Opponents worried it would scare away the main growth industry in town. Whether tourism cuts back or continues to grow, it is part of an economy much different from significant parts of Juneau's history, when most people worked in one area mining or government. Tourism, a resurgence in mining and a growing number of large stores has made Juneau a town with more private than government jobs, said outgoing JEDC Director Charlie Northrip. And a growth area few imagined at the decade's start is developing electronic commerce. Some hope new cables connecting to the Lower 48 will make Juneau a center of high-tech activity.
Diversification is still the name of our economic development game here.
The Juneau Empire.