Presentations were held recently across the Kenai Peninsula Borough providing outreach and engagement updates from the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District.
KPEDD Executive Director, Tim Dillon said:
“We just came out with another loan program. This loan will go to a maximum of $60,000 instead of just a maximum of $25,000. It’s a little different than the second chance loan that we’ve got. There are more restrictions on this one given what the federal government has asked us to do with this. We’ve got a variety of different projects going on: broadband expansion is probably at the top of the list, economic resiliency plan, manufacturing extension program, ARDOR coordination around the state of Alaska, and making sure that boroughwide businesses have what they need in order to survive the situation that we’re all in right now.”
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Dillon said that KPEDD is in the process of creating an Economic Resiliency Plan:
“By the end of next June, we’re going to have a toolbox that’s going to be specific to the Kenai Peninsula that’s going to cover a variety of different areas specific to the Kenai Peninsula businesses. Whether it’s how to deal with business licenses. Whether it’s how to deal with permitting, zoning issues, all of the different pieces, the financial resources in order to make sure that our businesses are able to continue.”
KPEDD has also worked with the Alaska MEP Center, which equips Alaska’s manufacturers with tools and resources necessary to improve the quality, productivity, and competitiveness of their operations. Together, they’ve produced a six minute promotional video on starting or expanding business in the Kenai Peninsula.
Dillon said:
“It talks about why people should be looking at the Kenai Peninsula not only from an industry standpoint, but a quality of living standpoint.”
KPEDD also wants to remind you of two important dates coming up:
- Tuesday September 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. is the Kenai Peninsula Career & Education Fair from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center parking lot.
- Thursday, January 6, 2022 is the Industry Outlook Forum from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center.
