Alaskans For Completion of SR 167

Alaska State Chamber of Commerce (ASCC), upon visiting businesses in the Port of Tacoma-Fife-Tacoma area witnessed the congestion delays forced on commercial traffic - logistical support that is the lifeline to their state.

Shortly after their visit, the ASCC shared their support for completion of SR-167 with our state's legislative leadership.  Now in special session, the state legislature is deciding how best to meet the economic engine and jobs creator that is our Port as well as the Port of Seattle's hopes for Hwy. 509.

Here's copies of their letters to Senator Tracy Eide, Senator Curits King and  Representative Judy Clibborn.

(Click on images for a larger view)

Connecting to a Key Economic Partner

Respecting the economic partnership between Alaska and Tacoma, the Chamber’s President & CEO Tom Pierson attended the 33^rd annual Alaska Resources Conference held Nov. 14-15 in Anchorage.

 

Joining Tom from Tacoma was John Parrott, Pres., Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. for a whirlwind series of conference sessions and meetings with local businesses.  Thanks to the support of Carlile Transportation System, Tom was able to strengthen his relationships with Alaska business leaders.

 

His contacts included Bill Popp, Pres., Anchorage Economic Development Commission, Kara Moriarity, Executive Director, Alaska Oil and Gas Association and Karen Matthias, Alaska representative for the Port of Tacoma.

 

Alaska Governor Sean Parnell (recently hosted in Tacoma by the Chamber’s Alaska Committee) and Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan (visited by the Chamber-led Tacoma delegation to the Alaska State Chamber Conference), honored the Resource Development Conference with remarks directed to the economic opportunities in Alaska.

 

Tom recently published comments in his October op-ed piece for the Business Examiner, were read and praised by numerous Alaskans as he visited their state again.

Transportation Act Passes

The Chamber and many allies celebrated Congress’s welcome exhibition of bipartisanship, as on Friday the House approved a roughly $105 billion federal Transportation bill by a lopsided 373-52 vote and the Senate approved it 74-19. 

President Barack Obama signed a one-week temporary measure Friday evening, permitting the highway and loan programs to continue until the full legislation reaches his desk for signature. Otherwise, the federal transportation and many state and local projects would have stopped today, June 30.

The first major transportation bill since 2005, the legislation would keep highway and transit spending at current levels through the end of fiscal year 2014.

It includes an expansion of a federal loan program to fast-track bus and rail projects in traffic-choked regions.  The transportation measure would create or save 3 million jobs, said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, chief sponsor of the Senate version of the bill

The following are some of the freight-related components in the bill:

·        Projects of National and Regional Significance – (Sec. 1120 – or page 90)

·        National Freight Policy (Sec. 1115, §167 – or page 66)

o   Calls for the establishment of a national freight network

o   Calls for a national freight strategic plan

·        A call for the prioritization of projects to improve freight movement (Sec. 1116 – or page 70)

o   Allows for increased Federal Share (up to 95% for projects on Interstate system; 90% for other projects)

§  Eligible projects:

·        construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and operational improvements directly relating to improving freight

·        movement;

·        intelligent transportation systems and other technology to improve the flow of freight;

·        efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of freight movement on the primary freight network;

·        railway-highway grade separation;

·        geometric improvements to interchanges and ramps.

·        truck-only lanes;

·        climbing and runaway truck lanes;

·        truck parking facilities eligible for funding under section 1401;

·        real-time traffic, truck parking, roadway condition, and multimodal transportation information systems;

·        improvements to freight intermodal connectors; and improvements to truck bottlenecks.

·        State Freight Advisory Committees are encouraged (Sec. 1117 – or page 70)

·        State Freight Plans are encouraged (Sec. 1118 – or page 71)

Rs dropped an effort trying to use the bill to advance the controversial Keystone XL pipeline to move oil from western Canada to Texas' Gulf Coast.  Ds made concessions that are likely to lead to less funding for bicycle, pedestrian and beautification project and would halve the time allowed for environmental reviews for highway projects. “This measure includes historic reforms – cutting red tape and consolidating or eliminating nearly 70 federal programs,” said House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica, R-FL.

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The Alaska Railroad says that Congress struck a deal to save it from a massive budget cut that could have meant large-scale layoffs and less passenger service.  Railroad officials said Alaska's U.S. Rep. Don Young's office told them Thursday the railroad should expect a $4 million cut instead of the $30 million cut proposed in the Senate version.

Not related to transportation:

The bill also includes a measure to renew the federal flood insurance program for five years. Congressional leaders paved the way for the bill’s approval after dropping a measure that would have forced millions of property owners living near flood control facilities to buy flood insurance. The mandate was designed to shore up an insurance program that is billions of dollars in debt, largely because of Hurricane Katrina and other 2005 hurricanes.

The measure also would avert a doubling of interest rates for millions of college student loans that was threatened to hit Sunday. The student loan measure spares an estimated 7.4 million students who get subsidized Stafford loans beginning July 1 — this Sunday — from facing $1,000 in higher interest costs over the lives of their loans, which typically take over a decade to repay.

Alaska-Port-Industry Tour

Alaska is important to the Port of Tacoma, local businesses and the community's economy.

To emphasize the Alaska connection, members of the Chamber's Alaska Committee invited Pierce County's state legislators and members and support staff of the transportation committees for an Alaska-Port-Industry Tour. 

Some 12 legislators and support staff accepted the opportunity to learn more about the Alaska connection and the vital role transportation performs in the delivery of goods and services through our community.  Although a full afternoon was set aside, only a small representative sample - three local companies and the Port of Tacoma - could be featured. 

Still the mix was there.  The Port of Tacoma provided an overall perspective both because of its complex operations and hosting of tenants which market Alaska. Still the Port (with a capital "P") is just an (integral) part of the mosaic of firms in the port-industrial area.

Legislators view operations in the Schnitzer yard.

Schnitzer is representative of firms which own their plant site and terminal.  An "importer" of scrap from various parts of Alaska, including their own yard in Anchorage, Schnitzer is a green industry solely involved in recycling of ferrous metals.  And their message to the legislators: legislative action like the proviso for the heavy haul corridor in the recent transportation capital budget allows the company to expand its transportation options for more efficient operations.

Carlile Transportation, the site of the luncheon briefing, also presented a plant tour - on "moving day."  That Friday, trucks were bringing loads for shipment on the TOTE vessel in port for a turn-around to Alaska. Carlile estimated their docks would cycle three times before loading of the TOTE vessel was completed that night.

Of course, a tour through the TOTE yard and offices at their Port of Tacoma terminal gave graphic testimony to the volumes staged for the loading and unloading of the TOTE vessel.  It was a wonder to all on the tour, and yet access was only possible because the actual movements were taking place later that evening.

With the visit to the three various companies came the opportunity to see other Alaska and transportation links with the patch-work of public (Port of Tacoma and its tenants) and privately-owned business.  Included in the tour were the Lincoln Ave. grade separation, the Husky, WUT and Horizon Lines terminals.

Alaska-Tacoma Trade on TV

Harry McDonald, CEO of Anchorage-based Carlile Transportation Systems and Gary Brackett, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's Business & Trade Manager are featured in a South Sound Business Report TV segment entitled "Alaska and the South Sound."

Brackett shares the deep extent of commerce connection between Puget Sound ports and the economy of Alaska, which must import most of its supplies and equipment needs.

McDonald talks about the family- and employee-owned logistics company with terminals in Houston, Minnesota, Alberta and its largest outside of Alaska at Port of Tacoma. He also has observations on the economy in the 49th state, which may soon be seeing a rebirth of energy-providing growth.

Watch Alaska and the South Sound on PBS. See more from South Sound Business Report.

The program will also air on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 6:30 p.m. on KBTC PBS-Tacoma after the station's December pledge campaign preemptions end.

Alaska's Future

Alaska is an attainable market for Tacoma-Pierce County firms. Why?

1. Most cargo for Alaska moves through the Port of Tacoma.
2. Alaska is the Port’s third largest trading partner.
3. There is a lively group of local businesses promoting trade with Alaska.
4. The Chamber works to support Alaska development.

5. Historically, Tacoma has been a source for Alaska.

As part of the Chamber’s promotional effort, its Alaska Committee forms a trade delegation for the annual Alaska State Chamber Conference and Trade Show. This year, eight delegates traveled to Talkeetna to strengthen the economic partnership between our communities.

The Alaska State Chamber is unabashedly proactive seeking to develop their state’s resources. They recognize the need to diversify and strengthen their economy, currently overly dependent on oil. Hot on the Alaska agenda is the issue of lessening their state tax on oil. Flow through the pipeline is lessening. Development of proven oil reserves continues to be delayed and blocked, either by outside advocates or by a bureaucratic glacier.

This issue was highlighted during the conference’s teleconference with Cong. Don Young and Sen. Mark Begich. When asked about Washington’s Sen. Cantwell’s opposition to development of the Pebble Mine, Cong. Young said he would encourage the Senator to address instead the environmental challenges in her state at Hanford.

Along with many other panels and presentations about developing Alaska and helping its business environment, the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce supported the conference with excellence and kept the businesses downtown open past their tourist season for visiting delegates. Part of the fun is evidenced by the Talkeetna-chic themed annual dinner where delegates wore tuxes with duct tape bowties and fur caps and gowns with mukluks.

The Chamber is continuing its advocacy for Alaska’s development, as with the recent forum at the Transportation Club of Tacoma featuring Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell. You are invited to join the Chamber’s Alaska Committee. For more info, contact Gary Brackett or 256-682-1720.

 

 

 

Chamber Presents Alaska Governor

Monday, the Chamber presented Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (pictured) at the Transportation Club of Tacoma meeting.

Gov. Parnell praised the long economic partnership between Alaska and Puget Sound, noting that 80% of Alaska’s products and services for development and its people’s comfort and sustenance come through the Port of Tacoma.

Gov. Parnell focused on the economic opportunity Alaska represents and invited local businesses to invest in Alaska, saying it’s a better investment than the stock market. Gov. Parnell went on to say that Alaska is a resource state – fish, oil, timber, minerals – needing development. He said it will be better for American consumers and our nation’s security to develop the resources of Alaska rather than depend on other countries.

Gov. Parnell was asked about Sen. Maria Cantwell’s announced intent to block development of the Pebble (gold) mine. Parnell said that project is just entering its permit development stage. Scientifically-based information and the input of public opinion are still ahead, he said. His administration will not make a premature determination on the permit until the facts are known, he promised.

Next week, members of the Chamber's Alaska Committee will journey to Talkeetna, AK as registrants and speakers at the annual Alaska State Chamber of Commerce Conference and Trade Show.  This long standing effort by the Chamber seeks to enhance the economic partnership between Alaska and Tacoma area companies.  For more information, contact Gary Brackett, 253-682-1720.

Chamber Presents Alaska Governor

Gov. Sean Parnell has accepted the Chamber's Alaska Committee's invitation to visit, tour and speak in Tacoma.

He will be presented at the Transportation Club of Tacoma's September 12 luncheon.  You are invited to hear him by registering with the Transportation Club. 

Much is justifiably made of the economic partnership between Alaska and Tacoma.  The status as the obvious "lower 48" home port at the Port of Tacoma for both Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Horizon Lines gives the Tacoma metro a transportation hub for shipments to and from Alaska. 

Recent years have seen continuing economic development in our area directly tied to that home port advantage:  the recent relocation of Carlile Transportation Systems and the openings of both Americold and North West Company are perfect examples of how we enjoy economic growth by meeting the needs of Alaska's economy and population.

Transportation Club of Tacoma

September 12, 11 am registration opens

La Quinta Inn

1427 E. 25th Street, Tacoma 98421

RSVP (Prepaid Only)

Alaska: Tacoma's North Star

A great success was accomplished by the Chamber's delegation at the 51st annual Alaska State Chamber Conference and Trade Show held earlier this week (Sept. 20-22) in Juneau.

The local delegation, accompanied by Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma Councilmember Spiro Manthou and Port of Tacoma Commissioner Don Meyer, provided a Tacoma Breakfast event, sharing with all conference attendees the now traditional Tacoma coffee mug featuring a select Alaska city on one side and the branded Chamber's Alaska Committee image on the other.

Click here to view photos from the trip at the Chamber's Facebook page.

A special thanks to all our sponsors:  Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Carlile Transportation Systems, Horizon Lines, Port of Tacoma, VersaCold Logistics and Gross & Assoc.

Fried Over Easy

Ben Stein has competition nipping at his coattails.  Neal Fried, head economist for the State of Alaska, Department of Labor, Research and Analysis Section, presented as entertaining a commentary  that went over as easily among listeners about Alaska's, Washington's and the national economy as any other economist/comedian.

Among Fried's comments at today's meeting of the Transportation Club of Tacoma:

• 2009 is the first time Alaska's economy has shrunk in 21 years
• There have been 21 consecutive years of uninterrupted growth in Alaska
• Even then, job losses were -0.5% in 2009, compared with -4.6% for WA and 6.1% for US
• Easy to understand since AK's economy is so different: 
• 1/3 oil industry
• 1/3 federal
• 1/3 everything else
• Employment forecast
• 2010:  +0.4%
• 2011:  +0.6%
• Growth rate of 1.3% for 2000-2009
• 2009 first time ever Alaska's unemployment rate was below US average unemployment rate
• The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is of vital interest to AK
• BP is state's biggest oil producer
• Already impacting drilling permits offshore
• May increase interest in gas line proposals

Presented by the Alaska Committee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, this event was another in a series of continuing initiatives to share more about the economic partnership tieing Alaska and Washington States.

Sponsorship support was provided by Alaska Airlines.

Fried Alaska

THE ALASKA COMMITTEE
of the
TACOMA PIERCE COUNTY CHAMBER

Presents at the

THE TRANSPORTATION CLUB OF TACOMA

NEAL FRIED, head economist for the State of Alaska, Department of Labor, Research & Analysis Section, as guest speaker. Fried will address the importance of Alaska’s Economic ties to Tacoma, the Northwest and world markets. More than 70% of all goods shipped to Alaska travel through the Port of Tacoma, making Alaska the Port’s third largest trading Partner.

FRIED is the primary author of articles appearing in the monthly magazine Alaska Economic Trends, distributed to over 5,000 subscribers. His articles cover a wide variety of the State's economic issues. Some of the topics on which he has performed economic analysis and written articles include: the cost of living, construction, income and wage trends, the military, the health care industry, transportation, oil industry issues, labor needs, rural economic trends, economic impact of the Prince William Sound oil spill, the MatSu Valley's economy and Alaska's largest employers.

JUNE 14, 2010

REGISTRATION & NETWORKING 11:30 AM

PROGRAM 12 NOON

C.I. SHENANIGANS

3017 RUSTON WAY

TACOMA 98402

RSVP: Gary G. or 253.445.3933  PREPAID ONLY

Sponsorship support provided by Alaska Airlines.

Second Day - Alaska

A spin-off of the Chamber's delegation for Washington-to-Washington, D.C. 2010, visited with Alaska's lone representation in the  House, Congressman Don Young.

Chief among issues discussed was the EPA's implementation of air emissions regs for ships at sea but within the 200-mile territorial limit of the U.S.  Both Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Horizon Lines are directly impacted by this regulation.  Alaska remains one of our chief trading partners through the services of these carriers through the Port of Tacoma.

Attending the meeting with Cong. Young are:  (l to r):  Gary Brackett, Chamber; John Parrott, TOTE; Stephanie Bowman, Port of Tacoma; Cong. Young; Spiro Manthou, Tacoma City Council; Gary Coy, Sperry Ocean.

Chamber Finds End of the Road

The Tacoma Delegation (shown preparing room setup) at the annual Alaska State Chamber of Commerce (ASCC) Conference and Trade Show.

50 is a special number this year for Alaskans who celebrate their 50th year of statehood. Also celebrating were ASCC members at their 50th annual meeting and trade show.

Tacoma, which has sponsored a Tacoma Breakfast and has a 24-year continuous run of commemorative mugs featuring cities in Alaska, chose the conference site, Homer AK, for the 2009 design.

More importantly to our Chamber members is the work during the bulk of the ASCC conference as these Tacoma delegates demonstrated our community's commitment to the Alaska market, gained new knowledge about the issues and challenges in Alaska and reinforced among Alaskans our commitment to the economic partnership we enjoy.