Leaders of local non-profit agencies and corporations have planned a regional economic development conference this week. Federal, state, and regional representatives and businesses will be in Bethel for what they are calling the "Y-K Region Economic Summit" this Thursday and Friday, March 22 and 23.
Brent Latham of the Association of Village Council Presidents says that the event is aimed at creating a five-year plan for business and employment opportunities in the region.
“Anybody in this region, whether it’s a village corporation, a city government, or a tribe, to be able to say, ‘this is the region's document, this is the region's economic vision and strategies that we have agreed upon and can move forward with,'” said Latham.
The summit is a joint effort of AVCP, AVCP Regional Housing Authority, Calista Corporation, Coastal Villages Region Fund, Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, and Yuut Elitnaurviat. The summit is open to the public.