The State House passed a resolution that aims to promote Alaska’s blue economy. HCR 2 aims to support the Alaska Ocean Cluster in its mission, efforts, and vision for a vibrant coastal economy in the state, its promotion of a diversified and resilient state economy that creates value from ocean resources, and it’s building a statewide integrated ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship relating to the state’s ocean economy. The resolution passed the House on a 31-3 vote.
Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins told the House of Representatives:
“The Ocean Cluster is an exciting example of the innovation economy in Alaska that hopefully will power the state forward as we continue to economically transition and diversify. It is supporting a new cluster of blue economy businesses and startups, much of which relate to the costal economy to commercial fishing to mariculture to other related industries. There’s a remarkably talented team at the nucleus of this cluster and the geographic diversity of entrepreneurs and startups across coastal Alaska, and actually not even exclusively in coastal Alaska, is really inspiring and encouraging. I think this is exactly what the state needs going forward. The representative from Nikiski talks a lot about growing the private sector and the state will eventually need to do that and I think this special order highlighted that and I find myself very much in alignment with that and I think this is the kind of new enterprise in the state that will help deliver on that promise.”
The language of HCR 2 reads that the State Legislature encourages the Alaska Ocean Cluster’s efforts to build sustainable, collaborative, and interconnected ocean industry networks through the state by acting as a facilitator and hub in the ocean economy space. The bill was sent to the Senate for consideration and was, most recently, referred to the Senate Resources Committee.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.