Pair of economic development meetings set for Friday

PALMER — Three Economic Development Advisory Council workgroups will do deep presentations from 9 to 11 a.m., Sept. 20 in advance of a separate event organized by the Mat-Su Business Alliance from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., also in the downstairs meeting room at Evangelo’s Restaurant, 2530 East Parks Highway, Wasilla.

Mat-Su Borough Economic Development Director Don Dyer said local businesses report a traditional lack of involvement in efforts to attract new investment and jobs to the Mat-Su Borough.

But a fix was included in the Mat-Su Borough Economic Development Strategic Plan, which the assembly adopted in August 2010 and approved funds to implement in June 2012.

That plan created the Economic Development Advisory Council, an independent economic development advisory group for the borough made up of nearly 30 volunteers from the Mat-Su business community. The Economic Development Advisory Council helps to guide the work of the more than 100 volunteers serving in 18 groups working toward the five goals and 26 strategies identified in the plan.

Dyer said work group members will be available beginning at 11 a.m., Sept. 20 to talk to folks about the council’s work.

Due to the overlap between work group members and the Mat-Su Business Alliance membership, Dyer said it made sense logistically to schedule the public meeting and Business Alliance luncheon consecutively.

The alliance meeting costs $25 and includes lunch. Members pay $10. The preceding public meeting at the same location is free and open to everyone.

The alliance will serve a buffet lunch at 11:45 a.m., after which Sara Fisher-Goad, Alaska Energy Authority executive director, will share an update about the Susitna-Watana Dam project and its possible impacts on Southcentral Alaska businesses. The alliance event includes an audience poll about what businesses need to succeed in the Mat-Su. Results also will be presented at the event.

To RSVP to the alliance event, call 373-6622 or contact info@matsubusinessalliance.com. Dyer said a monthly Economic Development Workgroup Conference is at 11:30 a.m., Oct. 14 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center on the third floor. The group meets on the second Monday of every month at the same time and location.