For more information visit the link below:
http://www.wrangell.com/projects/articles/index.cfm?Project=6
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Wrangell Chamber of Commerce Projects
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES & THREATS
(SWOT) RESULTS
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The Chamber started this process in 2008 to provide goals for a long term strategic plan. Please take a few minutes to list some opportunities and threats you feel are facing us as a community…Thanks!
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Strengths
Muskeg Meadows Golf Course
Parks & Rec
Exercise Classes/Salt Water Pool/Racquet Ball Quart/Water Aerobics
Theater/Nolan Center Tech /Convention Center/Museum
Elks Lodge/Bowling Alley
Walk able
Retreat
Wrangell Chamber of Commerce Web site
Sense of Community, Friendly,
Trails
Safety/No gangs
Scouting
Family Outings
Grocery Delivery
Variety Churches to choose from/ Youth Group through churches
Tlingit History
Flight Lessons
Accessibility, Alaska air/ ferries
Medical, Fire dept response
Hunting/Fishing
Wrangell Public Schools/ High School sporting activities/Parents welcomed at school/Good wholesome education (92% college rate) / Educational Opportunities (kids)
Youth court/ Community Softball League/ Cub Scouts/Little League
Subs/volunteers
Village raising a child
Community advocate – special needs
Community taking care of its own
Elderly- Cisco
Boat haul out / Harbor / Yachts
Music – community choir/arts council drama
Boys and Girls Club/Summer Rec
Wrangell Wellness Group
Quilters Guild
Workshops and Classes for scrap booking through Snap N Scrap
Wrangell Art Council
Community Choral Choir
Camping
Medivac – quick
Alaska Marine Highway
Friends of the Tongass
Swimming lessons
Tongass National forest
Stikine River/Anan Bear Observatory/ Petroglyphs Beach
Public Library /Free Internet/local history and research info( Highest per capita used libraries in state )/Summer Reading classes
James and Elsie Nolan Center and Museum/Friends of the Museum
Elderly driving lessons to lower insurance
Culture classes
4th of July Community Celebrations
Bike paths
Front Street revitalizing of Front Street as an asset to Wrangell
Fiber optics
Accessable Fresh seafood
Irene Ingle Public Library & Friends of the Library ( Highest per capita used libraries in state)
Roads to drive
Basketball court
Charitable & Volunteer organization groups
Lions Club
Alaska Native Sisterhood/Alaska Native Brotherhood
Emblem Club
American Legion Auxiliary
Ministerial Associations
Salvation Army food bank
Convention & Visitor Bureau
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Weaknesses
Lack of involvement with the State Chamber;
Lack of involvement with local Chambers
Lack of community awareness
Supporting and siding with politics.
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Opportunity
Attracting independent travelers
Our proximity to British Columbia
Closed logging roads that could be fantastic hiking trails/ 4 wheel trails.
Our wonderful hospitable residents.
Developing Coho run in Virginia lake will benefit commercial and charts.
Attracting Youth (IE) High school students for possible extra credit for attending “Get the youth involved”
Attracting telecommuter to Wrangell.
Increasing Wellness and livability.
Attracting telecommuter to move to Wrangell.
Wrangell has low crime, excellent education (2nd rated in state), cheap real estate, broad band, clean water, clean air, family oriented, great outdoors activities, and friendly atmosphere.
Exploit the “Marine Service Center” there are very, very few skilled workers available to work on vessel repair and maintenance in S.E.
Wrangell, by far, has the highest concentration of skilled young(ish), and ambitious marine service technicians.
This yard has brought in at least 800, 00.00 to 1, 000,000.00 in outside gross revenue per year spread out over all vendors. This did not exists three years ago.
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Threats
Lower population base
Logging restrictions
The Alaska marine Highway system and Their Schedule.
Un enforced building codes/zoning.
Un enforced leash law that results in dogs challenging visitors and residents
Wrangell is perceived as a non team member. Wrangell needs to work with other communities for the good of region– i.e. energy grid in southeast
Lack of Community Participation. (To many empty seats)
Lack of Creativity
Less Jobs and less population
Negative/non supportive attitude
No full time laborer positions
Expensive travel
Indifference/Objection to change and modification or the community or community infrastructure
Not grabbing or exploiting opportunities as they arise, because “it’s a dirty little town and we like it that way”
Do not be insular, be willing to think outside the box
If you would like to add to this list in any category send your input to the Wrangell Chamber email at wrangellchamber@gmail.com.