JEDC News, September 2018

Juneau Economic Trade Delegation visits Whitehorse

A delegation from Juneau traveled to Whitehorse to increase commerce between Juneau and our region of Alaska and Whitehorse and the Yukon. Outbound on September 16 and returning on September 18, the group flew Alaska Seaplanes last scheduled flights of their inaugural seasonal service. Alaska Seaplanes decision to expand their service to Whitehorse was a major impetus for JEDC deciding to organize the trade mission. It was also a great opportunity to strengthen existing relationships with Juneau's Sister City and also led to many new contacts and sharing of ideas between Juneau and Whitehorse. While in Whitehorse, the delegation met with representatives of the Yukon and Whitehorse Chambers of Commerce, Yukon College, Tourism leaders, Sister Cities representatives, Economic Development Agencies, business leaders, the Mayor and local councilors and also the Yukon Premier and members of the Cabinet. Plans are underway for further follow-up and future exchanges.

Who:

Liz Perry, Travel Juneau
Barbara Burnett, Juneau Sister Cities Committee
Jerry Burnett
Dave Scanlan, Eaglecrest
Charles Herrington, Eaglecrest
Mary Berry, Alaska Glacier Seafoods
Jim Powell, UAS
Carl Ramseth, Alaska Seaplanes
Heather Ramseth
Keith Comstock, Juneau Hydropower & JEDC Board of Directors
Brian Holst, Juneau Economic Development Council

2018 Juneau Business Visitor and Alaska State Legislature Satisfaction Survey Results

The Juneau Economic Development Council partnered with the Alaska Committee to survey visitors to Juneau during the 30th Alaska State legislative session to assess their satisfaction with visiting Juneau and to solicit opinions on improvements to the visitor experience. The survey also includes responses from elected officials and staff of the 30th Alaska State Legislature about their satisfaction with Juneau and its amenities. The survey objective was to determine how the community of Juneau, through collaboration among community partners, can better serve legislators and staff. The survey also served to elicit ideas for changes or upgrades to the Capitol Complex and for improvements to Gavel Alaska. The business visitor survey was conducted at the Juneau International Airport in March 2018. This survey followed on prior surveys conducted in 2009, 2013, and 2015.

Download the Juneau Business Visitor Satisfaction survey here.

Download the Alaska State Legislature Satisfaction survey here.

Mark your Calendars for Juneau Startup Weekend

The Juneau Economic Development Council is excited to coordinate another Juneau Startup Weekend from November 16 - 18, 2018 at the University of Alaska Southeast. Do something amazing in 54 hours! 
Do you have an idea you'd like to pursue or a problem you'd like to solve but don't know where to start or who to start with? 
Techstars Startup Weekend is the place to look for a team, create a prototype of your idea, validate your business idea, and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs, all in one weekend.

What do you need to bring? Lots of energy! You'll pitch your own idea or listen to others, then vote on the most interesting ideas and form teams with diverse skill sets. You can come with friends, but you'll get the full experience if you participate in separate teams. Remember, it's all about exploring entrepreneurship.

Your idea should be something you have not previously worked on. The idea you pitch and the problem you set out to solve can span social, educational, financial, environmental, or other issues. Over the course of the weekend you'll be challenged to create a prototype of your MVP, or minimum viable product, that fits the needs of your target customer. You'll get feedback, iterate, and likely pivot your approach entirely! Important: You cannot have worked previously on your idea.

Tickets for this three-day event are only $80 and include seven full meals, benefits and discounts from our global partners, one-on-one time with mentors, a new network of developers, designers, and entrepreneurs, and all the internet and coffee you can consume!

Still have questions, feel free to reach us at "[email protected]".

Choose Juneau

Choose Juneau

The new Choose Juneau website is LIVE. The Juneau Economic Development Council leads the Choose Juneau campaign. The goal of Choose Juneau is to position Alaska's capital city as a prime place to live, work, invest, and retire. Juneau is the home of Alaska's Capital and to thriving industries such as mining, tourism, research, arts, and fisheries. Diversity of professional opportunity, from government & education to robust industries, make Juneau a great choice for growing a career, furthering education, or starting a business. Juneau offers a highly-educated workforce, a great location in Southeast Alaska in the heart of the Tongass Rainforest, and an unparalleled lifestyle complete with an energetic downtown, fresh air, an abundance of recreational activities, and all the amenities of a city. Rich in history and diverse in culture, Juneau is a vibrant Alaskan city. FB

Economic Indicator: Thirty-Something is largest demographic in Juneau

While there is a widely discussed "senior tsunami" in Juneau, with residents aged 60 and over growing in numbers, there is also an unrecognized and un-celebrated growth in 30-something aged residents. This age group has grown steadily in numbers in the last decade, and in 2017 for the first time, this cohort became the largest group in Juneau with 4,921 residents. Until 2017, residents aged 50-59 held the lead, numbering over 5,000 residents, but with aging into the next tier and out migration, in 2017 their numbers dropped to 4,854, just below the 30-something cohort.

Become a JEDC Board Member

The Juneau Economic Development Council annually has openings on its Board of Directors. JEDC Board members are recommended to the CBJ Assembly by the current JEDC Board and then appointed by the CBJ Assembly based upon their experience and expertise in areas relating to economic development and our local economy.

There are three board seats open for an appointment of a three year term starting on/about December 2018.

Interested parties should complete an application AND a letter of interest directed to the JEDC Board of Directors that briefly describes your qualifications and/or interest in serving on the JEDC Board of Directors. Please direct questions to JEDC Executive Director, Brian Holst, or call 523-2333 for more information.

Deadline for applying is October 26, 2018. Interested candidates should plan on participating in interviews with current members of the JEDC Board on November 7, 2018 between 12:30 and 2PM.

Become a 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.