Juneau Economic Development Council NEWS | June 2023 | |
Welcome NEW UAS Chancellor and JEDC Board Member | |
APARANA DILEEP-NAGESWARAN PALMER | |
Dr. Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer has been appointed as the new Chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). Dr. Palmer brings over 25 years of experience in higher education and currently serves as Vice President at Front Range Community College (FRCC). As Chancellor, Dr. Palmer will be responsible for providing strategic leadership in fulfilling UAS' mission, including budget development, academic planning and program assessments, student and enrollment services, administrative services, and community relations.
Dr. Palmer will take over from Dr. Karen Carey, who is retiring on June 30, 2023, and will assume the role on July 1, 2023.
| |  |
|
A resident of Juneau for two decades, Trenton is the Southeast Business Representative for the Alaska District Council of Laborers (AKDCL), where he is responsible for workforce recruitment, training coordination, contract negotiation and enforcement of contracts, and legislation tracking and advocacy. He also serves as the Recording Secretary for the Laborers Local 942 Executive Board; a Trustee to the Alaska Laborers Trust Fund; and the the current President of Juneau Central Labor Council.
Trenton is succeeding Rodney Hesson as the Organized Labor seat. Thank you Rodney for your service at JEDC and welcome Trenton!
| | |
THANK YOU Karen Carey for your service to Juneau's higher education and community. | |
Juneau Indicators: Cost of Living Q1 | |
|
The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) produces the “Cost of Living Index” to provide a useful and accurate measure of living cost differences among urban areas. Items in the Index have been carefully chosen to reflect the different categories of consumer expenditures. Weights assigned to the different categories are based on government survey data.
The Cost of Living Index measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating areas. The average for all participating places, both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan, equals 100, and each participant’s index is compared to that average. JEDC staff collect data from numerous locations around Juneau regularly. We appreciate the cooperation we receive from businesses which makes Juneau participation in this quarterly indicator possible.
| |
Investor of the Month: Respec | |
|
|
JEDC Investor Program
The JEDC Investor Program offers comprehensive and consistent marketing. By joining the JEDC Investor Program, your organization will be recognized on all JEDC presentations, collateral materials, websites, and monthly newsletters.
Investment levels range from $650 to $10,000+ with increasing benefits.
Best of all, your investment supports economic development programming!
| |
|
Investor of the Month:
Respec
| |
KNOW-HOW IS EVERYTHING
"We use our resourcefulness and vast experience to solve problems. It’s called know-how. And when you have it, problems aren’t problems at all. Know-how defines the core of who we are. It is how our clients see us. Know-how speaks to ingenuity, aptitude, and skill—it is not merely knowledge; it is knowing how to get things done."
Respec has completed many local Juneau projects. Some including:
- Lighting the Aquilean Sculptures on the docks downtown
- Designing lighting for the Seawalk from Gold Creek to Bridge Park
- Help with energy conservation for Sealaska's Walter Soboleff Building
- Power and lighting for the boat launch and parking at Statter Harbor
- South Franklin Dock to Taku Smokeries Seawalk lighting
- And much MORE!
"Engineering smarter ways and smarter worlds for major industry sectors, RESPEC is a global leader in diverse technologies and draws from a wide array of expertise, products, and services to deliver world-class solutions for business, mining, energy, water, natural resources, urban development, infrastructure, and enterprise services. We answer thousands of technical questions from diverse clients with one simple answer: Yes, we can do that."
|
| | |
Financing for Energy-Saving Projects | | |
|
|
Seeking Input from Local Businesses
JEDC is currently pursuing a federal opportunity to provide low-interest energy-savings loans to eligible entities. To inform this exciting opportunity that could bring up to $50 million for energy efficiency projects to Juneau, we are looking for input from businesses and organizations. See below a letter from our Executive Director for more details and a form to capture feedback. Thank you for providing input on your business's plans and level of interest to help inform this opportunity, preferably by July 7th, 2023.
| | |
|
|
"See the Universe" Astronomy Camp (July 10–14)
Learn astronomy basics while exploring the universe using real image data and robotic telescopes. How can we do real astronomy from a cloudy place like Juneau? How do backyard telescopes work? What can we learn from modern giant telescopes or space-based telescopes?
- Students entering grades 7–9
- 9am-4pm Monday-Friday @ Marie Drake Planetarium
- Registration Open
| |
|
3D Printing Intro Camp
(July 17-21)
Bring your creative ideas to life with 3D design & print! Campers will use the free Tinkercad modeling software to build their design skills and learn advanced tips & tricks as they progress through 2 or more projects per day.
We will be running our 3D printers around the clock for campers to print two of their favorite designs to take home.
- Students entering grades 6 – 10
- 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday-Friday @ Thunder Mountain High School
- Camps are “Pay as you can”
| | |
|
3D Printing Advanced Camp (July 24-28)
Campers will 3D design in Tinkercad, 3D print, assemble, and code custom attachments for robots to score on given mission challenges. Attachments may include bumpers, kickers, robot arms and grippers powered by servo motors. Campers will learn how to download STL design files from various robot kit companies like REVrobotics.com and 3D design libraries like Thingiverse.com and Printables.com to use in their own designs.
- Students entering grades 8 – 12
- 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday-Friday @ Thunder Mountain High School
- Camps are “Pay as you can
| |
Sponsor Juneau youth in exploring the world of STEM through our STEM Summer Camp programming! | |
Sponsor Spike Prime and Spike Essential robot kits for our local Juneau FIRST LEGO League teams! | | |
|
Pick. Click. Give.
Want to support our Alaskan FIRST and STEM programs? Remember to choose Alaska Development Corporation when you Pick. Click. Give. this year!
| | |
Thank You Juneau Youth STEM Supporters | |
Pictured: Dawn Wesley (First Bank), Brian Holst (JEDC), Alyson Cooper (JEDC FIRST/STEM),and Joe Crowley (First Bank) | |
THANK YOU
We would like to extend a big thank you for First Bank's donation to our Gruening Park STEM summer camp program. This summer camp will provide Juneau youth with hands on experience in science, tech, engineering, and math.
| | |
The Local Frequency: Imagination Station | |
|
Roger and Alicia Smith started Juneau’s Imagination Station in 2003. Inspired by their two young boys, the Smiths opened an 800sq/ft store in downtown Juneau and filled it with quality playthings, unusual novelty items, and Alaskan toys. It quickly became apparent that 800 sq/ft was not enough room! Alicia stuffed full their small space with wonderful items for 5 years. In the spring of 2008, Juneau’s Imagination Station moved across the street to its current location at 174 S. Franklin Street and more than doubled its space.
Now with more room to work with, Juneau’s Imagination Station offers games, dolls, arts & crafts, science, active toys, pretend play toys, toddler and infant toys, building toys, and Alaskan toys and books.
Blessed with wonderful employees and fantastic customers, Juneau’s Imagination Station is looking forward to bringing imaginative play to children for years to come.
| |
|
When you use the Local Frequency app at Imagination Station you get:
- 2% in app cash back when you pay with Credit, Debit, or Cash
- 3% in app cash back when you pay with the Local Frequency app
- Spend a cumulative of $100 Local Dollars through the app and get $10 Local Dollars back!
Download the app today and start earning cash back at your favorite local businesses. Good for you and local businesses!
| | |
|
See how The Local Frequency can work with your business, create loyalty, and change customer behavior! | | | |
|
|
Cagney recently graduated from UAS in the Spring 2023 graduating class. She was awarded the 2023 Outstanding Student & Bob Ellis Award. We are so pleased to have her as a full time Program Associate where she will help manage Facilities & Operations.
UAS Faculty had this to say:
"Her class peers reported that she was "a wealth of information," "a walking textbook" and "a voice of reason listening to all sides then adding her perspective." Always on time, willing to ask questions, and dedicated to her own professional growth, UAS faculty concur that the sky's truly the limit for Cagney's future career."
| | | |
|
|
Juneau Gold Rush Days, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to educate the community about the past, present, and future of mining and logging in Southeast Alaska. To do that, the organization hosts a two-day celebration each year to celebrate the important industries that shaped the modern-day city of Juneau. This year was a great success!
The beloved annual event would not be possible without our community’s support! The event is supported through donations, sponsorships, volunteers, and a lot of hard work. JEDC helped support this year by hosting a raffle.
Permit holder: Juneau Economic Development Council, #102102 Drawing was held at JEDC offices on June 26, 2023, need not be present to win
| |
Downtown Business Association | |
|
Buying an aging historic property in downtown Juneau and running the Iditarod have two big things in common: confidence and ability. South Franklin Street’s Senate Building grew from both. And Bruce Denton achieved both.
To read the whole story on Juneau's historic Senate Building, check out Laurie Craig's latest installment of "Rooted in Community" in this week's Juneau Empire article: HERE
The Downtown Business Association (DBA) is proud to partner with Laurie, a local artist, advocate, and avid researcher of Juneau's historical treasures, to bring you "Rooted in Community", a series of short articles, published in the Empire on the third weekend of each month, focusing on unique buildings in Juneau’s Downtown Historic District and the present-day businesses (and people) that occupy them.
| | |
|
|
SEABIA is pleased to partner with our friends at Alaska Heat Smart and Information Insights on the campaign to Thermalize Juneau! The final product is NOW available.
You will find an interactive, highly visual resource telling the story of Thermalize Juneau and with detailed advice for communities looking to start their own clean energy campaign.
| |
|
JEDC encourages shopping locally and supporting local charities through the Local Change feature of the Local Frequency app.
Did you know Fred Meyer will donate to a charity of your choice when you shop with them?
Did you also know you can support STEM education in Juneau through the Alaska Development Corporation, a 501c3 Charity affiliated with JEDC? Choose Alaska Development Corporation via Fred Meyers or Local Frequency (or even your PFD via Pick Click Give) and support our wonderful Juneau programs!
| | |
|
Fred Meyer offers a Community Rewards program. When you shop with your Fred Meyer's reward card they will donate to a non-profit or charity of your choice! To support STEM and FIRST Robotics, including our STEM Summer Camp programs, make sure you choose Alaska Development Corportation for your donations.
How to opt in:
- Head to fredmeyer.com
- Sign In
- Click on "My Account"
- Click on "My Community Rewards"
- Search "Alaska Development Corporation"
- Click "Enroll"
Your purchases well help donate to our wonderful Juneau programs.
|
| |
|
Local Change is a feature in the Local Frequency app that allows users to opt in to round up their Local Frequency purchases to donate to a non-profit of their choice.
How to opt in:
- Download the Local Frequency app.
- Go to "More"
- Click on "Setup Local Change"
- Choose "Alaska Development Program" or a local non-profit of your choice.
- Choose a round up amount.
- Start Local Change
Your purchases well help donate to our wonderful Juneau programs.
| | |
|
|
|
Creating more childcare capacity in Juneau by assisting new or existing
childcare providers to access, improve or expand the physical infrastructure needed to deliver a quality childcare program to more families.
| | | |
|
|
Southeast Alaska Revolving Loan Fund | 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. | | | |
|
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Garrett Schoenberger, Chair
Dr. Karen Carey, Vice Chair
Aaron Morrison, Treasurer
Melissa Kookesh, Secretary
Jake Carpenter
Trenton English
Marc Guevarra
Alexander Kotlarov
Raymond Paddock III
Jill Weitz
Mayor Beth Weldon
Carole Triem, CBJ Assembly Liaison
| |
JEDC's FIVE AREAS OF FOCUS
- Help Make Juneau a Great (Capital) City
- Strengthen Key Regional Industries
- Develop Talent
- Promote Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development
- Deliver Economic Services
| |
|
We invite you to invest in Juneau by becoming a JEDC Investor. Show your support of the work done to advance Juneau and Southeast Alaska's economy.
Supporting JEDC impacts the long-term economic success of Alaska's Capital City while creating a business climate that bolsters your business or organization.
| |
We welcome your feedback!
If you find JEDC News to be of interest and value, please forward the newsletter to your friends and colleagues.
Brian Holst
Executive Director
Juneau Economic Development Council
| |
Thank you for subscribing to the JEDC News!
Follow Us For Regular Updates
| | | | |
