Promoting economic development in rural Alaska.

• Position: Digest Of The Proceedings: UAA-ABM Executive Forum

Anchorage * March 26, 2004

As Alaska matures and evolves, it is important to build bridges of trade, communication and understanding to connect the various parts of Alaska's economy.

The UAA-ABM Executive Forum has grown from recommendations of the 40-member-strong Business Policy Advisory Council of the UAA College of Business and Public Policy, Thomas R. Case, dean.

The over-arching theme of these forums is to provide a bridge between the academic community engaged in presenting business courses offered by the university, and the business community that is challenged to provide employment for the university's business graduates. Both the university and the business community are facing a dynamic in which the pace of changing technology suggests a moving closer together between the two entities, academe and private enterprise. These forums have building that bridge as a primary goal. This is the third forum in a continuing series. The first addressed ethics in business and what the university should be teaching its students. The second forum dealt with how the university might assist in the development of an entrepreneurial spirit among its graduates.

In this latest forum, Dr. Patricia DeMarco offered a brief introduction to the topic Economic Development in Rural Alaska, after which four presenters addressed major themes. They were followed by 12 discussants who lead energetic debate among those attending the forum. A synopsis of what each had to contribute is submitted here for your consideration.

--Vern C. McCorkle, Publisher

DIGEST OF THE PROCEEDINGS

DeMarco: Most of Alaska's wealth comes from rural areas. In this Executive Forum, we will look at how Anchorage businesses and the UAA College of Business and Public Policy can promote the economy in rural areas of the state. As Alaska matures and evolves, it is important to build bridges of trade, communication and understanding to connect the various parts of Alaska's economy. The geographic isolation, small community size and poor infrastructure pose challenges to economic development. The panel of experts assembled in this Executive Forum offer some approaches to address this issue, and highlight the urgency of doing so.

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

Noll: Alaska owns a $28 billion savings account, 104 million acres of state land, and has 44 million acres of Native-owned lands. Alaska is facing a baby boom. We generate about 4,000 jobs per year, and about 10,000 students enter the...