LEAP program, please contact Rebecca Soza .

Felicite Toney teaches ESL at The Learning Connection

Read Juneau's New Housing Plan

The City and Borough of Juneau recently completed a six month project with a national consultant to create an action-oriented Housing Action Plan to address Juneau's longstanding affordable housing problem. This plan will have major impacts throughout the community. Read the Housing Plan here.

Become a 2016 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.

Jr. FIRST LEGO League Continues -- Expo on Tuesday, April 5th


	Team Bricks works on their LEGO model which will be unveiled at the Expo on April 5th

The Jr. FIRST LEGO league had a great first season! The teams will display their final models and poster at the Valley Public Library this Tuesday at 6PM. Come check out this free public event!

Featured Economic Indicator: Tourist
Related Businesses Have Record Sales In 2015

Juneau gross sales for tourist related businesses continued another year of record growth. Preliminary data from the CBJ finance department shows that 2015 sales grew by over 2.7 percent from that of 2014, to $267 million dollars. The largest gains, with increased sales of $7 million dollars, were for tour providers and travel agencies. Hotels, motels, bars and restaurants, predominantly serving the independent tourist, convention and event market, had increased sales of $3.6 million dollars. Jewelry, art and gift shops, however, were down from 2014 by $2 million dollars.

With cruise passenger visitations projected to be up by almost 4 percent, exceeding 1 million visitors statewide, gross sales are expected to increase again for 2016.

Despite the growth in tourist related business revenue, Juneau's overall gross sales volume declined for the first year since 2010, mostly a result of lower fuel prices and lower mineral prices.

Investor Spotlight: Avista

Avista Corp., incorporated in 1889 and based in Spokane, Washington, is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is the operating division that provides electric service to 375,000 customers and natural gas to 335,000 customers. Avista's service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company. Avista stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com .

Learn more about supporting the work of JEDC and consider an Investment in Juneau.