The USDA Forest Service engaged Southeast Conference to measure the overall economic impact of Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS) investments on an annual basis. Southeast Conference partnered with Rain Coast Data to develop an intake tool to collect quantitative information from SASS recipients about the benefits arising from SASS funding. Rain Coast Data developed a regional economic impact model from the quantitative data using Regional Input-Output Modeling System (RIMS II) data to estimate annual direct, indirect, and induced economic benefits. In 2022, the first year of the initiative, SASS partners spent $1.3 million of the total USDA funding, representing five percent of the total $25 million. This expenditure catalyzed $1.9 million in economic activity, created 45 jobs including part-time and temporary positions (equivalent to 22 year-round jobs), and paid $745,727 local wages to Southeast residents.
