■ The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon Feb. 24 at Froso’s Restaurant in Soldotna. A presentation by Peninsula Community Health Services is planned. RSVP to 262-9814.
■ The Kenai Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon Wednesday at the Kenai Visitors Center. An update on the Grant Lake Hyrdo Project from Mike Salzetti, Manager of Fuel and Supply and Renewable Development for Homer Electric Association, is planned. RSVP to 283-1991.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough has been awarded “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” for its budget. This is the 21st year that the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has given the award to the Borough, which annually demonstrates the significant achievement and reflects the commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.
Craig Chapman, KPB Finance Director, accepted the award on behalf of his department’s achievements.
The borough was one of 1,424 entities that received the award. As stated by Mayor Mike Navarre, “This significant award reminds us that Mr. Chapman and the finance department staff work diligently and professionally to assure the highest standard of financial stewardship at the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The Finance Department sets the standard that all Borough staff strive to practice as stewards of local public funds.”
In order to receive the budget award, the borough had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the borough’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device. Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.
Homer Electric Association is accepting nominations from members interested in running for a seat on the cooperative’s Board of Directors. The cooperative’s Board is made up of nine directors, three from each of the three districts that make up the service area.
This year, the District 1 (Kenai-Nikiski-parts of Soldotna) seat held by Kenai resident David Thomas will be on the ballot. In District 2 (Soldotna-Sterling-Kasilof area) the seat currently held by Soldotna resident Dave Carey will be up for election. In District 3 (Kasilof-Homer-Seldovia area), HEA members will vote for the seat currently held by Jim Levine of Homer.
HEA directors are elected by district, with members voting only for the director in their respective district.
Members interested in being on the ballot must fill out a Candidacy Packet that requires the candidate to gather at least 15 signatures from current HEA members that live in the district where the candidate resides. The Candidacy Packet is available at HEA offices in Kenai and Homer and online at www.homerelectric.com
The deadline to submit the Candidacy Packet is 5 p.m. on March 6. Completed packets can be dropped off at either the Kenai or Homer HEA office.
Ballots will be mailed out to HEA members on April 3, and the results will be tabulated and announced at the Annual Meeting on May 7 at Homer High School. For additional information contact Joe Gallagher at 907-283-2324
The Kenai Peninsula Builders Association will be hosting their 13th Annual Builders Jeopardy, presented by Wisdom and Associates. The event will be held on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Paradisos Restaurant. All members and guests are welcome to attend. Seating is limited. Please call the KPBA at 283-8071 to RSVP, or for more information.
The Kenai Junior Achievement Committee has put together a raffle fundraiser for the 2014-2015 school year. Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Tickets are $10 each and all proceeds benefit Junior Achievement programs on the Kenai Peninsula. Winning tickets will be drawn on March, 21, 2015 at the Kenai River Brown Bears hockey game. You need not be present to win. First place is $1,000, Second place is $600 and third place is $400.
To purchase tickets, please contact Janet Johnson at johnsoja@denalifcu.com or 907-257-1669 or Renee Rybak at r.rybak@alaskausa.org or 907-395-4505.
Small business workshops will be offered in Fairbanks and by webinar around the state.
The series is hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, UAF Community and Technical College and the Alaska Small Business Development Center.
Extension economic development specialist Kathryn Dodge said the workshops will provide guidance to small business owners interested in starting or expanding their businesses. Participants may attend one or all of the workshops. Topics include:
— Writing a business plan, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 19
— Creating a one-page business model canvas, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 12
Classes will be taught in Room 216 of the UAF Community and Technical College at 604 Barnette St. and by videoconference at the Anchorage Extension district office at 1675 C St. Anyone who wishes to connect by desktop may contact Dodge at 907-474-6497 or kdodge@alaska.edu.
Each class costs $25. Register online at http://bit.ly/ces-workshops. Instructors will include Kimberlee Hayward of the Small Business Development Center, accountant Paul Robinson, Scott Swingle of the Small Business Administration and Dodge. See details about the classes at www.uaf.edu/ces.
Sponsors include the Fairbanks Economic Development Corp., the Small Business Administration, Paul Robinson and Associates, and SCORE.
The following job skills workshops will be offered at the Peninsula Job Center the week of Feb. 23:
Monday, Feb. 23 — No classes scheduled
Tuesday, Feb. 24 — 10:30 a.m., Career Ready 101 Lab
Wednesday, Feb. 25 — 9 a.m., WorkKeys® Testing; 3 p.m. Job Search Strategies for the Ex-Offender
Thursday, Feb. 26 — 10:30 a.m., Interviewing Skills Workshop
Friday, Feb. 27 — No workshops offered
All workshop are free of charge to the public.
Those interested in attending any workshops offered at the Peninsula Job Center can reserve space by clicking on the “Schedule Workshops” option located on the main screen in your ALEXsys account (www.jobs.alaska.gov), call 335-3010, or visit the job center located in Kenai at 11312 Kenai Spur Hwy., Suite #2. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding state and federal holidays.
Have you opened a new business, moved to a new location, hired a new person or promoted an employee?
Send us your information at news@peninsulaclarion.com, fax it to 907-283-3299, or drop it by the Clarion at 150 Trading Bay in Kenai.
Questions? Call 907-335-1251.
Business announcements may be submitted to news@peninsulaclarion.com. Items should be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication.
