The Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center has announced the recent approval from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for constructing an informational kiosk at the Baycrest pullout.

“Visitor traffic this summer has been extremely robust with more than 10,000 visitors stopping at the chamber’s visitor center for directions and information about things to do and see in the Homer area. And with travelers coming to Homer 24/7 throughout the year, the Baycrest kiosk will prove to be an effective means to provide visitor information during the hours that the chamber office is closed,” said Karen Zak, the chamber’s executive director, in a press release.

The Homer chamber has established a committee to review the structure placement and design and is recruiting several people from the Homer business community to join in that process.  Anyone interested in working with the kiosk placement and design committee is asked to contact the chamber at 235-7740. 

The self-service kiosk will host a collection of informational rack cards featuring information from a variety of chamber member businesses, similar to what’s featured in the chamber’s existing visitor center in its Sterling Highway location.

The chamber, on behalf of the Kachemak Board of Realtors, was awarded a National Association of Realtors Placemaking Grant to help improve the Homer community for the purpose of designing and building the kiosk structure.  

“Realtors live, work and volunteer in their communities and take immense pride in working to improve them,” said Gina Pelia of Bay Realty. “Placemaking can help foster healthier, more social and economically viable communities. It creates places where people feel a strong stake in their neighborhoods and are committed to making things better. This grant will allow us to partner with the Homer Chamber of Commerce to create a unique and accessible venue from which to promote the wonders of Homer to those who visit.”  

Additional funds to complete the project will come from kiosk participating member businesses.