Sen. Mark Begich, center, addresses Fairbanksans at a U.S. Department of Agriculture jobs forum Thursday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2010, at the Alpine Lodge. Pictured from left Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation Director Jim Dobson, Tanana Chiefs Conference President Jerry Isaac, University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rogers, Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins, United States Department of Agriculture Alaska State Director Jim Nordlund, Begich, USDA Farm Service Agency Alaska State Director Danny Consenstein, University of Alaska Chief Information Technology Officer Steve Smith, Calypso Farm President Susan Willsrud, UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power Directory Gwen Holdmann, UAF Institute of Northern Engineering Director Dan White and International Arctic Research Center Director Larry Hinzman. John Wagner/News-Miner
While speaking at a U.S. Department of Agriculture jobs forum in Fairbanks, Begich said Congress is likely to consider a bill this spring to give a spark to the slow economic recovery. The forum was designed as a brainstorming session to discuss how and where to direct additional money to rural Alaska.
President Barack Obama requested last month that the forums be held throughout the country as a way to guide federal funds. Additional meetings are planned in Kotzebue, Juneau and Anchorage.
Begich said while the economic situation in Alaska never became dire, people shouldn’t be deceived that it wasn’t crushing to other parts of the U.S.
“Honestly, we missed the full bullet,” Begich said.
The forum included brainstorming sessions to discuss what Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has described as the “four pillars” of new job creation — renewable energy, broadband internet access, responding to climate change and harnessing local food production.
USDA Rural Development State Director Jim Nordlund said the feedback from such forums will help shape the type of funding that eventually is allocated to Alaska.
“This is not an empty exercise,” Nordlund said.
About 80 people attended the forum, including Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins, North Pole Mayor Doug Isaacson and University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rogers. A summary of feedback from the forums is due to the White House after they are completed on Feb. 1.
Even without congressional approval of a new jobs bill, Begich said much of the economic stimulus funds are still on the way. Of the $1.5 billion set aside for Alaska, he said only about 40 percent has been spent.
“Come spring and summer, we’ll see huge amounts of this money,” Begich said.
Begich also announced at the forum that $49 million in federal money has been allocated to Alaska for rural water and sewer projects.
"brainstorming session to discuss how and where to direct addtional money to rural Alaska"
Hmm! Glad to see that the folks from Fairbanks, North Pole and UAF have our back. Here is an idea....insead of spending all that money for special meetings, set-up some type of website or survey so us real rural citizens can give our opinion.
And as for us missing the FULL bullet, maybe you should by food, gas, heating fuel or even buy a plane ticket then tell me what that round hole in my wallet is.
We are supposed to create jobs for how long? Then what happens in two years when the money is gone? Your stimulus funds will only make your data look good while your are in office.
Shut up and leave us alone!
The phony Stimulus carrot that was dangled as a fix to a “catastrophe” came out of our pockets and was not written to create jobs. It contained paybacks for Obama-voting. It contained vast sums for social programs, unions, ACORN, and favored legislators ( pork). It has not and will not create prosperity. The administration was surprised when unemployment reached 10 percent but it makes perfect sense to all of us who understand that prosperity and productivity are created by enterprising, hard-working Americans who go to work every day and who take risks starting businesses. This is elementary economic common sense.
Begich says “1.5 billion was set aside for Alaska” and only about 40% has been spent. I would like to see an accounting of those expentures..??..
These folks are getting “feed back” on their programs at every election held, since last November 2008 and are going to get some more great feed back in November 2010
What has created jobs in Alaska up until now? Construction, tourism, fishing, resource development, small businesses, government. Have I missed any biggies?
"The forum included brainstorming sessions to discuss what Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has described as the “four pillars” of new job creation — renewable energy, broadband internet access, responding to climate change and harnessing local food production."
Where is the evidence that real, long-term jobs in Alaska will come from those "four pillars?" Who says they are the "four pillars?" The Agriculture secretary? Even if we might agree that all of those are good things (and I know we don't all agree on that..), where is the EVIDENCE that these things generate significant numbers of JOBS that will be sustained over time.
Alaska does have to diversify its economy, but just because someone puts the word "jobs" in the same sentence as "four pillars" doesn't make it mean anything at all.
Stimulus funds are like money from grandma at Christmas. Of course you can go out and buy stuff that you otherwise didn't have the money for. But, that is not the same as an investment for the long haul. And how many of us really use the money for something we "need" instead of something we want?
The PFD is an amazing way to share the wealth of Alaska's resource with the people who live and work in Alaska. It does give a good jolt to the economy every year, and has sent an awful lot of Alaska kids to college for several years. But, that is not a "pillar" of the economy. It's the benefit of wisely developing what Alaska has to develop.
Political leaders turn down money from the government at their peril, but let's don't fool ourselves that this is anything substantive for the long term health of Alaska.