Sustainable Economic Development for Prince William Sound Region

• Ginny Fay, Eco-Systems: Economic and Ecological Research
• Sep 01, 2005

The communities of the Sound range from small Native villages to the city of Valdez, the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. While representing a diverse array, all communities struggle for economic opportunities for their residents, especially the challenge of providing job opportunities for young people. The region experiences the impacts of global economic fluctuations that affect fish and oil prices and peoples’ propensity to travel, and has experienced overwhelming catastrophic events such as the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill and 1964 earthquake.

The goals of this project are to:

• Identify opportunities and challenges to diversify and grow the Prince William Sound economy while improving the quality of life for Prince William Sound residents and maintaining the exceptional natural environment.
• Help foster and strengthen partnerships for economic development.
• Consider new pathways to a prosperous economic future.