EDA Celebrates Appointment of Julie Kitka as Denali Commission Federal Co-Chair
Washington, D.C. —U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has appointed Julie Kitka as the incoming Federal Co-Chair of the Denali Commission. She will join her co-chair from the Alaskan state government, Micaela Fowler.
EDA and the Denali Commission have a long history of coordination and collaboration supporting economic development, strengthening regional climate resiliency, and expanding access to economic opportunities for communities throughout the region, including Alaska’s Tribal nations.
“I congratulate Julie Kitka on her appointment in this critically important role and look forward to working closely with her to support a bright future of economic growth for the region,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth. “EDA proudly supports the Denali Commission’s mission of providing job training, addressing critical infrastructure needs, and facilitating other economic development services in Alaska and its rural communities.”
Introduced by Congress in 1998, the Denali Commission is an independent federal agency designed to provide critical utilities, infrastructure, and economic support throughout Alaska. With the creation of the Denali Commission, Congress acknowledged the need for increased inter-agency cooperation and focus on Alaska’s remote communities. The Denali Commission Strategic Plan FY2023-2027 (PDF) outlines the Commissioners’ vision for agency investments over the next five years.
“Alaskans know what Julie Kitka can deliver when she’s taking the lead,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “For 33 years, she served as the President of the Alaska Federation of Natives, successfully balancing the needs of a diverse group of tribes, village corporations, regional corporations, regional nonprofits and tribal consortiums, while advocating for Alaskan Natives on a local, state, and federal level. There is no one I can think of who is more qualified to advocate for economic development in rural Alaska than Julie.”
“Julie Kitka has been a generational leader advancing the interests and improving the lives of Alaska Native people,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “During her historic, 33-year tenure as President of the Alaska Federation of Natives, Julie elevated the voices of Alaska Native communities and tribes to the highest levels of our state and federal governments, and accomplished so much on behalf of tens of thousands of Alaskans. Julie’s wealth of leadership experience and vast knowledge of rural Alaska uniquely qualify her to lead the Denali Commission and execute its important mission. I look forward to continuing to work with Julie in this new role to create opportunities for economic and infrastructure development in our rural communities.”
“Julie Kitka is someone my granddaughters will learn about as one of our Alaska Native ancestors. So many of the inroads that we have made, both here in Alaska and back in DC, are because of Julie. She is larger than life. At the Denali Commission, she’ll continue this work,” said U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov) The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.