Accomplishments

SWAMC is engaged in a variety of ongoing and special projects designed to accomplish its mission and provide service to its members and other constituents. Some of SWAMC's notable accomplishments include:

Southwest Alaska Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
The CEDS has been endorsed by municipalities, the State of Alaska, and the U.S. Government. It has been acknowledged as a definitive analysis of the region and is frequently cited in community and comprehensive plans, feasibility studies, grant applications and similar reports and documents.

 

Fisheries Labor Data Project
SWAMC continues to seek partners to resolve deficiencies in the collection and reporting of fisheries labor data. These deficiencies hamper the regionís ability to fully illustrate the character and challenges of a fisheries-dependent economy. Lack of comprehensive, reliable data has also proven to be a handicap to recovering from fisheries disasters or disruptions.

 

 

The Economic Geography of Southwest Alaska
This study defines the regional interdependencies and describes how the regional economy of Southwest Alaska functions in relation to Southcentral and the rest of the State.

 

 

 

Southwest Alaska Quality of Life Index
A comparative assessment of the standard of living in Southwest Alaska using six indicators: health and safety, the situation for children, education, community and economic resources, the environment, and infrastructure.

 

 

 

Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Program
SWAMC administered a $30 million dollar fund to partially compensate communities, businesses and residents for economic losses sustained during the closure of federal fisheries in 2000. Payouts were made within one year with less than one percent administrative cost. (NOTE: There are over 380 pages of Attachments for the Final Report to Congress [at right]. To request specific attachments, please contact SWAMC.)

 

 

Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan
SWAMC convened a work group of regional stakeholders to work with the Alaska Department of Transportation and its contractors to provide input and advice on the regional transportation planning process. SWAMC continues to advocate for the full funding and implementation of the plan.

Southwest Alaska Workforce Development Council
The Alaska Workforce Investment Board selected SWAMC as the convener and facilitator of a regional workforce development council to provide advice to the Board and help align workforce and economic development in the region.

Share Your Heritage Workshop
The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected Alaska's Southwest as one of five regions to conduct cultural heritage tourism workshops around the nation. Thirty stakeholders from the region convened to develop a plan to further advance the regionís cultural tourism resources.

Current & Future Projects

The CEDS Action Plan provides a blueprint for SWAMCís annual program of work. New projects and opportunities for collaboration are implemented based on available funding, resources and partners. A few of the projects that are currently underway or that the Staff is exploring include:

  • Southwest Alaska Rural Energy Project With the assistance of the AmeriCorps*VISTA Program, SWAMC initiated an assessment of ways to reduce regional energy costs through a fuel consortium, renewable/alternative energy advocacy, and end-user efficiency strategies. The energy project began in November of 2005.
  • Steller Sea Lion History Project SWAMC began a project in early 2010 to document the effects of the Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Program authorized by Congress in 2000 and finished in 2002. The program is described above, and the history project will provide perspective on how the funding was used and lessons learned for the future.
  • Southwest Alaska Broadband Consortium SWAMC is seeking partners to form a Broadband Consortium in order to form a Regional Broadband Strategy. With a range of broadband development projects taking place in and around the region, we hope to identify and take advantage of the economic, social, educational, and health-related activities that are associated with the development.
  • Food Production SWAMC is seeking out grant funding to research greenhouse and hydroponic gardening projects beginning in 2010.  We hope to have more and more communities producing their own food for local consumption and export. SWAMC is also part of the Alaska Food Policy Council, a group of agencies, NGOs, producers and supply chain providers looking to boost Alaska's food prodcution potential.
  • Aquaculture SWAMC is interested in exploring the benefits (and drawbacks) of appropriate fish farming in targeted areas of the region. This would include aquaculture assessments, identification of key markets, and environmental inventories. A priority of the analysis would be that no aquaculture program competes with existing commercial fisheries that are lucrative to Southwest Alaska communities.