Brian Holst joins Capital Chat to discuss the impact of the Cruise Industry on Juneau and the upcoming Innovation Summit. JEDC is governed by an 11-person Board of Directors—including permanent seats held by the Juneau Mayor and the Chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast, plus nine other diverse thought leaders and industry experts appointed by the CBJ Assembly. Brian Holst has served as the JEDC Executive Director since 2008 and drives strategic development, management of the institution’s human and financial resources, and implementation of the Board’s long-term vision.

JEDC has a long history of supporting economic development in Juneau and the Southeast region of Alaska. Since October 2010, the JEDC has led an industry, cluster-based planning approach to the Southeast Alaska region. JEDC’s Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative continues to successfully unite private sector industry clusters with federal, state, and local agencies, university faculty, trade association representatives, economic development organizations, community leaders, and other stakeholders to address industry needs, concerns, and opportunities on a collaborative basis.

JEDC hosts the Innovation Summit, a national award-winning annual innovation-centered conference gathering hundreds of Alaskan professionals across all disciplines, which hosts a diverse array of presenters, performances, and experiences designed to foster relationships and inspire new perspectives. Programming includes the Innovation Summit Pitch Contest, where selected entrepreneurs pitch their business innovations to a diverse group of peers, investors, and leaders for a chance to win a crowdfunded cash prize. All participants receive mentor support.

The Southeast Alaska Revolving Loan Fund was launched by JEDC in 1997. The fund provides loans to startup and expanding businesses with a focus on job creation. JEDC has made over 200 loans to a wide range of small businesses in the region, using seed capital from local government, earned income, and federal loan sources (like USDA Rural Development). JEDC provides technical assistance to businesses in areas such as financial planning, marketing, and operations.

Wearable Art Extravaganza: CAMP!

Join us for the 2026 Wearable Art Extravaganza: CAMP! Outrageous. Outdoorsy. Out-Of-This-World.

SHOWTIMES
Saturday, February 14 at 8PM, doors open at 7PM
Sunday, February 15 at 3PM, doors open at 2PM

Featuring a runway show and a curated silent auction, Wearable Art is a major fundraiser for the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council and a celebration of creativity.

Tickets can be purchased online (click the tickets link in this event), by calling 907-586-2787, or visiting the Juneau Arts & Culture Center.

For more information, visit: www.jahc.org/wearable-art/

The Juneau Jazz Fest will host world-class jazz performers alongside school jazz groups and adult jazz fans to learn, play, and appreciate America's Music...Jazz. The festival encompasses a series of clinics, performances tailored for both schools and the public, and collaborative presentations featuring artists, students, and local performers. Juneau Jazz Fest is a partnership between Juneau Jazz & Classics and the Juneau School District. Kyle Athayde, Bob Athayde and Henry Plum join Capital Chat to perform!

The Gastineau Channel Little League registration is open! The League is governed by Little League International and is one of the largest youth sports organization in Juneau. In 2024 we had 38 teams with 439 players and more than 100 adult volunteers.

The objective of GCLL and Little League shall be to implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority, so that they may be well adjusted, stronger and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy and trustworthy citizens. To keep our fees low and involve as many children as possible we rely on community support. Assistance for our program comes from a Youth Activity Board grant from the City of Juneau, Home Run Card Sales, registrations, and many generous Juneau sponsors.

This program is partially funded by the citizens of the City and Borough of Juneau through sales tax revenues.

The purpose of the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce is to develop, advance and promote the economic, industrial, commercial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of the Juneau area. The objective is to improve the business climate and make this community more prosperous, more ecologically attractive and more desirable as a place to work, live and shop.

In these pursuits, the Chamber seeks to provide leadership for political action on business issues and a forum for the exchange of member ideas.

In addition to the Board of Directors the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce has, as its members, hundreds of diverse businesses, organizations, and individuals dedicated to improving and sustaining Juneau’s economy.

These dedicated civic leaders are part of a dynamic volunteer network that incorporates the Juneau Chamber’s committees, works with regulatory agencies, state and local government, and business professionals in maintaining Juneau’s high quality of life and economic diversity.

Please call or stop by if you have any questions or are interested in learning more about the Chamber of Commerce. We have various resources on hand, including local business maps, directories, and membership forms

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) is asking Juneau residents to share what city services they value most by taking the CBJ Community Compass Survey before mid-February. Community feedback collected through this survey will help inform the CBJ assembly’s budgeting process this spring.

Following the passage of Proposition 2 (sales tax exemptions) in the October 7, 2025 Regular Municipal Election, significant reductions in sales tax revenue are expected to necessitate service-level cuts to the city’s annual budget. With the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process gearing up, CBJ seeks to understand community funding priorities and values to inform decision-making both this year, and into the future, through the CBJ Community Compass survey and outreach initiative.

This effort will include an online survey, in-person workshops, and Assembly listening sessions exploring what CBJ services are most important to the community. The survey and workshops ask residents where they are willing to make tradeoffs and what is critical to their quality of life in Juneau.

Juneau residents who complete the survey will have a chance to choose from a suite of CBJ passes and prizes. Only one survey response per person is permitted. The survey is administered by Rain Coast Data. All responses will remain confidential and reported to CBJ in summary form.

Learn more about how to join a workshop and provide your input in the upcoming CBJ budgeting process by visiting juneau.org/community-compass.

Joe Sehert joins Capital Chat to discuss the Shrine of St. Therese Annual Fundraiser and Auction happening on January 31st. The fundraiser is an essential part of the Shrine’s budget. It helps maintain 14,000 sq. ft. of gardens, 46 acres, 10 buildings, over 1 mile of trails, 2 miles of roads and parking lots. The Shrine is self-sustaining and receives no supplemental financial support.

Charlotte Truitt and Conductor Brad Hogarth join Capital Chat to talk about the first concert of the 2026 season, Resurgence & Rediscovery.

Brahms Symphony No. 1

Juneau-Douglas High School Auditorium
1639 Glacier Ave, Juneau, 99801

Program:

• Farrenc – Overture No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 24​​​​
• Grieg – Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
  • Soloist: Alexander Tutunov

—Intermission—

• Brahms – Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68This program shines a light on Romantic voices both familiar and rediscovered. Farrenc's spirited

Overture No. 2 reclaims its rightful place in the repertoire, while Juneau's beloved visiting pianist, Alexander Tutunov, brings brilliance to Grieg's iconic concerts. Brahms' First Symphony crowns the evening with intensity, dignity, and perseverance.