Development issues focus

of conference

It's no secret that the Valley is growing. All that growth brings opportunity. But it also brings a responsibility to manage it wisely.

Residents and business people, alike, have their yearly shot this week at learning more about how growth affects the area's economy when the Mat-Su Resource Conservation and Development Council presents its eighth-annual Valley Economic Development Conference. The conference, chock-full of guest speakers and diverse topics of interest, is being held Thursday, not Friday as reported in Monday's edition of the out-of-town newspaper, at Evangelo's, on the Parks Highway in Wasilla.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is among the list of speakers. She is scheduled to deliver a lunch address to the conference.

The activities kick off at 9 a.m. with an update on the Knik Arm Bridge from Darcie Salmon, president of the Mat-Su Resource Conservation and Development Council. Mark Edwards, director of the state Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development's Office of Economic Development, will follow Salmon.

A resource industry panel discussion is up next, led by panelists Norm Stephens, of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center; Marc Van Dongen, Port MacKenzie director; Kevin Bruce, of the Port of Anchorage, and Mollie Boyer, from Valley Community for Recycling Solutions.

Just before the lunch break, a finance panel discussion will feature Jim McMillan, of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; Bill Allen, from USDA Rural Development; Craig Thorn, from First National Bank, and Al Strawn, from Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union.

Afternoon panels cover work-force development and tourism. Job Corps' John Douglass and the Mat-Su School District's Kim Floyd are joined on the work-force development panel by Vicki Wehe, of the Small Business Development Center; Charles Snare, from Mat-Su College, and Eric Downey, of the Alaska Manufacturing and Extension Partnership.

Bonnie Quill, from the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau; Julie Saupe, from the Anchorage CVB; Miriam Valentine, of the National Park Service, and David Germer, from JL Properties, make up the tourism panel.

Between the afternoon panels, there will be a presentation on the gas pipeline talks by Chuck Logsdon, special assistant to the governor on gas pipeline negotiations.

The conference wraps up shortly after 4 p.m. The $25 conference fee, which includes lunch, is payable at the door by check or cash, although seats must be reserved by noon Wednesday by calling 373-1062, ext. 108, or by e-mail at matsurcd@mtaonline.net.