Southeast Conference and Ketchikan Visitors Bureau outline regional projects, heat‑pump incentives and tourism activity

During citizen comments and scheduled reports on Dec. 1, the assembly heard regional economic and tourism updates that highlighted changing project plans and household‑energy incentives.

Robert Venables, executive director of Southeast Conference, described a reworked pellet‑mill strategy that has shifted to Prince of Wales Island because of supply, dryer‑cost and workforce constraints. He said partnerships are developing with local vocational/technical education centers to create workforce pipelines and that the Tongass Collaborative (TTC) is pursuing longer‑term forest‑health, habitat and community economic planning.

Venables also described a heat‑pump distribution program for homeowners currently using oil or wood heat, where the incentive level varies by income from about $4,000 up to $8,500; his team is partnering with Alaska Heat Smart and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation on rollout and assessments. He noted regional solid‑waste planning, engagement with DOT on long‑range transportation planning, and interest in mariculture investments in southern Southeast.

Kara Tetley, executive director of the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau, reported progress on KVB operations: a new website planned for Dec. 15 with a TBMP microsite for anonymous community complaints and responses, printed travel guides (65,000 copies for 2026), continued outreach on congestion and wildlife‑respect messaging, and a year‑to‑date visitor‑center count of 240,627 Jan–Oct compared with roughly 175,000 in the previous period—improvements Venables and Tetley attribute to better people‑counter technology and expanded outreach.

Both presenters offered to provide more detailed reports to the assembly and to coordinate with borough staff on implementation details for heat‑pump outreach and workforce training.