Sitka Shipyard Support
Dear Editor: Sitka has the opportunity to invest in its future and can do so by voting yes on Proposition 2 in support of the creation of a shipyard.
A shipyard is so much bigger than hauling boats. As someone who has spent months if not years added up doing work in shipyards I can confidently speak to the broad range of economic activity associated with the time spent with a boat out of the water. What starts with a fee to haul your vessel turns into daily electrical costs, daily storage costs, countless hours of paid labor, major money spent on materials, service providers, fabricators, etc.
Then in the time you are not working on your boat you are ordering pizza, buying beer, driving back and forth to town more than you ever thought possible and taking advantage of every tradesman, laborer, materials and sustenance you can get your hands on to get your project done. It translates to thousands of dollars spent with local businesses and each of those dollars generate sales tax that returns to the city.
Sitka’s maritime activity is broad and growing. With the recent boom in tourism, long range and day based charter vessels are increasing as are yachts, personal watercraft, sailboats and of course our extensive commercial fishing fleet. All of these vessels whether as businesses or as pleasure boats need regular maintenance which includes annual or every two- to three-year haulouts.
With the closure of Halibut Point Marine vessels are now forced to travel to distant communities such as Juneau, Hoonah or Wrangell and put their name on a list that can sometimes be a one- to three-year wait for the work they need done. If this community wants to maintain its robust maritime industries, we need the infrastructure to support them.
Even if you do not own a boat, the benefits of a community shipyard will reach you in the form of city tax revenue which directly feeds all city/community infrastructure and services. It will also increase job opportunities, expand current and future businesses in sectors ranging from carpentry, welding and fabrication to clothing stores and restaurants.
A shipyard creates opportunities for our next generations to learn important trades which are strong, stable, good paying careers and services that our community needs.
The possibilities are endless, and this proposition is an investment in a growing and strong future for our economy. Please vote yes on Proposition 2 in support of a Sitka Shipyard.
Lauren Mitchell, Sitka
Correction
In Wednesday’s Sentinel front page story on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to invest $25 million across Southeast Alaska, it was incorrectly stated that Spruce Root is a subsidiary of Sealaska. Spruce Root is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization founded in 2012 and is based in Juneau.
The Sentinel regrets the error.
