Economy

Six local entrepreneurs won funding from Bethel’s Best in the West competition this year, and are taking home their portions of the $33,500 that was awarded. That's up from $26,000 last year, all to help finance potential businesses. The winners talked about what they’ll use the money on.

Last month, Bethel City Council introduced an ordinance to enter into an agreement with the Orutsararmiut Native Council to develop the Ciullkulek Subdivision. This happened the same month that the city approved the Blue Sky Subdivision agreement. 

ONC Executive Director Peter Evon says that Ciullkulek Subdivision’s focus on affordable housing makes it different from the Blue Sky Subdivision. 

It’s going to be a busy year for Donlin Gold. The company is gearing up for another round of geotechnical drilling, its first in two years. They are also advertising jobs for local hires, which is a vital selling point for their proposed gold mine in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. 

Small businesses are rare in villages across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Often the village corporation store is the only place in town to shop. But in Eek, customers have another place to go for a sweet treat, a movie, or tobacco.

Donlin Gold says that it will bring money and jobs to the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta with its proposed mine.

The company wants to build one of the biggest gold mines in the world, and promises to employ hundreds of local people to build and operate it. 

There could be a new liquor store in Bethel this summer. Alaska Commercial Company is in the process of trying to take over the Kusko Liquor license currently held by Cezary Maczynski, while purchasing a new location for the liquor store.