A group of local industry stakeholders met with CBJ staff to match industrial needs to city industrial lands.
The Juneau Economic Development Council was contracted to facilitate a project that brings together stakeholders from several major Southeast industries such as ocean products, forest products, small mills and tourism. The project hopes to strengthen these clusters of businesses.
JEDC’s most recent initiative is focused around the mine services industry. The initiative was split into six major themes. A group focused on the theme of growing Southeast mining support and supply industries met Monday to brainstorm the needs of mining support businesses in relation to the City and Borough of Juneau’s zoned industrial lands.
“We want our firms to have the capacity support the mines in Juneau,” Brian Holst JEDC executive director said. “But then can go out and support other mines.”
Members of the initiative group include Michael Wilson, pilot and general manager of Coastal Helicopters, Chris Gerondale, vice president mining sales at Construction Machinery Industrial LLC, and Dylan Ashe, contract administrator with Channel Construction Inc., CBJ and JEDC staff were also in attendance.
The group was asked during Monday’s meeting to describe what mine support services are currently shipped out of the region, state and country that could be reabsorbed into the local economy — what these services require in terms of City and Borough of Juneau industrial zoned land.
“What is shipping out and not shipping here that could potentially ship here,” Gerondale said.
“I think that we would need … an internal industry assessment of what [the mining industry] can get here and what they can’t get here,” Heather Marlow CBJ lands and resources manager said.
The group identified aviation services, particularly helicopter services, such as parts and maintenance. With mine exploration expected to continue and grow over time, helicopter support would be a stable, long-term industry for Juneau. Currently, helicopter firms must fly machines out of state, often to Canada, for routine maintenance. A heliport with an emphasis on service could be an anchor tenant on the west side of Douglas. The group also explored other machine repair and maintenance options.
Because mines already ship some services out of the region, local mines don’t have to see an increase in production to see an increase in demand in Juneau, JEDC’s Brian Holst said.
Juneau can open up new opportunities so mines do not have to send jobs to other places, he said.
The group decided to include representatives from the marine and seafood processing industries in the group. Members agreed that other parities are needed to make the group successful.
The group plans to meet next on Nov. 27.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (11)
Add commentIndustrialist meeting is a great step forward for our community
I am greatly encouraged by this meeting and the positive light RUSSELL STIGALL wrote the article in.
This exactly the kind of brain storming and productive planning we need here in Juneau and in Southeast. Keep up the great work folks.
One area that will help is for the City to freeing up industrial lands and stream line the permitting processes.
Another area in need of attention is Public Works. They currently needs minds to help them sort out their fat, oil and grease (FOG) problems. There is opportunity with this project as I am sure people are going to continue to use the toilette and eat fatty foods. A private solution could anaerobically treat the waste and produce fuel/gas for electricity generation and compost for fertilizer. With the smelly nature of composting the industrial site for this process may need to be out the road.
New Name
If this group is what it appears to be, the words "Economic Development" should be avoided. In most of Alaska those words mean government grant--free money--demonstration project--.......
What is this an industrial
What is this an industrial takeover of our city?
The group wants, the group wants, .....
Relaxed permitting on CBJ lands? Why, so they can make even more money damaging CBJ lands as they stick the public with clean-up costs?
I say wait one minute. CBJ land belongs to ALL of us here in Juneau.
Many people in Juneau don't want to see relaxed regulations on our CBJ lands. And many people in Juneau don't want to see CBJ investing more of our public resources into the mining and timber industries.
These industries are already pumped up by Government spending public monies.....What the hell is going on at CBJ?
I was sitting in my car at the stop light at the Costco intersection a few days ago waiting for the light to turn green and 2 of those big rock hauling trucks came ramming thru the intersection and drove right over the curbs. Did they slow down to make the corner like the rest of us? No. Our town is being torn apart by industrial activity and who pays for this wear and tear? We all do.
"We want our firms to have
"We want our firms to have the capacity to support the mines in Juneau" our firms?
"Juneau can open up new opportunities so mines do not have to send jobs to other places"
..........at the expense of what everyone else wants for Juneau.
JEDC wants to get rich off the dumbing down of Southeast Alaskans
triad
Are you sure everyone else wants what you want? And, I doubt that "available jobs" will "dumb down."
dennyh- You don't need an
dennyh- You don't need an education to dig dirt out of a hole or to chop a tree down.
Thanks Triadef
Thanks for the insight. The next time an automatic transmission in one of those pieces of mining equipment fails, I will be sure to remember that your are available to rebuild it since it does not take an education to work in the mining industry. In fact, I will drop your name as someone who could use some work designing underground mining infrastructure like the lighting and fresh air supply for the tunnels. In fact, I bet you are so educated that you can do it all.
Awesome idea
I'm super excited that industry's are trying to figure better ways to keep business local. That's how I see it. If they're main reason for it is cost cutting? Why is that a problem? It's not. Instead of bitching and complaining about high cost of business here they are trying to figure ways to change it. Good on you. And I'm very excited that they aren't trying to just do it for themselves, they see that what they want can benifit others and are inviting other industrial company's to get on board.
Working on making real jobs
These are real jobs, whether you're an engineer, technician, or a ditch digger. This puts money in our economy. Way better than the government borrowing money for fluff jobs.
Grow it, mine it, produce it.
all good points on the pro side of this discussion. It is clear that we all are better off with strong industry than with out.
@triad
Sorry you were frighten by the rock dumps. They can be intimidating. by the way, they likely didn't feel the curbs they hopped; just a little bump in the surface...
Further, based on some of your comments you seem young. So, I'll be easy on you this time. I suggest that you try tacked, it will promote you're small view a little farther.
Headed for the bunker, the debate is about to begin...
Go Romney
Damn akjustice had to slip in
Damn akjustice had to slip in the Romney plug didn't ya :p