At the July 22, 2025 meeting of the Economic Development Commission, a borough administration representative reported that the borough assembly passed a resolution to transfer the Alaska Regional Development Organization designation from the Borough Economic Development Commission to the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation (Fedco).

The administration said Presiding Officer Mindy O'Neil sponsored the assembly resolution and that the assembly also adopted an amendment urging Fedco to include borough members as voting board members. "I think it's important that, you know, we are able to be a part of the discussion and the votes as opposed to just using our monetary, funding and sponsorship of Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation as something of a cudgel, to get to do what we want," the administration representative said.

Why it matters: the transfer gives Fedco authority to pursue grants, incubate projects and carry out more proactive economic-development work in the community, administration staff said. The representative said Fedco will inherit responsibility for the community economic development survey and strategy (SEDS) currently under the borough's purview; Fedco is already redoing that strategy on a regular basis.

Details and next steps: the administration reported that the three municipalities that participate in the designation have completed the local steps and that Fedco will submit a proposal to the State Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development for formal approval. The administration said the assembly amendment was changed from a contingency tied to Fedco bylaw changes into an urging that Fedco add borough voting seats; the administration described the urging as preferable because it does not delay the transfer. The administration warned that implementation will depend on Fedco following through on the change and on the state approval process.

No formal vote on the transfer took place at the Economic Development Commission meeting; the administration's report described actions taken by the borough assembly and outlined the anticipated state-level steps.

The administration also said the transfer had been discussed at earlier commission meetings, where commissioner McGinnis initially raised the board-seat issue. The commission did not take separate action on the transfer at the July 22 meeting.

The commission's next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2025, at which the administration said it will follow up as needed.