AEDC | 5
ployment and constant economic growth.
“Since 1989, Anchorage has experienced
continuous 2 percent job growth with the
only exception being 2009.” Popp goes on to
add, “2009 was a self-inflicted wound. Our
business people and community being cau-
tious by nature were seeing the national news
and were pulling back in the anticipation of
potential effects in Alaska which never man-
ifested. The fundamentals in Alaska are very
strong and we did not have certain elements
of our economy at risk like many other parts
of theUnited States and the world.Therefore
we rode out 2009 and 2010 very solidly.” As
a result, in the following years Anchorage ex-
perienced a 2.5 percent job growth with an
expected growth of also 2.5 percent in 2012.
Another appeal of Anchorage is the pres-
ence of strong industries which support the
economy such as its energy base, raw mate-
