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Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Cassidi Cameron, left, and Tim Dillon stand in Dillon’s office at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District on Dec. 12 near Kenai.

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KPEDD director prepares to pass the torch

Tim Dillon to step down as head of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District at the end of…

Tim Dillon, executive director of KPEDD, presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Assembly boosts funding for economic development

The additional money will help KPEDD cover matching costs for projects

A broken culvert is twisted beneath Funny River Road on Friday, May 5, 2023, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo via Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management)

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Funny River Road reopens after washout

A chunk of the road collapsed at Mile 8

Dustin Aaronson, who owns Copy Cats Printing and Design in Kenai, speaks in support of a storefront improvement program during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Kenai creates storefront improvement grant program

The program has not yet gone live

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee John Boyle presents information about carbon capture, utilization and storage during a Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday, April 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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State officials tout carbon capture initiatives at chamber chat

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee John Boyle attended Friday’s Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon

Soldotna City Council members and Soldotna Planning and Zoning commissioners meet for a joint work session on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Soldotna considers new commercial zoning district for downtown corridor

The zone would prioritize walkability, ‘visually pleasing’ aesthetics

Alaska Association of Realtors President Dale Bagely presents a regional real estate update during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s 2022 Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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KPEDD forum to offer overview of peninsula economic projects

The all-day forum will feature panels on topics including mariculture, oil and gas, food sustainability, tourism and broadband

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

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Cyber Monday sales taxes to boost local government budgets

The ability of taxing entities to collect sales tax from online, or e-commerce, sellers is a new phenomenon

Graphic by Ashlyn O'Hara.

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State minimum wage to increase $0.51 in January

The federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009

KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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KPEDD urges participation in federal broadband survey

The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District is asking for people on the Kenai Peninsula to help the federal…

Signs warn Fred Meyer customers to prepay if they thing they may go over limits while pumping gas on Friday, March 11, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Analysis: Inflation is up in Alaska

Alaska’s 2021 average inflation rate was the largest annual price increase since 1990

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs Alaska’s fiscal year 2023 operating and capital budgets into law on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office)

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Dunleavy signs budget

$3,200 in payments to Alaskans, money for local projects included

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander (left) and Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank (right) moderate a city council work session discussing budget goals at Kenai City Hall on Monday, Jan. 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Kenai developing budget goals

Officials aim to provide more transparency in the budget process

Alaska Association of Realtors President Dale Bagely presents a regional real estate update during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s 2022 Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Forum brings industry leaders to Kenai

The annual event is hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District

Image via labor.alaska.gov

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Uncertainty clouds future of state’s economy; modest job growth expected

That’s according to the January edition of “Alaska Economic Trends”

KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Industry outlook forum kicks off next week

The annual forum is put on by the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District

A sign advertising job openings is seen at the Soldotna Post Office on June 27, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Clarion file)

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Region sees some economic recovery; job numbers still lag overall

The Kenai Peninsula reported 500 more jobs in November 2021 compared to November 2020.

A graphic published in the October 2021 edition of Trends, published by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, shows how women’s shares of the workforce and wages in Alaska varied by area in 2019. (Image via labor.alaska.gov)

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Report: Alaska women’s pay lags

On average, women earned about 72% of what men earned in Alaska in 2019.

KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Building opportunity from the ground up

Development district works with local operations to hone goals, find funding.

(Black Press file photo)

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Peninsula rental rates some of state’s lowest

The median rent payment on the Kenai Peninsula Borough was about $1,009 in 2020 and about $1,023 in…