The Alaska House of Representatives voted to pass House Bill 192, which will continue the operations of the Alaska Regional Development Organization program for an additional decade. HB 192 was deemed necessary as the state’s nine regional development organizations will automatically sunset this year unless specifically renewed by the Legislature. They were created in 1988 to encourage local officials, tribal organizations, and businesses to work together on economic infrastructure and workforce development projects, enhance public-private partnerships, and provide assistance to communities that lack critical resources.
District 31 Rep. Sarah Vance, “I just want to thank Tim Dillon of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District and all of the directors of these economic development districts that have made such a great impact on our communities. We felt them in such an incredible way last year during the pandemic when people were trying to figure out what to do, how they could get help for their businesses. I just want to highlight for the public that these economic development districts are available to entrepreneurs who are trying to figure out what kind of business that they can create. They are available to current business owners and people in the community who are trying to stimulate the economy. They have great ideas. Reach out to these regions because they have the tools to help you. One of the things that I’ve enjoyed is that they provide timely and relevant data that we can see the economy in our communities. We can see where there’s weaknesses, where there’s strengths. That has helped me as a legislator to be able to understand what’s going on in my community and on the Kenai Peninsula.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizations have supported efforts to get federal money out to Alaskans in need, a task they intend on continuing as additional relief pours into the state.
House Bill 192 passed with a final vote of 38-1. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.
(Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV).