Audrey Kelly, 69, has kept her feet moving in Alaska for the past 50 years and will continue to do so at the Anchorage Senior Center in Fairview.
"Those of us who are still here, the seniors who stay here, we love this state or else we wouldn't still be here and I think it's nice to know that we have made a contribution," said Kelly.
Kelly is one of over 21,000 seniors who live, work, and play in Anchorage. Business leaders estimate that her age group spends nearly $1.5 billion each year and the number of older people will continue to grow.
"People have brought their families up here and their families are staying, so their grandchildren are here, their great-grandchildren," said Lynda Meyer, the city's senior services coordinator.
The Make-It-Monday luncheon by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce focused on pushing the Anchorage Senior Friendly Project.
"As a retirement community it's important to remember that there are many people who want to stay here year-round and so it's definitely a huge viable impact on not just the economy, but the community as a whole," said J.J. Harrier, the vice president and communications director for the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.
The Anchorage Senior Friendly Project has been set-up to help the elderly find more resources for affordable housing, better transportation, and accessible health care.
"One of the things is to make sure they have signage that's big enough so that seniors can read it without having to bend over like that," said Denise Knapp, Coordinator for the Anchorage Senior Friendly Project. "Businesses, seniors, and community working together for a common unity."
Contact Corey Allen-Young