USDA Forest Service
Alaska Region
NEWS RELEASE
Ray Massey (907) 586-7876
rmassey@xxxxxxxxx
June 9, 2011
USDA and DOC Agencies Release Report That Lists Job Creation Initiatives for Southeast Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska- Today, USDA and DOC agencies released a report that lists job creation initiatives for Southeast Alaska. The initiatives are categorized in four economic sectors: ocean products, forest products, visitor products and renewable energy. The report was developed by four economic cluster working groups made up of Southeast Alaska leaders in business, academia, nongovernmental organizations and State, local and Tribal governments.
Economic clusters have been shown to be effective at creating competitive advantages for regional economies. The process brings business leaders together with government and others to collaborate rather than compete; providing a platform where ideas to create economic opportunities can emerge.
This report is one outcome from work that began in early 2010 when USDA, as the largest land manager in Southeast Alaska, committed to assist Southeast communities in diversifying their economies from harvest of old growth timber. USDA agencies including the Forest Service, Rural Development, and Farm Services Agency, along with the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, formed an implementation team that is working to improve and diversify the region’s economy.
The agencies’ implementation team contracted the Juneau Economic Development Council to assist them with the project. The first step was to produce an asset map to identify the human, financial, institutional and natural assets available in Southeast Alaska. The asset map was completed last fall. The implementation team and JEDC used the asset map to identify four industry sectors at which Southeast Alaska has historically been proficient and which may be key to economic diversification. An economic cluster group was initiated to investigate possibilities for each of four industry sectors.
“I’m very pleased with the report,” said Regional Forester Beth Pendleton. “Through a dynamic partnership, over 100 leaders from very diverse groups of people from private industry, academia, Tribes, and federal, state and local agencies joined to work in these clusters. Their report reflects that diversity and collaborative effort.”
Based in part on this report, the implementation team is developing a plan that will recommend funding for economic initiatives that may cross agency boundaries and are: aligned with current actions by USDA agencies; have a high likelihood for success; and are readily achievable.
For a copy of “Southeast Alaska Action Plan initiatives for Key Economic Clusters” visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r10/transition. Visit Juneau Economic Development Council’s web site for information on asset mapping and economic clusters at www.jedc.org.
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Twitter @ akforestservice www.fs.usda.gov/r10
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