Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 106
02/03/2009 05:15 PM House ECON. DEV., TRADE & TOURISM
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Discuss House Special Committee on Economic Development, International Trade and Tourism Goals and Priorities for the 26th Legislative Session. | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INTERNATIONAL
TRADE AND TOURISM
February 3, 2009
5:16 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jay Ramras, Chair
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Representative Kyle Johansen
Representative Mike Doogan
Representative Chris Tuck
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Mike Chenault
Representative Mark Neuman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Discuss House Special Committee on Economic Development,
International Trade and Tourism goals and priorities for the
26th Legislative Session.
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses to record
ACTION NARRATIVE
5:16:26 PM
CHAIR JAY RAMRAS called the House Special Committee on Economic
Development, International Trade and Tourism meeting to order at
5:16 p.m. Representatives Dahlstrom, Johansen, Doogan, Tuck,
and Ramras were present at the call to order.
5:16:42 PM
^Discuss House Special Committee on Economic Development,
International Trade and Tourism goals and priorities for the
26th Legislative Session.
CHAIR RAMRAS announced the only order of business will be a
discussion on the goals and priorities for the committee.
5:16:42 PM
CHAIR RAMRAS introduced Margaret Dowling, who is the committee
aide, and advised that the committee will not hear any bills;
furthermore, there may be two members added to the committee.
Chair Ramras noted that a presentation by World Trade Center
Alaska is scheduled for 2/10/09, and he has contacted Alaska
Housing Finance Corporation about leading a discussion on the
relative health, region by region, of the housing market in
Alaska. He also suggested a presentation by the Alaska banking
industry on the flow of credit and capital throughout the state.
Finally, it would be appropriate for the committee to hear an
overview on retail gasoline [pricing] subsequent to the receipt
of the reports on that subject issued by the attorney general
and the House Judiciary Standing Committee.
5:21:12 PM
CHAIR RAMRAS invited suggestions for topics of discussion from
the committee.
5:20:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK expressed his hope that Alaska will begin to
manufacture physical goods and "value add" [to] the resources
that the state has. This would include learning what can be
done competitively, through technology and through machine tool
methods and process methods. He opined that by using the
University of Alaska (UA) system, Alaska can duplicate what was
done in Texas to develop the petro-chemical industry. By
supporting scientific studies at the university, technology can
be developed and applied by entrepreneurs in the state. This is
similar to what California did to develop Silicon Valley.
Representative Tuck stressed the importance of maximizing
Alaska's wealth of resources, before it is exported, to produce
high paying jobs, stronger trade, and a better economy; this
would also strengthen in-state tourism. His vision is for the
state to produce physical wealth through value-added goods and
sustain its economy independently.
5:23:52 PM
CHAIR RAMRAS re-stated Representative Tuck's interest in value-
added goods and encouraged him to have his staff research this
topic for further discussion. On the subject of tourism, Chair
Ramras asked Representative Neuman to make inquiries about a
possible presentation.
5:24:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM agreed with Representative Tuck and
suggested that the ideas also fall under the category of
workforce development. She is also interested in reviewing the
[gasoline pricing] reports.
5:24:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK added that fully funding science and
technology facilities at the university level is an economic
driver and thus an element of interest to the committee.
5:25:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DOOGAN expressed his interest in learning about
workforce development relating to how much is being done in the
state, and whether needed workers are being trained in the right
fields. Although workforce development is a popular subject,
it is not clear what results are to be expected, he opined.
5:26:50 PM
CHAIR RAMRAS suggested that Representative Doogan research the
resources for this topic. Noting that a special committee does
not have the sufficient stature to schedule "high level"
speakers, such as the president of the UA, Chair Ramras
encouraged the committee to develop alternate sources of
information and to provide "a horizon of study and a list of
resources" to contact.
5:29:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK related his receipt of a report discussing
non-resident workers, and pointed out that this situation should
be of interest to the committee because of the value of wages
going out of state. Workforce development is a key way to keep
wealth in the state by [assuring that] oil and gas,
construction, and other high paying jobs go to Alaskans instead
of non-residents.
5:31:01 PM
CHAIR RAMRAS reviewed the title of the committee and surmised
that the "Trade" piece has been forgotten. He asked members to
turn their focus outward to international trade partners for
value-added products such as fishing and fertilizer. He
identified Agrium, Inc., and what that industry can mean to
residents and to the natural gas market.
5:32:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN offered examples of "looking inward ...
and looking outward." Alaska Ship and Drydock, Inc., in
Ketchikan, is a state-owned facility operated by a private
company that is repairing and building ships. In fact, the
first ship built was the Ketchikan International Airport ferry,
built with general fund (GF) money to serve an Alaskan
community. In addition, the corporation is building a ship for
the U.S. Department of Defense and a vessel for Chevron
Corporation. Alaska Ship and Drydock is also very involved with
the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD) and its
goal is for Ketchikan to become the northern West Coast maritime
center for ship repair and shipbuilding. An additional long-
term goal is to synchronize with UA in the teaching of job
skills that are common to shipbuilding and the construction of
the gas pipeline.
5:36:03 PM
CHAIR RAMRAS lauded Representative Johansen's long-term support
of the shipbuilding industry and assured him that a presentation
by Alaska Ship and Drydock, Inc. will be welcomed.
5:36:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN continued to report that the fishing
industry is also growing in Ketchikan; in fact, since 1995 the
dive fishery has grown from $0 to contributing $4 million to the
industry. The dive fishery is self-assessed and is in the
process of collecting baseline science and the assessment of
stocks for all of the areas fished. He emphasized that this
fishery is specifically for the Far East market and the state
agencies involved include the Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
(ADF&G). Representative Johansen suggested that the committee
will also want to hear from a representative of the Southeast
Alaska Regional Dive Association (SARDFA).
5:38:30 PM
CHAIR RAMRAS recommended that committee members submit topics of
interest to the committee aide for the calendar. Additionally,
he suggested that members consider a trade mission during the
interim. A worthwhile trade trip may take the committee to
Ketchikan to look at the ship dry dock facility, or overseas to
explore value-added export markets.
5:40:26 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Economic Development, International Trade
and Tourism meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|