Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors
Resolution to Support the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan
WHEREAS, Alaska’s maritime sector employs a workforce of over 70,000 skilled workers, making the maritime sector the largest private employer in Alaska;
WHEREAS, the direct and indirect economic benefits of the maritime sector are significant to the State of Alaska, including, but not limited to, a contribution from the seafood subsector of $6.75 billion in 2011, and a contribution by the transportation subsector of $1 billion;
WHEREAS, 50 percent of those employed in the maritime sector are Alaskans, including a growing number in jobs requiring a high degree of technical and professional skill;
WHEREAS, Alaska maritime employers are contending with a ‘graying’ workforce, and seek to expand the number of Alaskans throughout the state who have the employability, technical skills, expertise, and motivation to be competitive in the job market;
WHEREAS, Alaska’s Governor and the University of Alaska President together established an initiative that engaged with industry leaders, employers, and the State of Alaska to develop the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan;
WHEREAS, an Industry Advisory Committee is now in place to work with the state and with the University of Alaska system to implement the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan;
WHEREAS, the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan is a call to action for industry, educators, and state government to work together to keep this economic sector vibrant, to grow the number of Alaskans comprising this workforce, and to ensure Alaskans are qualified to fill the skilled and well-paid Alaska maritime positions;
WHEREAS, the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan seeks to address issues of workforce recruitment, retention, training in job readiness, core competencies, and ongoing professional development in emerging and high demand occupational categories;
WHEREAS, the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan will be implemented most effectively through an industry-led process that involves the joint efforts of industry, the Alaska Departments of Labor and Workforce Development and Education and Early Childhood Development, the University of Alaska system, regional training centers and other education providers, community development quota (CDQ) organizations, tribal and local governments, the K-12 educational system, and other training providers;
WHEREAS, workforce development has been identified by the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce as a priority;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT, we, the undersigned, support the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan and the cooperative efforts of the Industry Advisory Committee and other stakeholders to implement the strategies contained in the plan.
Approved this _____ day of September, 2014
Nancy Christian, President Chelsea Goucher, Executive Director