JEDC News, November 2016

2017 Economic Outlook Survey

The Juneau Economic Development Council, along with associations and organizations throughout Alaska and the country, is conducting a survey to better understand the outlook for business growth in the region. The 2017 Economic Outlook Survey is a free annual online survey that gathers the perspectives of business, nonprofit, and government leaders on the growth outlook for area organizations and their economic regions. To take the survey, please click HERE.

BP Funds STEM After School Innovation Grants

The Juneau Economic Development Council , BP, and the Alaska Afterschool Network have announced a new funding source for the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in out-of-school time - STEM Afterschool Innovation Grants . These grants will increase the investment in Alaska's afterschool programs to help meet the growing need for a talented STEM workforce.

Grants of $500 to $2,000 will be awarded to K-12 afterschool providers in Alaska. Grant applications are now open and should be submitted online at JEDC.org. Applications must be received no later than Friday, December 16. Award announcements will be made within one month of the application deadline.

The STEM Afterschool Innovation Grants are designed to support out-of-school time programs in their efforts to develop, improve, or expand STEM programing. Currently 77% of afterschool programs in Alaska offer some STEM programming. The STEM Afterschool Innovation Grants can be used to increase this number STEM opportunities available afterschool or to increase the quality of STEM learning already taking place in programs.

Afterschool programs are defined as programs that take place when school is not in session and provide educational enrichment activities for students in grades K-12. The objectives of the grant are to improve school attendance, academic achievement, and in-school behavior of participating students.

Questions related to the grant program and/or application should be sent to Rebecca Soza at mailto:[email protected].

JEDC and DBA partner for Gallery Walk

The Juneau Economic Development Council and its partner, the Downtown Business Association, are gearing up for the annual Gallery Walk on December 2 from 4PM-9PM. We invite you to come down for a street party on Front Street with some great tunes by DJ Manu, entertainment and more. We have a holiday sweater walk where participating businesses will give you a ticket to fill out for a chance to win a grand prize. All you have to do is go into participating stores with your holiday sweater and ask for a ticket. Fill it out and put it in the giant present box at the DJ booth on Front Street. Every participating store you go into gives you another chance to win. We'll also have a group photo for everyone wearing a holiday sweater at 8PM. There are Santa photo opps at the Senate Building and at the Baranof from 4PM-8PM.

Coppa will be in the foyer of the Old First National Bank building selling ice cream on gallery walk. Good thing you'll have those holiday sweaters to keep you warm!

Official Gallery Walk after party at the Hangar ballroom. FREE. Juneau soul plays from 8PM-11PM.

For more information, visit the DBA website.

Juneau Robot Jamboree on December 10th at Centennial Hall

The FIRST LEGO League qualifier, Juneau Robot Jamboree, will bring together 25 teams from Southeast Alaska. Teams come from Juneau, Gustavus, Petersburg and more. Doors open at 8AM and the event goes until 5PM. Spectators are welcome! We are still looking for volunteers to fulfill a variety of roles from judging to crowd control. Please contact [email protected] if you're interested in helping us with this great event.

2017 Innovation Summit Exhibition Booths Available

Join other business and agency exhibitors on February 15 - 16, 2017 in the Innovation Lounge, open to Innovation Summit attendees throughout this exciting two-day event. Securing a booth gives you access to more than 200 entrepreneurs, business and industry leaders, public policy makers, presenters, sponsors and fellow exhibitors. This is an excellent opportunity to build strong relationships and awareness of your products, services and vision with the people shaping the economy of the region.

To reserve a booth, please fill out this form.

Stay tuned for more information at www.JEDC.org/innovation

Looking to Expand Your Business or Have a Business Idea that You Want to Make Happen?

If you have a project that will create or retain jobs in Southeast Alaska, Juneau Economic Development Council could be the lender you've been looking for. We are a non-profit financial institution created to fund development in Southeast Alaska. It is often very difficult for

new businesses and businesses in depressed industries to get the financing they need to get sta rted and so Juneau Economic Development Council launched the Southeast Alaska Revolving Loan Fund in 1997 to bridge the gap between what banks will finance and what the business community needs.

Here is an example of how we might be able to help your business: JEDC recently partnered with Northrim Bank to finance the purchase and expansion of an existing service business to its long-time manager. JEDC expects the company will retain 4 full-time staff and could add four more full-time jobs over the next year.

Our goal is to provide financing for viable projects that will cre ate and retain quality jobs and help to diversify local economies in Southeast Alaska. JEDC operates a community-based loan fund and one region wide loan program that serves smaller communities throughout Southeast Alaska. Find out more by contacting Margaret O'Neal.

JEDC helped Deckhand Dave's with a RLF in 2016

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. The ultimate goal is to attract talent and investment to Juneau. The Juneau Economic Development Council's first task in this ongoing campaign is to create a website that consolidates Juneau-centric information to make it easier for recruiters and potential residents to find important Juneau information all in one place. The website, www.ChooseJuneau.org, includes information on housing, schools, medical offices, recreational activities and more. We welcome community involvement in this process as we aim to build a valuable product for everyone to use. For more information on how you can help, please email Dana Herndon.

Economic Indicator: Cost of Living in Juneau

Juneau's cost of living is high, but comparable to Anchorage and Fairbanks

Among the 261 urban areas that participated in the third quarter 2016 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York City, NY (composite index of 232) to almost 25 percent below the national average in McAllen, TX (composite index of 76). Juneau's cost of living (composite index of 131) is about 31 percent above the national average. Juneau ranked as the 20th most expensive city in the survey, on par with Anchorage, Fairbanks and Portland, OR. Ranked in 13th place, Seattle, WA is 43 percent more expensive than the national average.

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services for professional and managerial households. The composite index is based on six component categories - housing, home energy, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

You can download the 2016 Economic Indicators HERE.

Investor Spotlight: Hecla Mining Company

Greens Creek is an underground silver, zinc, lead and gold mine operated by Hecla Greens Creek Mining in Southeast Alaska about 18 miles southwest of Juneau on Admiralty Island. It is in the Tongass National Forest, near Hawk Inlet and lies partially within the Admiralty Island National Monument. The mine operates around the clock, 365 days a year, and employs about 415 people. In 2015, Greens Creek produced 8,452,153 ounces of silver, 60,566 ounces of gold, 61,934 tons of zinc, and 21,617 tons of lead. Mine production started in 1989 and today Greens Creek is one of the largest and lowest cost primary silver producers in the world.

"Mining is a cornerstone of a diversified Southeast Alaskan economy and the Hecla Greens Creek Mine is proud to support JEDC's efforts to strengthen the mining sector as well as its initiatives that seek to promote economic development throughout the region." Mike Satre, Manager of Government and Community Relations, Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company.

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

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.