The coronavirus is making it tough for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to meet its economic goals. Shelly Wade, with the Agnew Beck consulting firm, is the project manager for updating the region’s federally-required economic plan.
Wade says that the five-year regional economic development plan and its annual updates are important elements of getting state and federal funds.
“Having the priority recognized in a regional document is often a very important criterion or a requirement from a federal, or even state agency that is looking at investing in a region,” she said.
The group working on the plan is meeting on Tuesday, April 21to look at updating it, while considering the impacts the coronavirus pandemic is having on the region. Wade says the timeline is very short, but she expects that the group is going to have to include the impacts of the pandemic.
“So to the degree that we can consider and incorporate something about COVID-19, we absolutely will,” Wade said. "But again, that’s for discussion with the committee. We certainly cannot ignore it, because it is a critical part of what is happening to all of our communities right now.”
The plan right now includes, among other things, initiatives to promote the export of local goods, education to create an aviation workforce, and initiatives to reduces energy costs and improve transportation. In total, there are 17 initiatives in the plan. Wade says that people can weigh in on what they would like to see happen in the region economically by going to the Association of Village Council Presidents’ website.
“Tell us your top five and submit your name, and you could be eligible to win a prize. And again, all of this information you can find on AVCP’s economic development web page,” said Wade.
Wade says that the deadline for those comments and ideas is coming up on April 26. She pointed out that this planning document was crucial for getting the money for the airframe and powerplant school that is now operated by Yuut Elitnaurviat, and the $21.3 million grant to build a permanent barge dock in Emmonak.
