A three-day public workshop led by Haines Economic Development Corporation last week generated a list of priorities toward stimulating the economy by improving outdoor recreation opportunities and infrastructure.

The list includes ideas such as establishing a town square on Main Street, improved signage that includes Tlingit words and place names, a ski lift, a recreation area at the former Lutak Army tank farm site and enhanced efforts to shore up existing parks and trails.

The workshop was funded by a federal grant secured by HEDC that is bringing similar efforts to 25 small towns nationwide. Haines was the only Alaska community receiving the grant in a recent round of funding.

A team of federal officials marched about 50 residents through its decision-making model, starting with identifying town assets and obstacles toward recreation economy development.

Obstacles included winter closure of local restaurants and divisiveness that has impeded similar efforts in the past.

Assembly member Debra Schnabel said Haines has written “so many beautiful plans” but that an inability to work through our differences has stymied a lot of growth that could have happened.

Federal officials their process was intended to be “catalytic” instead of “comprehensive,” stressing the importance of small steps, visible progress and identifying groups, individuals and agencies that could be tapped for funding and expertise.

“A vision without resources is nothing more than a hallucination,” said facilitator Angel Pena.

Haines Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrew Letchworth said he found the session “really helpful.”

“I think it helped people see beyond their agenda – for the conservation crowd and for the economic development people. I think it helped build some unified interest in projects. People have a lot of different interest regarding the outdoors – skiers, snowmachiners, fishermen, hunters. I think it showed there’s a way of doing things all together, and conversation works,” Letchworth said.

“Whether it will be effective depends on what we do with (the plan). I think we should do something with it,” Letchworth said.

Erik Stevens, who serves on a working group pushing for a ski lift in the Chilkat Valley, said the session was good for prioritizing a multitude of opportunities the town could pursue.

Stevens said he also appreciated the session’s emphasis on making visible progress toward goals instead of over-analyzing options. “Maybe we have a chance if we can just keep this ball rolling.”

Stevens said that of all the ideas voiced over the weekend, a ski lift would turn the greatest financial gain for the town. “It would be a complete industry on its own. It will happen. The question is will it happen on the terms the community wants,” Stevens said.

A written plan based on the results of the workshop is due in about three months.