HomeMy WebLinkAbout02032021 PACAB Laydown - Economic Recovery Strategy 210203 PACAB Laydown—
Economic Recovery Strategy
from SCOC
Seward Chamber of Commerce - Economic Recovery Strategy
(Informal informational Document — not comprehensive)
The COVID pandemic has demonstrated that we need to make some shifts/adjustments
in our strategy and efforts to make our local economies more resilient in dealing with
major economic disruptions, like the current COVID pandemic. Those same efforts will
also help our economy rebuild and recover.
In hearing from Nolan Klouda (Director of UAA's Center for Economic Development)
economic impact and recovery will look like that of a "nike swoosh" with a steep drop
coming from the left and a slow, steady climb up to the right that recovery process to be
about 5 years to get back to 2019 level. With that, we are developing both short- and
long-term strategies that will help us recover and rebuild to make our economy stronger
and more resilient.
Visitors: We will still continue to focus efforts on the visitor industry but with more
strategic marketing towards independent travelers (in the short term), in state travel,
and the development of expanding our fall, winter, and spring visitor seasons.
- Our new website (coming out in late April, early May) will be Search Engine
Optimized (SEO) and will give significantly greater visibility to Seward as a
destination and greater visibility to our member businesses.
- We will continue to develop and promote winter weekends (Shop Small
Weekend, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day)
- Work with Seward Parks and Recreation to develop partnered events where we
can both utilized our strengths to benefit Seward (Triathlon, ski/fat bike races)
- Continue to hold the Halibut Tournament, 4t" of July Festivities, Mount Marathon,
and Silver Salmon Derby — improving/developing those events
Marine: Although, our marine economy has been weathering the pandemic fairly well,
we are strategically working to help create a unified Seward Marine Industry that will
market our capabilities to commercial business that is currently going to other places in
Alaska and the lower 48. We are also going to be working to bring more business to
our members through private boat owners as well. We have developed a Seward
Marine Front Committee that meets regularly and is working toward some of these
goals
Seward Marine Front Committee work:
o Input on Marine Page on new website
o Presentation to AIDEA marine work / development
o Helping solve problems for the marine businesses
o PME — Seward Booth in Alaska Section
o Developing new print materials for commercial and private boat groups
o Looking at expanding marketing to other markets — PME
o Future: Annual Marine Swap Meet to Coincide with Harbor Opening (Chair
Schneider's idea)
o Future: Alaska Marine Expo in Seward when new Cruise Ship Terminal is
built
Conference: As part of the non-summer season economic development, we are working
to develop Seward as a conference / retreat destination for businesses and entities
(nonprofits, religious organizations, etc.) This will be a page/front on the new website
and we will be developing trade materials.
Hometown: We will have a page on the new website that will focus on our community
and give attention to those businesses that don't fit into the visitor or marine industry
(plumbers, snow removal, etc.) It will also allow our community to connect better with
our non-profits.
We will continue to create more opportunities and promote shopping locally, hopefully
moving our communities spending habits and depending less on online shopping.
We are continuing to support/ partner with our non-profits (SPC, Homeless Connection,
Hospice, etc.) to help solve problems in our community.
Advocacy: We will continue advocacy for economy pieces that are facing crunches in a
scarcity climate.
- Fisheries (i.e. Tutka Bay, closing federal waters)
- Tourism (i.e. cruise ships, CDC)
- Infrastructure, development for related industries (i.e. support letters for grants)
*The Blue Pipeline Incubator has been dormant for over a year and a half. I believe the
goals of the program (help new ocean-based businesses start and develop, consult for
small businesses, create and develop opportunities, etc.) are good and still relevant. At
the same time, the Alaska Ocean Cluster has not been a reliable partner in this. They
are currently holding $25k of city money and $25k of chamber money from 2019/2020.
They have had multiple failed attempts at hiring and I think that they don't understand
good business partnership practices. They can't move forward because they are trying
to secure more grant funding. I would like to explore the options of getting our money
back and investing in a similar project with more local control and investment.