Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference

Linking Alaska's small businesses to
the right resource at the right time.

2010 SWAMC Annual Conference Set for February 4-5

The next Southwest Alaska Economic Summit & SWAMC Annual Membership Meeting will take place February 4-5, 2010 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. The conference agenda is set (click on the image to view), and the meeting will include panels, presentations, and discussions centering around various development topics, including fish technology and innovation, rural transportation planning, building broadband infrastructure, climate change, and a Congressional update from our delegates in Washington. Finally, with 2010 being an election year, we will host a gubernatorial candidate forum during our banquet to round out the events. Click here to register for the conference.

Similar to the previous two years, we also plan to hold a one-day energy workshop the day before the conference, on February 3rd. Download the registration form here, or contact our energy coordinator with any questions.

Lastly, sponsorship opportunities remain. These functions can't happen without your support, so we truly appreciate all of our generous donors. Click here to become a Highliner Sponsor today.

Southwest Alaska to Receive Broadband Upgrade

January 26, 2010 - The hundreds of billions of dollars sent America's way compliments of Congress and President Barack Obama nearly a year ago are trickling into Alaska by the bucketful. Among the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's priorities is a goal of delivering high-speed Internet connections to the nation's most distant communities.

Monday, Alaska telecommunications giant GCI learned it landed tens of millions of dollars of ARRA money to build a land-based broadband network in the Bush. Read More

Target Stores to Sell Alaska Wild Salmon

January 26, 2010 - Target Corp., the nation's second-largest discounter after Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said Tuesday that it pulled all farmed salmon from its stores as it looks to be more environmentally conscious.

The retailer said it will no longer carry farmed salmon in its fresh, frozen or smoked seafood sections. The move impacts national brands and the chain's own Archer Farms and Market Pantry brands, which will now use wild-caught Alaska salmon. Read More

FY11 Appropriations Requests Due to Senator Begich by February 19

Senator Begich is asking communities to submit appropriations requests to his office no later than February 19th. According to the Senator, "Many people ask what criteria we look at when submitting projects to the Appropriations subcommittees. We look for projects: protecting the health and safety of communities; having a local match - either monetary or in-kind, and; producing jobs as soon as possible."

This year, the Begich office plans to use technology to make the appropriations process run more smoothly. Instead of filling out forms and emailing them, they’re asking communities to go to the Senator's website and fill out an online form with your projects. You should complete a separate form for each project. You can access the online form here.

Ocean Policy Task Force Releases Marine Spatial Planning Report

December 14, 2009 - President Obama’s Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force released its Interim Framework for Effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (Interim Framework) for a 60-day public review and comment period. With competing interests in the oceans and our coasts, the Interim Framework is meant to offer a comprehensive, integrated approach to planning and managing uses and activities. Under the Framework, coastal and marine spatial planning would be regional in scope, developed cooperatively among Federal, State, tribal, local authorities, and regional governance structures, with substantial stakeholder and public input. You can download the full interim report here. Comments are due February 12.

The Task Force is charged with developing a recommendation for a national policy that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes. It will also recommend a framework for improved stewardship, and effective coastal and marine spatial planning. The Task Force is led by the White House council on Environmental Quality.

Pebble Fund Accepting Grant Applications

Communities throughout the Bristol Bay region are invited to apply for grants from the Pebble Fund during the fund's spring competitive grant cycle, open now. Applications from eligible organizations must be received by The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) no later than February 26, 2010 with awards announced later in the spring. The fund will award up to $1 million in small and large grants to qualifying organizations during this grant period. According to ACF, the fund's purpose is to "promote and enhance sustainable and healthy communities and renewable resources within the Bristol Bay region." Applications are accepted in the areas of renewable resources/fish, energy, education and community and economic development. For more information, click here.