"Juneau Economic Development Council"

Juneau residents are staying in their homes as they age. That’s keeping the housing market tight, making it harder for young people to move here.

Juneau, the state’s leading cruise ship port, tallied 1.65 million passengers on ship manifests, a 23% bump from 2019.

Supporters of mariculture in Alaska are working to build a $100 million industry out of shellfish and seaweed over the next two decades.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ initial offer went to the City and Borough of Juneau government. But most Juneau Assembly members didn’t like how that would look, and turned it down.

On Monday night, the Assembly passed $2.3 million in CARES Act funding to create another grant program for businesses and another $2 million for grants to individuals impacted by the pandemic.

The AK CARES grant program has distributed less than a tenth of the $290 million budgeted for it. 

There may be some wiggle room for more loans because some of the 130 applicants so far won’t qualify. The Juneau Assembly created the program and set aside $3 million for it just two weeks ago. 

“The goal is to first stop the fire. You know, the fire’s going, stop the fire,” says business owner Venietia Santana. “There’s a bunch of bills right now that are just on hold to pay.”

Meanwhile, the city’s budgeting process is underway and filled with unknowns. Juneau’s city manager proposed a significant property tax increase to balance the budget.

The Juneau Assembly failed to pass an emergency resolution Tuesday that would provide $3 million in loans. But it could decide to revisit the proposal Wednesday.