SEPTEMBER 5, 2014  

How to Get Your Alaska Grown

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Along with Farmer’s Markets, Alaska has so many great tourism attractions that are fun for locals as well! We have the largest state park system in the country, with 75 parks in total, from national parks and reserves to historical sites and monuments. In Anchorage we have over 200 city parks too. Much of this land is perfect for hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, hunting, bird watching, and glacier trekking. Check out the Alaska Visitor page for fun facts and inspiration for in-state travel ideas.

Think you've done everything there is to do in Anchorage? I bet there’s more waiting for you to discover! Now that kids are back in school, a stay-cation may be the right thing to get through the wet fall. Find out more to do in Anchorage here.

Whatever your reasons for living in Alaska, we are blessed to live in a place of incredible beauty. I hope you’ll join me in taking advantage of all the possibilities.

Left: Rep. Tarr enjoying her stay-cation fishing on the Naknek River.

Economic Impact

During the summer alone, Alaska annually receives over a million and a half visitors; during a full year, there are nearly two million people who come to visit our great state. This generates thousands of jobs across the state for our peak summer season. Alaska’s tourism industry is one of the biggest private-sector employers. Visitor spending can total nearly $2 billion and have an economic impact of $3.9 billion!

Economic Development Opportunities

Alaska is focusing on growing tourism and other local industries, with efforts including tax credits and increases in marketing. Loans have also become an important aspect of business start-up in Alaska. There are many different types of loans currently available for various purposes, including small business development, and more information can be found here. New businesses can also receive assistance from the Alaska Small Business Development Center, providing training and advice, and AK SourceLink, connecting businesses to services.

Federal loans and economic incentives are benefitting Alaska along with these State loans. The 49th State Angel Fund was a 2012-13 program funded by the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative. The Fund invests between $30,000 and $3 million in promising early-stage businesses which show a likelihood of high return on the investment. The Fund also works through indirect investments using venture funding to invest between $100,000 and $5 million in existing businesses which benefit Anchorage.

Employers are also being encouraged to increase the economic development of Alaska. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a federal incentive program designed to encourage employers to hire from one of 9 targeted groups. The employer can receive thousands of dollars in federal tax credit by hiring ex-felons, Veterans, food stamp recipients, long-term or temporary assistance recipients, and more.

Are these efforts making a difference?

Anchorage citizens reported an “all-time high” level of confidence in the “health of the local economy, their personal financial situation, and their expectations for the future,” according to a poll conducted by the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation.

Furthermore, events like the recent Council of State Governments (CSG) West and National conference boost Alaska’s development. This event brought over a thousand government representatives and industry members, as well as their families, to Alaska in early August. Governors, judges, legislators, and agency members from all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and U.S. territories all converged on our great state. They toured Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, and over a thousand joined us for a day trip to Seward on the beautiful Alaska Railroad.

The event itself covered various topics relevant to the Western United States, the nation, and the international community. Holding an event like this here, showcasing the beauty of Alaska to people from across North America, encourages more tourism opportunities in addition to the direct benefits from these visitors. Importantly, it presents Alaska as a member in the forefront of development. To learn more about the Conference, click here.

Right: Rep. Tarr and CSG delegates enjoy a boat ride on a very windy Seward day.

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr