HOUSE BILL NO. 314                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating  to  the  Alaska  regional  economic                                                                    
     assistance program;  extending the termination  date of                                                                    
     the  Alaska regional  economic assistance  program; and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  MacKinnon   went  directly  to   public  testimony                                                                    
because  of time  limitations. She  would  have the  sponsor                                                                    
introduce the bill in a few moments.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED Public Testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:52:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DOUG   GRIFFIN,  EXECUTIVE   DIRECTOR,  SOUTH   WEST  ALASKA                                                                    
MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE, ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in  support of  the bill.  His organization  represented the                                                                    
Kodiak,  Bristol  Bay,  and  Aleutian  Pribilof  regions  of                                                                    
Alaska. He  asserted that regional economic  development was                                                                    
a  sound way  to involve  communities and  look for  ways to                                                                    
work   with  municipalities,   tribes,   and  the   business                                                                    
communities. He urged the passage of HB 314.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT  VENUBLES,  ENERGY  and  TRANSPORTATION  COORDINATOR,                                                                    
SOUTHEAST  CONFERENCE,  JUNEAU,  spoke  in  support  of  the                                                                    
legislation. He mentioned the original  fiscal note that was                                                                    
attached by  the administration.  The program was  very much                                                                    
needed especially  with diminished  state capacity.  Each of                                                                    
the Ardors  were committed  to the  mission. The  entity was                                                                    
eligible to receive funding from  the federal government. He                                                                    
provided  some  detailed  funding  information.  He  thanked                                                                    
members for their support of the bill.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
BRITTENY  CIONI-HAYWOOD,  DIRECTOR,   DIVISION  OF  ECONOMIC                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF  COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT, spoke in support of  the bill. The division was                                                                    
supportive  of having  and maintaining  the designation  for                                                                    
the  Ardor   program.  Her  division  worked   closely  with                                                                    
entities  regarding  economic development  initiatives.  The                                                                    
division  had a  wide  variety  of communications  regarding                                                                    
different   opportunities  that   arose  for   the  economic                                                                    
development of the state. She was available for questions.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  MacKinnon CLOSED  public  testimony.  She set  the                                                                    
bill aside.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB  314  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:56:55 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:57:06 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED