Participants are needed to complete an online survey aimed at building a comprehensive economic development strategy for the state.
The Alaska Partnership for Economic Development received a $500,000 grant from the Denali Commission to fund phase 1 of the project, which includes a broad survey of the state's economic challenges and opportunities.
Another $800,000 to $1 million in funding is needed to complete phase 2, according to Mike Catsi, president of the economic development partnership.
He moderated a lunchtime discussion about the group's "Alaska Forward: Toward a Next Generation Economy" initiative at the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce's annual Legislative Tie-In Oct. 28.
The two-phase initiative will develop a "roadmap" and an implementation strategy for promoting economic growth and sustainability in Alaska for generations, Catsi said.
"The idea is to look at Alaska's economy from a larger point of view. Where do we go based on how we fit into the global and national pictures?" he said. "This process will develop action points, instead of another nicely bound volume."
Consultants IHS Global Insight and Economic Competitiveness Group won the contract for the first phase and are working with Alaska's McDowell Group.
Donna Logan, a principal at McDowell Group, said the project has pushed staff to think beyond the usual.
"We're talking to representatives from industry and economic development practitioners about what they see as challenges and opportunities in Alaska," she said. "We need as many people as possible to complete the survey."
Prosperity Partnership is a similar coalition of more than 300 government, business, labor and community organizations in the central Puget Sound region, Catsi said. More information about the coalition is online at Prosperitypartnership.org.
To participate in the online survey, or for more information, about Alaska Forward, visit their web site
