Member News
Does your business have exciting news it wants to share with the rest of the Anchorage Chamber membership? To submit an announcement, log in to your Anchorage Chamber profile and complete a News Release. For assistance accessing your account, call (907) 272-2401.
Anchorage Chamber staff will review and approve all submissions.
Health Fair - Mental Health & Natural Medicine
Join the Anchorage Senior Activity Center & the Anchorage Health Department for our themed Health Fair: Mental Health & Natural Medicine on Wednesday, October 29th from 10 AM - 3 PM! Location: 1300 East 19th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 Questions: 907-770-2000 All ages are welcome!Free Event! What to expect:Free immunizations and health screenings by co-host:Anchorage Health Department Types of Vendors to expect:Mental health services and counselingMeditation and stress reductionHerbal and natural
Matanuska Electric Association Announces Kim Henkel as Chief Financial Officer
PALMER, Alaska — Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. (MEA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kim Henkel, CPA, MBA, as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective January 2, 2026. Henkel brings more than a decade of financial and strategic leadership within Alaska’s utility and energy industries. Since joining MEA in 2018, she has held several key leadership positions—including Senior Manager of Finance & Commercial, Senior Manager of Strategic Implementation, and Energy Supply Manager—where
Urban Snow Modeling to Advance Resilience for Today and Tomorrow (USMARTT)
Project USMARTT: Business Surveys Mission Statement University of Alaska researchers want to understand how previous years of heavy snow affected your business.Background In Anchorage, Alaska, the urban area has faced the top three snowiest years in the last decade. Specifically, from 2022 to 2024, heavy snow loads caused 24 buildings to collpase, resulting in one fatality.Survey Goals Objectives of the research project’s business surveys include: Assessing risk perceptions.Understanding actions taken
Anchorage Assembly unanimously passes two LaFrance policies to support housing repair and rehabilit
Two policies sponsored by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance making it easier to repair and rehabilitate housing were unanimously approved by the Anchorage Assembly this week.“Red tape shouldn’t prevent people from repairing, rehabilitating, or maintaining their homes, no matter where they live,” said Mayor LaFrance. “These changes will help unlock our community’s housing supply by removing unnecessary regulatory burdens and create flexibility so homeowners have more power to address their own needs.”AO 2025-94 makes
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Standing Together for Change Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to shine a light on an issue that affects far too many Alaskans. In our state, the statistics are staggering: 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men will experience domestic violence, sexual assault, or both in their lifetime. These numbers reflect a crisis that impacts individuals, families, and communities across Alaska. At STAR, we believe that awareness is the first step toward prevention and healing. This month, we encourage everyone to
Mayor LaFrance and Anchorage Assembly call special meeting to consider emergency measures to support
Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance has called a special meeting of the Anchorage Assembly to consider emergency measures that will help the Municipality provide critical support for the State of Alaska’s emergency response for Alaskans displaced by Typhoon Halong. The Assembly will take up the measures at a special meeting Friday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. Assembly Chair Christopher Constant, Vice Chair Anna Brawley and Assembly member Kameron Perez-Verdia have joined the Mayor as co-sponsors of an emergency
Mayor LaFrance announces $500,000 grant award to revitalize rural communities through historic preservation
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance is proud to announce that the National Park Service has awarded the Municipality of Anchorage a $500,000 grant aimed at revitalizing its rural communities through historic preservation, heritage tourism, and job creation.The program funding is specifically tailored toward the rehabilitation of culturally significant sites. The program targets rural areas with a population center of 3,000 or fewer, located at least 25 miles from downtown Anchorage. Key areas include the Native Village
ANHC Leadership Update - Kelsey Wallace named President and CEO
The Anchorage Chamber deeply values ANHC’s role as a cultural cornerstone in our community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations on the appointment of ANHC’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. This milestone marks not only a moment of leadership transition but also a powerful continuation of the Center’s mission — to preserve, strengthen, and celebrate the rich traditions, languages, and arts of Alaska’s Native peoples. We look forward to continued partnership in fostering connection,
Alaska National Guard requested to provide additional support for West Coast Storm response
October 11, 2025 Alaska National Guard requested to provide additional support for West Coast Storm response JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The Alaska National Guard has been requested by the State Emergency Operation Center to provide additional support for the ongoing response to the storms impacting Alaska’s West Coast, including opening the Kotzebue, Bethel and Nome Armories and preparing personnel for deployment to affected communities. The Alaska Organized Militia, which includes the
Anchorage Chamber Announces 2025 Gold Pan Award Finalists
ANCHORAGE – The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s 68th Annual Gold Pan Awards, “Brilliance on Bourbon Street,” will be held at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center on November 21st. Established in 1957, the awards are one of Anchorage’s longest-running civic programs. "The Anchorage Chamber Gold Pan Awards is a coveted recognition of outstanding achievement, and we are extremely excited to announce our 2025 finalists,” says Kathleen McArdle, President & CEO. For 68 years, Gold Pan Awards have been
ANHC Welcomes New President & CEO: Kelsey Ciugun Wallace
ANCHORAGE, Alaska –The Alaska Native Heritage Center is pleased to announce Kelsey Ciugun Wallace (Yup’ik and Irish) as its new President and CEO. Ms. Wallace is the first in this role to have been promoted from within the organization, marking a historic moment at the Heritage Center and underscoring its commitment to cultivating Alaska Native leadership. Formerly the Heritage Center’s Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Communications, Ms. Wallace joined the Heritage Center more than 10 years ago
A Business Owner’s Guide to Securing Digital Intellectual Property
Launching and growing a business today means more than securing customers and building brand recognition — it also means safeguarding your intellectual property (IP). In a world where digital assets can be copied, shared, or misused within seconds, protecting your IP is not optional; it’s essential. This guide explores practical strategies you can implement to keep your ideas, content, designs, and innovations secure while still running a thriving business. Understanding Intellectual Property in the
Mayor LaFrance proposes 2026 municipal budget
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and her team on Thursday brought forward the 2026 Municipality of Anchorage budget proposal.The proposed 2026 operating budget funds core municipal services and continues targeted investments to help address our community’s big challenges. It reflects tangible progress made by the LaFrance administration over the last year, from establishing a stable year-round shelter system to staffing up the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office to strengthening our public safety and crisis response
New Study Details Year-Round Benefits of Anchorage Tourism
A study on the economic impacts of Anchorage’s visitor industry shows more than 1.34 million people visit in a year, spending more than $1 billion in Anchorage. The study focused on out-of-state visitors who traveled to Anchorage. The report was prepared by McKinley Research and released by Visit Anchorage. The full findings are available at Anchorage.net. Visitor Volume Of Anchorage’s 1.34 million annual visitors, nearly two-thirds (63%) were air visitors, meaning they flew in and out of Anchorage
AI Impacts Alaska Businesses
HumanAxis offers AI and automation consultations to help companies uncover AI-enabled cost savings, new revenue opportunities, and identify risks in today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape. Evaluating how AI impacts your business is no longer optional—it’s essential. "AI is going to reshape every industry and every job." – Reid Hoffman, Co-founder of LinkedInOur AI Risk & Opportunity Consultation includes:Executive sessions with company leadership, 2 meetings (60–90 minutes each)Detailed report outlining
Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) is proud to offer our Indigenous Awareness Workshops
The Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC), one of America’s Cultural Treasures, is proud to offer our Indigenous Awareness Workshops (IAWs), designed to foster understanding, collaboration, and respect across cultures.As Alaska’s only statewide living cultural center, ANHC is uniquely positioned to provide immersive, interactive, and customizable training that helps organizations build stronger, more culturally aware teams. Whether you are working with Alaska Native communities, hosting visiting partners, or
Alaska Communications Adds Best-in-Class Managed Wi-Fi to Its Small Business Solutions
ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its continued effort to help Alaska’s small businesses thrive, Alaska Communications (ACS) has added a best-in-class, secure managed Wi-Fi solution, purpose-built to meet small business connectivity needs, to its portfolio with ACS SmartBiz. ACS is the first provider in Alaska to launch Wi-Fi 7, delivering speeds up to four times faster than Wi-Fi 6, significantly lower latency, and more devices seamlessly connecting at the same time. The SmartBiz Wi-Fi 7
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Awards the Anchorage Chamber with 5-Star Accreditation
ANCHORAGE, AK — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce a 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective procedures, and positive community impact. Of the 7,500 chambers in the United States, 187 of these are Accredited. These elite chambers represent the top 3% of all chambers in the United States. “Chambers of commerce nationwide play a vital role in their communities every day,” said Raymond P. Towle, Vice President, Federation Relations and Coalition
