In The Spotlight: Enhancing Quality of Life and Business in Sitka

The Sitka Chamber of Commerce, led by Director Rachel Roy and Communications Specialist Victoria Siegel (plus a 9-member Chamber Board of Directors) has been actively supporting three initiatives designed to enhance quality life and business in Sitka.

The initiatives were selected by the Chamber’s Board of Directors after round tables, where industry leaders from different industries in Sitka shared their greatest barriers to success.

The Chamber’s resulting three initiatives are: Workforce Housing, Childcare, and Workforce Development by Emerging Leaders.

The Sitka Chamber held their first ever Sitka’s Emerging Leaders’ Southeast Summit on October 2-3, 2024 in Sitka. “Emerging leaders from across Southeast came together for two days of learning, networking, growth, and development. We saw phenomenal feedback from attendees about how useful and beneficial the summit was.”

One attendee said, “The entire summit was spectacular. I left feeling greatly refreshed and ready to take on barriers that were causing burnout.”

The Summit’s content was supported by Spruce Root and Alaska Small Business Development Center and included three tracks on leadership, entrepreneurship and work & wellness. The two day event was sponsored by Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, University of Alaska Southeast, Sea Mart Quality Foods, Aspen Hotels of Alaska, Tongass Federal Credit Union, Subway of Sitka, Alaska Seaplanes, Sheet’ká Ḵwáan Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and Shee Atiká, Inc.

Workforce Housing: 2024 strategy includes convening community leaders to address workforce housing needs, participate in the Sitka Housing Network, and collaborate with SEDA to explore high-density housing development in Sitka.

Childcare: 2024 strategy is to increase access to childcare for Sitka’s workforce by understanding childcare capacity and hosting a 6-week Speaker Series for stakeholders and the community.

Why are the barriers of Housing and Childcare important?

“Our workforce is struggling to find housing and adequate childcare for their families. Until these issues can be addressed, we will struggle to fill our open positions and see the true potential for our community.” Roy said.

Launched in October was the Chamber’s Fall Speaker Series on Sitka’s Childcare, designed to “explore the current state of childcare in Sitka and what is being done and opportunities to improve it.”

Week 1 in the series on Wednesday, October 9 was a panel on the Evolution of Childcare in Sitka.

“We looked at Sitka’s childcare from its early development to the role it plays in supporting families today. We discussed challenges facing childcare providers – including affordability, staffing, and sustainability – and looked for potential solutions and innovations that can ensure accessible, high-quality care for all children in the community.”

Anyone wishing to view the taped panel can do so at bit.ly/sitkachildcare1. The panel included representatives from the Childcare Now group who meet weekly to strategize solutions for early childhood education.

The Speaker Series will continue on Wednesdays throughout the fall on October 30, November 6 and 20, and December 4 and 11.

More information on the series can be found on the Chamber’s website sitkachamber.com and recordings will be posted at facebook.com/sitkachamber.