Fairbanks North Star Borough
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Update
A Stronger, More Resilient Economy.
The FNSB CEDS was adopted by the FNSB Assembly on September 8, 2022.
View the Final Draft:
Industry Cluster Summaries & Action Plans
Community Influencer Summaries & Action Plans
- Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship
- Communications
- Education & Workforce Development
- Recreation, Retail, & Entertainment
- Other: Land Use, Housing, Environment, Transportation
Appendices
- Appendix A: Acronyms
- Appendix B: Summary Background
- Appendix C: IMPLAN Economic Impact Analysis Summary
- Appendix D: Situational Assessment and Regional SWOT Analysis
- Appendix E: FNSB’s Status as an Alaska Regional Development Organization
- Appendix F: Location Quotient Analysis
- Appendix G: Outreach Materials (flyers, distribution list emails)
- Appendix H: Interior Alaska Economic Summit agenda and meeting summary
- Appendix I: List of Relevant Plans and Background Documents
- Appendix J: Future Ideas
- Appendix K: Comment Tracker
Purpose
Develop an updated Five-Year FNSB Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). A CEDS is a locally based, regionally driven planning document that guides local government and community action.
A CEDS:
Brings the private and public sector together to develop a regional strategy and action plan.
Identifies projects and makes recommendations to support businesses, create more and better paying jobs, improve quality of life, and increase resilience.
Serves as a road map to economic resilience and prosperity.
Must go through a robust update every five years, with less intensive updates annually.
WHAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY?
What Does a CEDS Include?
Numbers
that tell the FNSB story – people, economy, regional comparisons
An economic vision
that describes what we want our future economy to look like
Goals, objectives, and strategies
that are specific and measurable and describe what we hope to accomplish over the next five years
Implementation plan
that describes how we'll work on our priorities and measure progress
Comparative analysis
that examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and competitive advantages/ disadvantages for FNSB overall and by sector
Download Regional Snapshot
View, download, and share the 2021 Fairbanks North Star Borough Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Regional Snapshot.
Who is leading and guiding the process?
Project Team
The Fairbanks North Star Borough led the process with assistance from Alaska-based Agnew::Beck Consulting and their partners, Northern Economics, Information Insights, and RESPEC (formerly PDC Engineers).
Steering Committee: The FNSB Economic Development Commission provided feedback on the planning process, spread the word about outreach and provided input on CEDS findings and recommendations.
- Mayor Bryce Ward – Chair
- Mark Billingsley
- Abigail Riggs
- Paul Robinson
- Russell Talvi
- Renee Linton
- Frank Tomaszewski – Assembly
- Kristan Kelly – Assembly
- Deb Hickok (past member)
- Matt Cooper (past member)
- Mindy O’Neall (past member)
- Mike Meeks (past member, in memoriam)
About the Process
February 22 - 23, 2022: Interior Alaska Economic Summit
The 2022 Interior Alaska Economic Summit brought regional community, business, and industry leaders together to collaborate on economic opportunities as we work towards a stronger, more resilient Interior Alaska economy.
Other Engagement
Summer 2021 through Winter 2022: Roundtables and Other Outreach
- Stakeholder roundtables and conversations have also been hosted with the following: Explore Fairbanks Board and Staff; Mining Roundtable; Energy Roundtable; Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors; Forestry Roundtable; Communications Roundtable; Health Care Roundtable; Research & Innovation Roundtable; Education & Workforce Development Roundtable; City of Fairbanks City Council; City of North Pole City Council; Child Care Roundtable; University of Fairbanks Student Government; small business owners and entrepreneurs
- View the Resources section for slides and notes from the roundtables.
June 19, 2021: Midnight Sun Festival
July 13, 2021: Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Business Luncheon
July 24, 2021: Golden Days Street Fair
July 30 - August 8, 2021: Tanana Valley State Fair
Schedule
SPRING - FALL 2021
Discover and Listen
Invite input
Compile and analyze data
WINTER 2021 - SPRING 2022
Draft and Review
Create vision, goals, strategies
Host Economic Summit
Prepare draft CEDS
SUMMER - FALL 2022
Finalize and Activate
Finalize the CEDS
Adopt the CEDS
Take action on CEDS recommendations
Resources
Statewide CEDS: Learn More and Get Involved
Final Products: Economic Impact Analysis Key Projects
Community Involvement Documents & Tools
- FNSB Assembly Work Session, September 1, 2022
- FNSB Planning Commission, August 23, 2022
- Interior Delegation Presentation, July 14, 2022
- Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Business Luncheon Presentation, June 21, 2022
- FNSB Borough Staff Roundtable, February 24, 2022
- Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (Student Government) Presentation, February 16, 2022
- Child Care Roundtable, February 11, 2022
- City of North Pole Work Session, February 7, 2022
- City of Fairbanks City Council Presentation, January 31, 2022
- Education and Workforce Development Roundtable, January 27, 2022
- Research and Innovation Roundtable, January 25, 2022
- Health Care Roundtable, January 11, 2022
- Communications Roundtable, January 6, 2022
- Forestry Roundtable, December 1, 2021
- Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors General Membership Meeting Presentation, September 15, 2021
- Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Virtual Presentation, July 13, 2021
- Agriculture Roundtable, June 22, 2021
- Energy Roundtable, June 18, 2021
- Explore Fairbanks Presentation and Discussion with Board and Staff, April 21, 2021
Economic Development Commission (EDC) Materials
- EDC Presentation, June 28, 2022
- EDC Written Update, May 23, 2022
- EDC Work Session Slides, April 26, 2022
- EDC Presentation Slides, February 8, 2022
- EDC Presentation Slides, November 22, 2021
- EDC Written Update, September 28, 2021
- EDC Work Session Slides, June 22, 2021
- EDC Work Session Notes, June 22, 2021
- EDC Written Update, May 25, 2021
- EDC Written Update, April 27, 2021
- EDC Kickoff Meeting Presentation, March 23, 2021
Newsletters
- FNSB CEDS: Join us for the Public Hearing next Thursday (9/1/22)
- IMPORTANT: FNSB Final Draft CEDS is HERE! (6/23/22)
- FNSB CEDS: Comment Deadline this Friday (June 10)! (6/8/22)
- FNSB CEDS – 2 weeks left to review the draft! (5/26/22)
- It’s Here! Draft FNSB CEDS ready for you! (5/6/22)
- Interior Alaska Economic Summit, Feb. 22-23, 2022 Results (3/9/22)
- Interior Alaska Economic Summit: Next Week! Read On For Details… (2/18/22)
- Interior Alaska Economic Summit, Feb. 22-23, 2022 – Check out the Preliminary At-a-Glance Agenda (1/21/22)
- Save the Date: Interior Alaska Economic Summit, Feb. 22-23, 2022 (12/22/21)
Contact Us
Brittany Smart
Project Manager
FNSB Office of the Mayor
907-328-8027 (call or text)
907-459-1302 (direct)
brittany.smart@fnsb.gov
Shelly Wade, AICP
Agnew::Beck Consulting
907-242-5326 (call or text)
shelly@agnewbeck.com
