Ship Schedule

The Chamber has published the 2010 Cruise Ship Schedule for the Port of Seward. Available for download on our membership page, the schedule reflects 53 total calls, with 8 eight of those being Ports of Call. In terms of ship capacity, based on published passenger capacity, we appear to have lost a potential 31,718 visitors [...]

Seward Job Center/AVTEC Annual JOB FAIR – April 5, 2010

Please accept the Seward Job Center and AVTEC’s invitation to participate in our annual Spring Job Fair on Monday April 5, 2010.
FREE Booth Space and Free Lunch!
The job fair is opened to the public. The location is the AVTEC Student Center at 519 Fourth Avenue from 12:30 to 3:00 pm. It is a [...]

Railroad plans include new restroom, dredging, and undisclosed coal facility improvements

(By Heidi Zemach for SCN)
The Alaska Railroad held an open house at the Breeze Inn in Seward Friday, Feb 19. Alaska Railroad Chief Engineer and Vice President of Engineering Tom Brooks gave an update of the railroad’s capital project program plans for the upcoming year at the Seward Chamber of Commerce, Conference and Visitor’s Bureau [...]

Power Outage Update III

Hello again everyone!!
One more email before I RUN AWAY from my desk for the evening. It looks like the city may have to generate power into tomorrow, Saturday. We ask everyone to try and conserve as much electricity as possible and turn off all non-essential lights and appliances. The cost to the City of generating [...]

Seward Library Hosts Community Discourse

Friday night was dark, slick and rainy in Seward. In spite of the weather, nine brave souls came to the library eager to discuss their concerns about America’s Economy. Bill Hall from University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension and June Pinnell-Stephens from the Alaska Library Association led the discussion based on [...]

Council rejects fee increases on harbor properties, maintains $5 parking fees

By Heidi Zemach for Seward City News
At Monday’s regular meeting the Seward City Council discussed, but rejected for the time being a proposal instituting a two-percent increase in fees on the city’s rental properties. The city’s 37 property leases along the harbor are due for their mandatory five-year reappraisal, where a Fair Market Value is [...]

Jackson, Morgan, & Hunt contribute to Seward’s library/museum project

By Nancy Erickson
The Seward Community Library Museum Project closed out its growing list of corporate donors in 2009 with a generous donation from Seattle-based accounting firm Jackson, Morgan & Hunt, PLLC.
According to a recent SCLM newsletter, cost of the new co-located facility is estimated to be $10 million, which covers expenses ranging from planning to [...]

City Council Addresses Coal Issues

(Heidi Zemach for Seward City News)

Coal dominated the Seward City Council meeting Monday, Jan 25th, as nearby, coal-filled trains pulled up to the Seward waterfront coal transfer facility, steadily growing a 90,000 ton-plus coal pile as it was loaded onto a waiting ship. The council unanimously agreed to undertake a community-wide ambient air [...]

Second Installment: KWF’s Seward Connection

The Kenai Watershed Forum (KWF) is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to maintaining the health of the watersheds on the Kenai Peninsula. KWF is recognized as the regional watershed organization of the Kenai Peninsula. KWF is building strong Seward relationships and is working on several projects in the local Seward area. KWF’s mission is working [...]

Kenai Watershed Forum – First Installment: Who We Are & What We Do

The Kenai Watershed Forum (KWF) is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to maintaining the health of the watersheds on the Kenai Peninsula. KWF is recognized as the regional watershed organization of the Kenai Peninsula, successfully identifying and addressing the needs of the region by providing high quality education, restoration, and research programs. KWF’s mission is [...]

Council votes to extend Seward Ship’s Drydock lease another 30 years

By Heidi Zemach for SCN
Seward City Council voted unanimously Monday night to authorize the city manager to extend the contract to Jim Pruitt for Seward Ship’s Drydock, Inc at Seward Marine Industrial Center through 2040. Councilmember Robert Valdatta was absent for the meeting, but all of the others voted for a 30-year lease extension that [...]

Successful Donations for Pick.Click.Give

In an update from the PFD Charitable Contributions Program, www.PickClickGive.org, they report the following:
“The number of people who have successfully filed a charitable donation to eligible Alaska nonprofits through the PFD Charitable Contributions Program, also known as Pick Click Give., has shot up in the hours since the State reported that the technical problems had [...]

Dry Dock Lease to be Extended

“Lessee may, at its option, extend the Lease Term for one or more additional periods which shall not, in total, exceed 31 years”

Resolution 2010-002, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into Amendment No. 4 To The Ground Lease With Seward Ship’s Drydock, Inc. For The Real Property Described As Lots 1-A And 3, Block 7, [...]

Seward’s Winter Treasure Hunt

Win over $400 in gift certificates each week from local merchants by participating in Seward’s Winter Treasure Hunt! The contest runs weekly through the end of February. Visit any of the businesses listed below to pick up a treasure map, get your map stamped by at least 10 places, fill out the entry form on [...]

Good News and Bad for Seward Tourism

(By Heidi Zemach, for SCN)
Three-thousand independent travelers on the website TripAdvisor have given Seward top billing as a tourist destination for 2010. TripAdvisor, an Internet website much used for vacation planning, announced Wednesday, Dec 9 that its yearly travel trends survey of U.S. travelers had chosen Seward first among its top five U.S. Destinations for [...]

Alaska Logistics to expand Seward operation

(By Heidi Zemach for Seward City News)
The Seward City Council has agreed to have City Manager Phillip Oates negotiate a lease with Alaska Logistics, LLC, to construct a large vessel maintenance, repair and storage enclosure at the Seward Marine Industrial Center in support of their Western Alaska Barge Service. Alaska Logistics has operated a barge service [...]

Holiday Train Cancelled- Craft Fair Still a Go

Unfortunately, the Alaska Railroad, in concern for the safety of passengers and operators, has cancelled the Holiday Train to Seward (scheduled for this weekend). The decision was made late today (Thursday afternoon), after consideration of the weekend weather forecast by the President of the Railroad. The many significant factors impacting this decision are summarized below.
o [...]

City Passes GF Budget, Will Replace Fleets Aging Vehicles

(by Heidi Zemach for Seward City News)

Photo: budget bloodletting

The “bloodletting” known as the annual budget process has officially ended, and Monday night the Seward City Council approved a $9.8 million General Fund Budget for 2010, and $9.9 million for 2011, which retain the property tax rate at 3.12 mills. The council also passed a [...]

Council favors reopening lease with Seward Ship’s Drydock

By Heidi Zemach for SCN
The Seward City Council recently told City Manager Phillip Oates to proceed with negotiations with Seward Ship’s Drydock, Inc to determine specific capital improvements that the shipyard wants to make, and whether they are appropriate for a lease extension beyond its current 2029 expiration. The shipyards managers are seeking assurance that [...]

Shop Local Events

Seward Merchants are hosting the next Friday Night Art Walk on December 11th, just in time to do your holiday shopping. Watch for other December traditions including our holiday movie, tree lighting, and specials and activities around town.
For more event information, contact the Chamber at 224-8051 or by email.

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