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HEDC seeks seed funding, asks borough to renegotiate MOA as it restructures
Summary
The Haines Economic Development Council (HEDC) presented its restructure plan focused on housing, childcare and business development and requested seed operational funding and an amended MOA so the organization can rebuild capacity and pursue grants; the committee agreed to discuss MOA changes with the full assembly and asked staff to post the current MOA in the meeting packet.
Representatives of the Haines Economic Development Council (HEDC) told the Commerce Committee they are restructuring and seeking borough partnership to secure operating funding and define deliverables.
Jennifer Moats introduced herself—saying she works full time for the University of Alaska Anchorage and is helping HEDC in its early phase—and outlined the group’s priorities: housing, childcare and business development. Moats said HEDC aims to build task forces, adopt a research-driven approach, secure seed operating funds, and produce measurable results within a 12–18 month timeframe.
Committee members pressed for clearer deliverables, better public messaging, and a plan to transition from a pass-through deliverable model to an organization that can apply for grants and sustain operations. Several assembly members suggested that an initial year of operational support for restructuring followed by return to deliverable-based accountability would be an acceptable path. Speakers noted $37,500 remained from a prior MOA appropriation and discussed whether the assembly could allow that balance to be reallocated to operational support in the near term.
Speaker 5 and others said the borough has historically stretched Fund 23’s economic-development definition and urged HEDC to communicate outcomes to taxpayers. HEDC representatives said early goals include establishing basic administrative capacity (bank account, address, reporting) and running visible, early projects to build community trust.
The committee directed staff to include the existing MOA in a supplemental packet and to prepare a recommendation process: a committee-level conversation followed by an assembly vote to amend the MOA if the assembly agrees on seed funding and revised deliverables. No final funding allocation was approved at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will post the current MOA in the next packet, and the committee expects to discuss an MOA amendment and potential use of the $37,500 remainder at an upcoming assembly meeting.
