ANCHORAGE – Mayor Ethan Berkowitz announced that the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment awarded the Municipality of Anchorage a grant for $273,452. Last week, Anchorage received notification that grant funds will be made available to assist the Municipality in assessing potential economic impacts of a troop draw down of the 4-25 Brigade at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Mayor Berkowitz contacted the Office of Economic Adjustment Director Pat O’Brien the day the force reduction was announced in July to jumpstart a conversation about assistance available to local governments experiencing force reduction impacts. At the same time, Mayor Berkowitz formed the Base Economic Analysis and Review (BEAR) group to both continue to fight 4-25 reductions and formulate a plan to mitigate economic impact should those reductions become a reality. Ric Solander from the Office of Economic Adjustment met with the BEAR group last week to discuss the next steps for the Municipality.
“We will continue working with the Governor and our Congressional delegation to halt these harmful cuts and reductions, but that will not stop us from properly planning for any potential economic setbacks,” said Mayor Berkowitz.
The grant application requested funds for two primary purposes: an economic impact analysis of the personnel reduction on Anchorage and a project coordinator who will coordinate with the Mayor’s Office and the BEAR group to oversee the economic analysis RFP.
For more information, contact Myer Hutchinson at (907) 343-7133.
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