Since losing borough funding, the Haines Economic Development Corporation faces an uncertain future. The uncertainty is making it difficult for the organization to commit to new projects.

The Haines Borough Assembly eliminated all funding for HEDC in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. In past years, borough funding has made up almost all of the organization’s budget.

In early June, HEDC announced that executive director Margaret Friedenauer, the organization’s only employee, would be leaving to begin work as an economic recovery coordinator with a Wisconsin tribal organization. Beginning June 25, HEDC will be without an executive director.

Last week, resident Carol Tuynman went before the HEDC board to request that the organization manage a feasibility study for the Portage Cove waterfront project. The project would create a trail connecting Picture Point to the Portage Cove campground and is the early brainstorming stage.

The project needs to be housed within a nonprofit to be eligible for grants to fund a feasibility study, the next phase in project development. Discussion of whether to accept Tuynman’s request was complicated by HEDC’s lack of funding.

HEDC board member Sue Chasen said she thinks assisting with this type of project is a good idea, allowing the organization to clarify its role and the role of economic development in the community.

Other board members questioned whether Tuyman was asking for the organization to house the feasibility study or be the driving force behind it. Many said although they thought the project was a worthy undertaking for an economic development organization, they were unsure HEDC could support it at present due to the recent loss of borough funding and imminent loss of staff.

“I think it would be a good project for HEDC to take on, but it’s a difficult time to commit to something like this without staff,” board president Heather Shade said.

Tuynman said it would be preferable for HEDC to drive the feasibility study but said she would be willing to continue to coordinate the effort if necessary.

The board agreed to have Friedenauer, Tuynman and interested members sit down to flesh out the idea and get a better sense of what would be required of HEDC as the project moves forward.

In the meantime, the board is making plans to hire a part-time, interim executive director, recognizing that limited funding may make it difficult to create a full-time position.

Shade said she thought it was important to have an executive director in some capacity, especially in the next few months. She said at a recent organizational development committee meeting, members listed some of the qualities they were looking for in an executive director, including an understanding of the challenges facing the local business community.

The skills HEDC needs from an interim executive director may be different from the skills HEDC will want in a more long-term director, Shade said. For example, it would be good for a short-term executive director to have a strong understanding of fundraising and grant writing to help bring the organization to a more sustainable funding level.

HEDC doesn’t have a specific candidate in mind, Shade said.

Recognizing the need to move quickly to find a new executive director, board members voted to have the organizational development committee finalize a job description with pay dependent on workload and ability to secure additional grants. The board is currently soliciting applications for the position. Job details are available on the HEDC website.

The HEDC board meets next on July 9.