(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - On January 17th, Southeast Conference will celebrate its 55th birthday.  According to Shelly Wright, executive director of Southeast Conference, Southeast Conference began with a group of leaders from across the region that wished to see a regional transportation system developed in Southeast Alaska.  The organization’s first meeting took place in Petersburg 55 years ago. The end result of the group’s initial efforts was the creation of the Alaska Marine Highway. After that success Southeast Conference board and membership stayed together through more than a half-century to promote other projects that were key to the economic development of the region. 

Today Southeast Conference is the Alaska Regional Economic Development Organization, as well as the federal Economic Development District for the region.  As Wright explains, “we operate regionally, forging strategies, solutions, and partnerships that achieve results that can only be obtained by working together to promote Southeast Alaska.”

Since its formation, Southeast Conference members, board members and staff have worked on the Southeast Conference mission, which is to undertake and support activities that promote strong economies, healthy communities and a quality environment in Southeast Alaska. 

According to Wright, “We have 168 members, including nearly every community in Southeast Alaska.” 

Areas that the Southeast Conference is working to promote these days includes energy; the fishing, visitor, timber, and mining industries; maritime technology; workforce development; and a continued focus on regional transportation issues. 

Source of News: 

Southeast Conference
www.seconference.org/

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