Community Engagement

Over the past three years, the City and Borough of Wrangell (CBW) has taken a deliberate and proactive approach to re-engaging the community around the future of our waterfront, port infrastructure, and long-term economic direction.

Reviving the 2015 Waterfront Master Plan and advancing Deep Water Port redevelopment has not been a single meeting or decision,  it has been an ongoing public process that includes presentations, town halls, stakeholder interviews, surveys, board reviews, and regional and federal coordination.

CBW understands that these projects affect our working waterfront, tourism economy, marine services, freight access, and future industry recruitment. Community input has been essential at every stage.

A Multi-Year Public Process

Past engagement efforts have included:

• Public town halls on port and waterfront concepts
• Planning Commission, Port Commission, and Economic Development Board reviews
• Assembly workshops and public hearings
• Industry roundtables with fishermen, freight operators, and marine service providers
• Tourism sentiment and visitor economy discussions
• Stakeholder meetings with regional partners and tribal organizations
• Federal agency briefings and technical assistance presentations
• Community surveys and open comment opportunities

This work builds on prior planning documents, including the 2015 Waterfront Master Plan, the Comprehensive Plan, freight analysis, tourism planning efforts, and the Deep-Water Port feasibility study.

2025–2026: EDA Grant Engagement

As part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Disaster Supplemental Grant effort, the Borough expanded outreach to ensure the community understood the full project portfolio and its long-term implications.

Recent engagement has included:

• Public project information meetings
• A community town hall and panel discussion featuring private and public partners
• Fishermen’s roundtable discussions
• Coalition working groups
• Beneficiary and investor surveys
• Public survey data collection
• Publication of white papers and feasibility materials

The purpose of this phase has been to:

• Share clear project information
• Invite questions and feedback
• Refine project components
• Demonstrate alignment with community priorities
• Ensure transparency in funding pursuit

Presentation slides, survey summaries, and supporting materials from these meetings are posted below for public review.

What We’re Hearing

Community feedback has consistently focused on:

• Protecting and modernizing our working waterfront
• Supporting year-round jobs and industrial diversification
• Strengthening marine services and freight reliability
• Expanding cultural and visitor opportunities in a balanced way
• Ensuring projects are phased responsibly and financially sound

Input continues to shape design refinements, phasing strategies, and partnership agreements.

Ongoing Engagement

Community engagement does not end with a grant submission or lease approval. As design, engineering, permitting, and construction phases advance, additional public meetings and review opportunities will be scheduled.

We encourage residents, business owners, fishermen, and regional partners to stay involved.

If you have questions or would like to provide input, please contact Borough staff or attend an upcoming public meeting.

Wrangell’s waterfront future is being built through partnership, and community voice remains central to that work.