Industrial Develpment

Industrial Development

Check out the Kenai Peninsula Industrial Prospectus!

The Economic Development District (EDD) provides several services important to local industrial development. These services include:

Direct marketing of the Borough and recruitment of business into the Borough.

Linking local businesses with large buyers and suppliers to increase both domestic and foreign exports.

Providing specialized information, facilitating site visits, and providing public relations services to companies that have expressed an interest in choosing the Borough as a site location.

Working with organizations specializing in international trade to identify potential trade opportunities for the region. This may include facilitation of trade missions, hosting foreign delegations, and tracking trade leads.

These services lead to:

high wage jobs
high impact future
high performance communities

What does it take to attract Industry?
Infrastructure- Companies assess an area’s traditional infrastructure such as roads, ports, and airports, as well as less visible infrastructure, such as fiber optics and other communications infrastructure.

Skilled Workers- How well-educated is the region’s workforce? Do the local training institutions respond quickly and decisively to meet industry’s needs for skilled workers?

Responsive Government and Regulatory System- The government should work with a company, rather than building unnecessary barriers for development.

Community Support- In general, the community should support the proposed development.

Communities need to focus on the fundamentals of industrial development in order to succeed.

Direct Recruitment and Marketing:
In today’s rapidly changing economy, communities compete globally for jobs and industry. To attract investment dollars, regions increasingly need a visible presence in this global market, through a web site, through activity with specific industry sectors, through direct mailings and phone calls, and through other targeted recruitment and marketing activities. Communities that can identify and capitalize on their strategic advantages, whether infrastructure, workforce, global location, or resources by successfully marketing these attributes will reap the benefits of high-paying jobs, stable industries, and attractive communities. The Economic Development District (EDD) through a newly-initiated direct recruitment and marketing program will provide these services for the Borough, enhancing the Borough’s image as a business-friendly location and positioning the region for growth in the 21st Century.

Company Specific Services:
Companies seeking to establish a new branch, plant, or facility face the daunting task of researching an area’s economy, infrastructure assets, regulatory framework on the local and state level, community and governmental perception of business, available site locations, workforce skills, training and educational institutions, quality of life, transportation, communication, and available support industry for their particular business venture. This research can take considerable time and staff attention, translating into high costs for the company. One of EDD’s primary roles in industrial development is providing these pieces of critical information to companies interested in locating in the Borough. This translates into decreased costs for the company, increasing the Borough’s competitive advantage in the site selection process and establishing the Borough as a friendly place to do business.

Send mail to info@kpedd.org with questions about Industrial Development.

Other EDD Program Links:
Business Innovation Center ~ Revolving Loan Fund ~ Industry Development/Project Development
Microloan Fund ~ Starting a New Business ~ Technical Assistance (PDF Form)