Kathy Hosford and Rep. Cathy Muñoz at the Chilkoot Trail Outpost in Dyea, August 4, 2011.

Trip to Skagway shows economic promise of northern Southeast Alaska and Yukon

By Rep. Cathy Muñoz

Southeast Alaska and Western Canada are blessed with lands of vast mineral potential.

On a recent trip to Skagway, I had the pleasure of touring the Skagway Ore Terminal, a strategically important facility for developing mineral resources in the Yukon Territory. As the closest deep-water port, Skagway plays a key role in expanded shipment to worldwide markets.

The Alaska Legislature last session passed HB 119 to grant bonding authority to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to expand the ore terminal. AIDEA owns the facility, but it contracts the operation to Mineral Services, Inc., a Skagway company owned by Dave Hunz, who says the project will add many desperately needed year-round jobs to his town’s economy.

Alaska is working cooperatively with the Yukon government on developing the “Skagway Gateway Project” as well as work-force development and cross-border employment.

Driven by record high gold prices, recent discoveries, and the release of positive drilling results, the estimated $150 million in Yukon exploration expenditures in 2010 exceeded the previous record of almost $145 million in 2007. In 2010 alone, there were more than 130 hard-rock exploration projects in the territory.

To top off a great trip, which also included a tour of the Skagway Harbor and lunch aboard the Coral Princess, I met up with a friend, Kathy Hosford, and had the pleasure of staying at her lodge in Dyea, the Chilkoot Trail Outpost.

Kathy is a terrific host, and her place is topnotch. If you go to Skagway or Dyea, please consider staying at her place. It is truly beautiful and a great Alaska experience.