Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference

Newsletter - October 2022

SWAMC Membership spans each fiscal year and membership for FY23 runs from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. We are three months into our annual Membership Drive, and if you have already renewed your membership THANK YOU! If you live, work, serve in a leadership position or do business in Southwest Alaska a SWAMC membership is an investment in a strong economy and sustainable communities in the region,and we are depend on your support.

Our goal is to create new economic opportunities, advocate for our member communities, and connect with our state legislature and agencies to improve the quality of life in Southwest Alaska with projects and programs that benefit you. SWAMC’s municipal and associate members vote on a variety of governance, advocacy, and program issues at regular membership meetings and our annual Economic Summit and Membership Meeting in Anchorage each March. Our members use SWAMC as a forum for sharing information on issues critical to the region, and connecting directly to public and private partners across the state. We link you directly to your legislators each year at our conference and provide a regional platform that focuses on the unique challenges of Southwest Alaska. The primary reason to invest in SWAMC is to express your interest and commitment to ensure a vibrant, sustainable economy and strong, healthy communities in Southwest Alaska, and we simply cannot do this without your financial support as members. Without our membership dues, we are NOT eligible for the annual EDA funding that keeps our doors open! renew online at our website .

Shirley Marquardt

SWAMC Executive Director

Renew Your Membership

Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan

SWAMC contracted with McKinley Research Group in 2021 to develop a resiliency and recovery plan for Southwest Alaska. This plan builds on lessons learned during the pandemic and provides strategies to build resiliency to future economic shocks. This plan is for SWAMC and Southwest communities to use in strategic planning, building resiliency, and developing economic opportunities. We hope you bookmark this page to review the highlights presentation and review (and use!) the full report as a planning document for your community or organization.

BBB Mariculture Regional Cluster Grant

In 2017, the Alaska Mariculture Task Force set a goal to grow a $100 million per year industry in 20 years, with employment impact of 1,100 direct jobs and 1,500 total jobs. Due to rapidly growing market opportunities and with substantial EDA and coalition partner investment, an increased goal is warranted. The updated goal is to grow a $100 million industry in ten years and $325 million industry in 20 years, with corresponding direct, indirect, and induced FTE job goals of 550 FTE jobs in 10 years and 1,800 FTE jobs in 20 years. A decision was made to pursue substantial grant funding through the ARP Act, and in September we were awarded $49M to create and encourage the expansion of a Mariculture Industry in Coastal Alaska.This will provide the SWAMC region with opportunities for economic growth and job creation that compliment our seafood processing and fishing history.

The lead institution will be Southeast Conference (SEC) including a Regional Economic Competitiveness Officer. Other coalition members are: State of Alaska (SOA), Prince William Sound Economic Development District (PWSEDD), Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District (KPEDD), Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC), Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA), Alaska Mariculture Alliance (AMA), University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF, including Alaska Sea Grant (ASG) and the Mariculture Research and Training Center (MRTC)), University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF), and Alaska Longline Fisherman's Association(ALFA).SWAMC is looking for a motivated ,energetic and marine environment familiar team member

for this four year grant opportunity.If interested in being considered for this Anchorage position (with a fair amount of travel through our region and training in SE),please contact me at smarquardt@swamc.org