OPINION: Fixing Alaska’s outmigration problem

Alaska’s outmigration fix is logically simple, but it will take vision, passion and commitment to implement. I appreciated Larry Persily’s ADN commentary (Jan. 12) , “Alaska’s outmigration problem needs fixing soon,” in which he identified a fundamental problem and proposed, indirectly, several solutions, including investing in education, housing, child care and better economic opportunities. Whether it’s creating private-sector jobs in rural Alaska or making room for additional squadrons at Eielson AFB, without a stock of decent housing, you can’t keep workers and their families whose presence necessitates educators and service providers of every type.

The solution to attracting and retaining a population is not government giveaways but a strong and diversified economy across Alaska that is not dependent upon one primary industry. Alaska can be an economic giant if we had the vision and willpower to get there. It will require incentives and investments in translating our vast energy resources into affordable energy across the state. It will require a commitment to reduce permitting time for resource development. Recent federal legislation and the president’s verbal commitments require America’s manufacturers to source minerals and metals in America or its allies; however, because the federal government, environmental groups and lawsuits continue to block every effort to get our resources into production, jobs that Alaskans would have are transferred elsewhere, increasing the impoverishment of Alaskans and the continued outmigration.

A diversified economy requires roads to connect our communities to encourage commerce. It’s cheaper to drive a truck loaded with widgets than to fly between communities. Alaska loses many bright entrepreneurs because it can kickstart its businesses in states where communities are connected by roads. Why shouldn’t bright people move where market forces and entrepreneurship are encouraged? We need a western seaport to capture the trade transiting northern sea routes and rail that connects that port to the Lower 48, thereby reducing transfer times for goods and providing the means to encourage manufacturing and industrial production in Alaska.

To many people, such talk is unthinkable. But, if we don’t grow, we perish. If we remain dependent upon other people’s money, we’re not a sovereign state but remain wards of the federal government. Ironically, we’ve convinced the military to locate in Alaska because Alaska is closer to every place it needs to project military power — but we’ve not made the public connection that the same could be true of projecting economic power. This session, encourage the administration and Legislature to convene meetings with industry, financiers, entrepreneurs, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporations, tribal leaders and the public to come up with a common vision and the incentives, infrastructure and deadlines to make it happen.

The cure to outmigration from Alaska begins with a passionate vision for Alaska. We need our elected officials and our citizens to agree to the equivalent task of landing a man on the moon in this decade.

Doug Isaacson is a former mayor and legislator. He is currently the CEO of Minto Development Corp.

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