The economic impact of interior-based Alaska Native organizations.

• Author: Harrington, Susan
• Position: ALASKA NATIVE CORPORATIONS - Reprint

Interior Alaska is home to over 70 Alaska Native organizations that bring jobs and money to the region and the state. While most people in the region have heard of Doyon, Limited, Tanana Chiefs Conference and Fairbanks Native Association, there are also 42 Tribes, 25 village corporations and several regional nonprofits providing jobs and services to Natives and non-Natives across Alaska's vast Interior.

Interior Spending Impacts

* Interior Alaska Native organizations spent $178 million in the region, 46% of which was spent on goods and services purchased from local businesses. Indirect spending added $129 million to create a total economic impact of $307 million.

* Dividends from village and regional corporations to Interior shareholders boosted household incomes in the region by $3.7 million.

Interior Alaska Native organizations contribute significantly to the local economy through employment, payroll, and spending on goods and services. In 2010:

Total ECONOMIC IMPACT on INterior Alaska

* The annual economic contribution of Interior Alaska Native organizations to the region exceeded $300 million, including direct and indirect spending.

* Employment and spending by interior Alaska Native organizations generated more than 3,500 jobs in the Interior--or nearly 1 in every 12 civilian jobs.

Interior Jobs & Wages

* 2,725 people were employed directly with Interior-based Alaska Native organizations in the region, including 1,238 in Fairbanks and 1,487 in Interior villages.

* An additional 848 indirect jobs were created as a result of spending by Interior Alaska Native organizations and their employees for a total Interior employment impact of 3,574 jobs.

* $101 million in wages and benefits were paid to direct employees of Interior Alaska Native organizations in the region. When indirect effects are included, Interior payrolls exceeded $147 million--over 7% of all civilian wages in the region. In comparison, University of Alaska payroll for the 3,384 faculty and staff of the system's Fairbanks campus was $134 million in 2010.

* As a group, Interior Alaska Native organizations are one of the largest employers in the region, after only the U.S. military, other federal government employers, the University of Alaska system, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

TRIBAL GOVERNMENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE

Tanana Chiefs Conference is Interior Alaska's largest nonprofit corporation. TCC is a tribal consortium providing health and social services, and tribal and workforce development for the Interior communities including Fairbanks.

TCC operates the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center, the Interior's premiere Native health facility, as well as subregional health centers in Galena and the Upper Tanana, and village-based clinics throughout the region. A tribally controlled and operated organization, TCC provides advocacy and facilitates...