Ketchikan: Alaska's 'First City'.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy
• Position: Regional Focus

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Nestled in the Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan is a city that's surrounded by the splendor of the Alaska wilderness. It's the first port of call or "First City" for northbound cruise ships, commercial vessels and state ferries traveling along the famous Inside Passage. Ketchikan is also known as the "Salmon Capital of the World." Each year, it hosts large salmon fishing tournaments that attract anglers who flock from all around the state to compete for thousands of dollars worth of prizes.

Home to 8,050 residents, Ketchikan is one of the most populated incorporated places in Alaska. And in the past decade, it's experienced considerable growth, increasing 1.6 percent since the 2000 census. The city is part of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, which boasts about 14,100 residents.

Ketchikan Mayor Lew Williams describes his city as a diverse community with individuals who bring different ideas to the table. The members of the community and local government strive to provide an environment that's conducive to business. "Both the city council and borough are very pro-business," Williams said. "Every time we do a vote, we're talking about what we can do for the business community. It's always a positive vote."

INDUSTRIES

Ketchikan's support for industry is evident by its economic diversity. Primary drivers of the city's economy are fishing, tourism, health care and government. The salmon industry, in particular, is doing quite well, according to Keith Smith, executive director of the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce. "The salmon runs continue to be strong," he Said, "The prices are up, especially for the premium species of salmon."

The visitor and hospitality industry is also trending in a positive direction. One of the leading tourist destinations in the state, Ketchikan has seen cruise ship traffic peak at a million passengers a year. That number has since decline to about 890,000, but it's now steadily climbing backup, He added: "Each year, additional Ships have been added. The industry is rebounding and is very strong."

This year, Ketchikan saw the addition of one cruise ship, according to Williams. Next year, the city will be a port of call for two additional ships.

Another strong economy driver for Ketchikan is the maritime industry, which Smith says is growing by "leaps and bounds." As a major surprise, Ketchikan Shi ard was recently purchased by Vigor Industrial, the largest shipbuilder in the Northwest. The emerging company, Alaska Ship and Drydock, is a very positive develop is it will end up driving more than ever in the ship building in Ketchikan," he said.

Smith has also been plesantly surprised at some of the positive changes he's seen in the retail industry. The transition involves the Plaza, one of the biggest shopping centers in town. Several years ago, the center had very few stores and was floundering. Now it's under new ownership/management and has completely reversed course. "It is almost full," Smith said. "Now it's a vibrant entrepreneurial accent in Ketchikan."

Historically, timber and natural resources have been significant industries in Ketchikan, but the closing of key pulp and saw mills has had an indelible impact on the local economy. The mining industry, however, is showing promising signs. There are two big mining projects on the horizon: Heatherdale Resources' Niblack Project and the Bokan Mountain...