The Haines Borough Government Affairs & Services Committee is scheduled to meet late this afternoon (August 30, about 5:45) to discuss economic development. The meeting is in the Assembly Chambers and follows a 5:30 Special Meeting to discuss a change order to a street improvement contract.
I have learned that there are generally three models municipalities adopt to create a municipally sponsored economic development program: 1) they form a municipal economic development committee, 2) they hire municipal economic development staff, or 3) they sponsor an extra-governmental economic development organization. Each model has strengths and weaknesses. These are described on the website for Kennebunk, Maine. Kennebunk choose to launch an Economic Development Committee.
Several municipalities in Alaska also have economic development committees. Examples include the Palmer Board of Economic Development, the City of Homer Economic Development Advisory Commission, and the City of Wrangell Economic Development Committee.
Two nearby examples of economic development organizations partially funded by the municipalities are the Skagway Development Corporation and the Juneau Economic Development Council.
I looked for examples of the third option - the hire of an economic development professional - and came up dry. I scanned the "departments" of a number of municipalities - Juneau, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, City of Anchorage - and none listed a "Department of Economic Development." The City of Anchorage has a close cousin - a Department of Community Development.
The Haines Borough Code (2.54) requires "the formation of a department of economic development of economic development, headed by an economic development director, appointed by the manager and provided with a job description and responsibilities." Given this cursory level of research, it seems that our codified approach is uncommon.
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