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Home My WebLink About07082024 City Council Laydown - Chamber of CommerceSeward Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Report 7/8/2024 2024 4th of July Festival: Seward celebrated the July 4th Festival and 96th Running of the Mount Marathon Race this year over July 2nd-4th. We welcomed thousands of spectators, racers, festival go-ers and passengers from The Silver Muse and Viking Orion Cruise Ships in port. This was a record breaking year for racers and businesses, as our community saw a large influx of guests with the ships and mid -week festival. Thanks to favorable conditions, a host of Mount Marathon course records were set and there were no major injuries to the 870 official finishers. The hometown pride of this race remains strong with Alaskan's dominating the leaderboards and represented in the new permanent logo designed by Moose Pass local Sarah Glaser. Following the example set by many of the nation's leading races, the Mount Marathon Race adopted a Nonbinary racers category. Spectators also enjoyed viewing the race from anywhere in the world, thanks to the LiveStream coverage made possible by Hilcorp's sponsorship. The success of these long -loved events hinges on the efforts of over 300 volunteers, many City of Seward departments and collaboration between dozens of local entities. We'd like to extend our sincerest thanks to everyone's efforts on another successful July 4th Festival. Mount Marathon Race Results: Junior girl: Olive Jordan - 33:59 - Seward Junior boy: Coby Marvin -25:49 - Palmer Men: David Norris - 40:37 * - Colorado (Fairbanks native) Women: Klaire Rhodes- 49:49 - Anchorage Nonbinary: Madi Sudweeks- 1:16:01 * - Utah Seward Silver Salmon Derby: There's only 33 days until the 69th Annual Silver Salmon Derby, which always kicks off on the second Saturday in August. Registration has been open for a few weeks, reeling in some early bird anglers. We'd like to remember the ultimate mission of the Silver Salmon Derby is to promote fish restoration in Resurrection Bay, with proceeds going to Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association to purchase smolt. This year we're recognizing our charter businesses with a new local Captain's award, celebrating our winner's at an awards ceremony at The Breeze Inn, and bringing back the Silver Salmon Ball. We hope you come fishing or dancing with us from August 10th-18th! Travel Trade Shows: Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) Summit in Anchorage - September 23-26, 2024 ATIA Conference in Juneau - October 22-24, 2024 Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle - November 20-22, 2024 Seward Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Report 7/8/2024 Economic Development & Community Support: First Friday Art Walks Hometown Guide Reprint & 2025 Visitor Guide Volunteer Appreciation Cruise - September Small Business Development Center- Q2 Report attached Chamber After 5 & Chamber Luncheons & Winter Weekends promotions resume in September AK StartUp Week in October Shop Small Saturday in November MMR in the spotlight: https://alaskasportsreport.com/2024/07/records-history-re-written-at-96th-running-of-mount-mar athon/?fbclid=lwZXhObgNhZWOCMTEAAR2vP5h-Bain 1 NjR1 wfxl wKWY4m 11h114Q6BWB1 fjtw VIeZ3KtgSIaATEGw_aem_fE2CmRHR5iYmilljtHW3nw https://www.adn.com/sports/2024/07/04/photos-from-a-fast-mount-marathon-race/?fbclid=lwZXh ObgNhZWOCMTEAAR1 ubupOLfuoDduTgYPBG2Ohu9BZWJXcyYnrCtOZ8ugh0r6WuaBtbawnjK s aem WXvrdb2X-IzDpeDI 17Jbw https://www.adn.com/sports/2024/07/04/david-norris-wins-a-fifth-mount-marathon-smashing-his- own-record-while-klaire-rhodes-takes-her-first-victory/ https://run. outsideonline.com/trail/trail-racing/mount-marathon-toughest-5k/ City of Seward Marketing Contract: Attached you'll find a report on the Bed Tax Collection since 2011. As you'll see, our community has enjoyed a significant growth trend, anticipated to continue growing. The Seward Chamber of Commerce has been the sole Destination Marketing Organization of the City of Seward since 1995 and it's important to note that the City's investment in a strong DMO has a huge effect on this growth! I'd like to thank the City for its partnership, and encourage reinvestment in your Chamber during this year's budgetary cycle. Bex Tax Collection City of Seward Year Hotel/Motel Room Tax 2011 334.824 2012 380.210 2013 408,256 2014 421,981 2015 458,605 2016 505,845 2017 520,907 2018 556,065 2019 591,674 2020 217,434 2021 713,633 2022 804.511 2023 840.428 vvvu.�iy�i uivcivp. iu. vuv/ caur�-uuui--rwu-r��uu-wi i uvouv�w IIIII Alaska Small Business Development Center SBDC lAA BUSINESS ENTERPRISE INS -MUTE July 2, 2024 Seward Chamber of Commerce 2001 Seward Hwy Seward, AK 99664 Dear Ms. Allen and Board of Directors, This letter serves as our quarterly report for the period April 1 to June 30, 2024. Seward Business Advisor KellyAnn Cavaretta completed a productive quarter with the Alaska SBDC, logging eight new business starts, the most ever in a quarter for Seward. In the capital infusion category, KellyAnn continues to lead all Alaska SBDC advisors this year with $8.2 million in loans, grants, and investments, despite being located in one of the smallest communities. Her positive client satisfaction streak in the Seward community continues, now at 10 quarters. In a recent survey, a client shared, "[KellyAnn] was amazing and very informative, very professional and friendly! I wish I would have done this years ago. I really appreciate all the knowledge and expertise! With her help I am headed in the direction I need to be, better prepared on all fronts." Here is a summary of deliverables to the Seward community during the quarter (year): Client Hours: 103.1 (215.2) Total Clients: 70 (81) New Businesses Started or Bought: 8 (11) Jobs Supported: 233 (327) Capital Infusion: $336,561 ($8,220,601) Client Surveys: 100% positive (100% positive) This next section provides lists of the top advising topics and top industries obtaining technical assistance from the Alaska SBDC in Seward. Assistance to entrepreneurs looking to buy or sell a business moved into the top spot of topics, with start-up assistance moving down to second. In regards to industries working with the SBDC, food services retained the top spot for a third straight quarter by a wide margin, while tour guides and professional services rejoined the top five industries. Topics 1. Buy/Sell Business: 40.2 hrs (39%) 2. Start-up Assistance: 31.2 hrs (30%) 3. General Management: 18.3 hrs (18%) 4. Financing/Capital: 9.3 hrs (9%) 5. Tax Planning: 1.7 hrs (2%) Industries 1. Food Services: 47.4 hrs (46%) 2. Accommodation: 17.1 hrs (17%) 3. Retailers: 9.7 hrs (9%) 4. Tour Guides: 8.9 hrs (9%) 5. Professional Services: 6.8 hrs (7%) We would like to thank the Seward Chamber for supporting the Seward Business Advisor position. KellyAnn has excelled in her role as the Seward advisor and we are pleased to start the process to extend her contract this summer. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Sincerely. DocuSigned by: '-98AFA01267964D7... Jon Bittner Executive Director Alaska SBDC cP www.AKSBDC.org c (907) 786-7201 ALASKA SBDC CENTERS 401901 Bra.aw Street Suite 199 Anchora.e AK 99508 Anchora.e • Fairbanks • Juneau • Kenai Peninsula - Ketchikan • Mat -Su Valle