The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District (KPEDD), a private non-government resource, enhances the quality of life for Borough residents through responsible and sustainable regional economic development. As the first federal Economic Development District designated in Alaska, as well as the first Alaska Regional Development Organization or ARDOR, KPEDD has actively pursued development opportunities for the region.
“Business is booming on the Kenai Peninsula, in large part due to the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District (KPEDD), one of only four federally recognized business districts in Alaska.”
“In the very beginning, we needed a lot of help with the licensing process; it was a big hurdle to get around the cumbersome regulations, and I was getting stonewalled throughout the process,” Douthit explains. “KPEDD were able to help point us in the right direction and to make contact with the people we needed to reach, which was integral to us starting the business.”
“They really are just genuine, great people to talk to, and they really want to see small businesses succeeding, which is awesome,” she said. “Working with them has kind of made it feel like this is possible.”
“They made initial introductions with AVTEC when we first came into Seward, which has really helped out across all trades of our operation,” says Jagielski. “Tim Dillon [KPEDD] is usually our first call when we get into situations where we need assistance.”
Alaska Regional Development Organization (ARDOR)
The State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development certified KPEDD as an ARDOR in 1989
Economic Development District (EDD)
The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) recognized KPEDD as an EDD in 1988