Economic Development

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

KANA US Economic Development Administration Native Planning Grant

KANA is a recipient of a US Economic Development Administration (EDA) Native Planning Grant. Within KANA’s organizational structure, KANA's EDA Program is part of the Community Services Department. The Economic Development Coordinator works in collaboration with local City, Borough, public and private sectors, as well as village entities that will goal of improving the economic status of Kodiak Island’s rural villages. The Regional Community Plan document will be the framework in which we can advocate and provide technical assistance to Kodiak’s Alutiiq communities to ensure a strong economic future for generations to come. It was agreed upon from the participants of our regional CEDS planning meeting that this document will be named the Kodiak Archipelago Rural Regional Community Plan. This plan highlights each of the six village communities, giving insight into the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities, as well their economic visions and goals.

Goal

To promote and protect the economic and social well being of the Native community through the creation and retention of long-term private sector jobs.

Kodiak Area Native Association

FY 21 to FY 23 Scope of Work

  1. Community and Regional Development Planning:
    • Work in collaboration with local city and borough officials, public and private sector representatives, tribal governments, and corporations—all comprising the Economic Strategy Committee and Village work groups—to provide the annual update to the Kodiak Rural Regional CEDS 2021-2026. Many of the village communities in the Kodiak Archipelago are considered Distressed Communities.
  2. Economic Development Partnerships:
    • Increase scope of Economic Development Partnerships: extend networking efforts to targeted organizations such as the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation; Alaska Sea Grant, the Kodiak Economic Development Corporation, the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference, Kodiak College, Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute, University of Alaska Center for Economic Development (including the Alaska Cooperative Development Program & the Manufacturing Extension Partnership), and the Alaska Food Policy Council.
  3. Workforce Development and Training:
    • Gap analysis of available skills/education/experience of local workforce versus industry needs.
    • Create strategy to bridge workforce gap to fill Kodiak-based employment to local workforce.
  4. Economic Diversification: Economic Development Planning to identify projects/initiatives that diversify the Kodiak economy in order to bolster resilience to and long term recovery.
  5. Economic Sector Enhancements/Support: environmentally-sustainable energy projects and initiatives and broadband internet access in Kodiak Archipelago village communities; Mariculture industry development, including processing, manufacturing and product demand; agriculture industry production, processing, and manufacturing; community anchored fishery participation.

To view the report, click here (right click to download): CEDS Kodiak 2022 Update