Chambers set schedules
■ The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce meets at noon today at Froso’s Restaurant. A presentation by Melanie Dufour with Alaska Coastal Studies is planned. RSVP to 907-262-9814.
■ The Kenai Chamber of Commerce will not meet this week. For more information, call 283-1991.
HEA board nomination period open
Homer Electric Association (HEA) 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 Dan Chay will be on the ballot. In District 2 (Soldotna-Sterling-Kasilof area) the seat currently held by Soldotna resident Ed Oberts will be up for election. In District 3 (Kasilof-Homer-Seldovia area), HEA members will vote for the seat currently held by Bill Fry 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 4. Completed packets can be dropped off at either the Kenai or Homer HEA office.
Ballots will be mailed out to HEA members on April 1 and the results will be tabulated and announced at the Annual Meeting on May 4 at Kenai Central High School.
Pesticide certification training offered
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will offer three-day training sessions for pesticide applicators in February and in April.
The first session will be offered by videoconference April 25-27 in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Soldotna, Palmer, Delta Junction and other communities as requested. Classes will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an exam scheduled after the training. Extension agents and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation personnel will teach the classes.
The state requires certification for anyone who uses or sells restricted pesticides. Certification is also required for anyone who is a pesticide consultant, engages in the commercial or contract use of pesticides or supervises their use at a public location.
The training costs $55 and includes the exam and necessary study materials, which are available at Extension offices or by mail. Register for either class online at http://bit.ly/ces-workshops or at local Extension offices. Participants are encouraged to become familiar with the materials and math needed prior to the training.
For more information and to request another training location, contact Janice Chumley at 907-262-5824 or jichumley@alaska.edu.
Small business workshops scheduled
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host a series of eight small business workshops by videoconference in Anchorage and Delta Junction, beginning Jan. 28.
The UAF Cooperative Extension Service and the UAF Community and Technical College will host the series, which is also offered by webinar around the state. The workshops provide guidance to small business owners in keeping records, calculating taxes, writing a business plan and using social media. Topics and workshop dates include:
— Feb. 11, Starting a small business, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
— Feb. 18, Writing a business plan, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
— Feb. 25, Record keeping and taxes for artists and artisans, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
— March 12, Beginning social media and mobile marketing, 10 a.m. to noon
— March 19, Intermediate social media and mobile marketing, 10 a.m. to noon
— March 19, How to develop ideas into businesses, 1-3 p.m.
Each class is $25. Register online at http://bit.ly/ces-workshops. Anyone who wishes to participate via webinar may contact Kathryn Dodge at 907-474-6497 or kdodge@alaska.edu. Instructors will include an accountant, and financial and media experts. See details about the classes at www.uaf.edu/ces/sbd.
American Seafoods offers grants
The Community Advisory Board of American Seafoods Company, one of the nation’s largest seafood harvesters and processors, is now accepting applications for its Alaska community grant program. The deadline to submit applications is February 12.
Since its inception in 1997, the board has granted over $1,300,000 to organizations and programs in Alaska. The CAB meets three times a year to distribute awards.
A total of $38,000 will be allocated by the board to community projects addressing issues such as hunger, housing, safety, education, research, natural resources and cultural activities. The majority of grant awards range from $500 to $3,000 per organization. Grant recipients will be selected at the American Seafoods CAB meeting on Feb. 23.
The board evaluates each proposal based on the following criteria: the need in the community, project benefits, the number of people who will benefit from the program, and the ability to garner additional funding.
Contribution request forms are available online at http://americanseafoodscompany.com/about /news, or by contacting Kim Lynch at kim.lynch@americanseafoods.com or 206-256-2659. Completed contribution request forms should be returned to Ms. Lynch at American Seafoods using the above email, faxed to 206-448-0202, or postal mail at 2025 1st Ave, Ste 900, Seattle, WA, 98121.
What’s new in your business?
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.
