Chamber plans community forum on town's economic future

At noon on Sept. 30, business-minded residents will gather in the Nolan Center classroom to discuss the economic future of Wrangell.

The chamber of commerce will host the economic forum, where speakers will present research on the challenges facing the Wrangell economy and discuss possible solutions. The chamber aims to create a space for engaged citizens and key players in the business community to exchange ideas.

For Jeff Good, borough manager, the forum will be an opportunity to listen to the community and better understand its needs. “The goal for me,” he said, “is to identify what Wrangell is going to look like in 5 to 10 years. Where do local businesses see it? Where does the community see it?” As the borough plans for the future, he wants to ensure that his direction aligns with the needs of the desires of residents and business leaders.

Though the chamber already hosts quarterly luncheons, this event will be different. According to Brittani Robbins, chamber executive director, the forum will feature a variety of “brilliant” guest speakers, both from inside and outside Wrangell. “I don’t want to throw out any names yet because we’re not that close,” said Robbins. But attendees can expect research-based presentations that incorporate data visualization techniques, with speakers drawn from the academic, business, and political sectors.

Robbins believes that rigorous collective action will be necessary for the community to flourish. “The economy is in a bad spot,” she said. Insufficient access to child care, lack of housing for workers, and seasonal economic stagnation are all contributing to the economic downturn and Robbins hopes that the forum will prompt productive discussions around these issues.

In fact, the forum will be structured specifically to encourage feedback from attendees. After the presentations, the floor will open for a question and answer session, allowing the community to engage directly with the speakers and with each other.

Tickets to the forum are $45 and are available on the chamber’s website. The majority of proceeds from ticket sales will be used to pay for Sweet Tides catering at the event. The chamber will collect the remainder and use it to fund its next luncheon.

Robbins is considering offering a remote option for those who might be sick or out of town. If she gets the technology for remote broadcast running smoothly, online attendance will cost $20.