Top business stories of 2014.

• Author: Slaten, Russ
• Position: BUSINESS

There were many notable business stories in 2014, and most centered JL on energy and natural resources. All these top business stories of year in some way benefit the residents of the Alaska, either through jobs or energy or some other form of economic development, but one in particular is a project that people have been personally invested in for years: from holding bake sales and fundraisers to begging legislators for funding, this project has been continuously promoted and people have been waiting and wishing for decades to see it happen. We've started with Kuimarvik--place to swim.

Bethel Pool

The recently completed Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Aquatic Health and Safety Center--Kuimarvik, Yupi'ik Eskimo for place to swim--was expected to open once the fire suppression sprinkler system worked properly and passed inspection by the State Fire Marshal.

The City of Bethel is proud of its brand new Center. The building was designed by Architects Alaska, Inc. and constructed by Bethel Services, Inc. and Unit Company. The project management firm overseeing construction and the purchase and installation of all furniture, fixtures, and equipment was Project Development Associates.

Funding for design and construction of the facility came from city sales taxes collected for this purpose, and a 2011 State of Alaska Designated Legislative Grant awarded to the city in the amount of $23,075,000. A wind turbine was erected on site and is expected to supply about half the electrical needs of the $24 million project.

Facilities include a six-lane competition-size swimming pool; water slide; kiddie pool with wheelchair ramp entrance; hot tub that holds seventeen adults; gallery with tables and chairs for viewing swimmers; exercise room with machines and weights; fitness room with mirrors and stretch bars for spin class, aerobics, ballet, karate, and other courses; men's and women's locker rooms with showers, lockers, and bathroom amenities; and a concession stand.

It is hoped the Center will help reduce the region's high rate of drowning by teaching water safety and how to swim, as well as provide healthy recreation.

Tourism Surges

There were 1.96 million visitors to Alaska from out of state for the year May 2013 through April 2014, according to a July report by the McDowell Group for the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. This set a record as the most visitors in history and 6 percent more than the previous twelve months. Julie Saupe, president and CEO of Visit Anchorage, attributed the surge in visitors to a strong cruise capacity and higher numbers of Anchorage summer conventions because of available capacity in facilities and new hotels.

Interior Energy Project

The Interior Energy Project continued to move forward with the signing of a concession agreement between the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) and MWH Global on behalf of its subsidiary Northern Lights Energy, which will arrange financing for the project, manage the project delivery, and have the ability to sell natural gas directly to natural gas wholesale markets in Alaska's Interior and on the North Slope.

The public private-partnership also includes Golden Valley Electric Association, which is partnering with MWH to develop part of the project, including a new plant to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Fairbanks residents. In addition, AIDEA announced in September that the 15.4-acre gravel pad for the LNG plant was completed just south of Flow Station 3 in the Prudhoe Bay Unit.

In January, AIDEA approved $20 million participation in a $35 million loan brought to AIDEA by Northrim Bank for long-term financing to Fairbanks Natural Gas, LLC and Cassini LNG Storage, LLC, for a 5 million gallon capacity LNG storage and distribution facility in Fairbanks. The project will help reduce area...