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.
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
Anchorage Restaurant Week Returns October 20-26, 2025
Food Bank of Alaska is proud to announce the return of Anchorage Restaurant Week, taking place October 20-26, 2025. This annual event brings the community together to celebrate Anchorage’s dining scene while supporting the fight against hunger across the state. Nearly 50 local restaurants are participating this year, each offering special menu items for prix fix and donating a portion of proceeds to Food Bank of Alaska. Anchorage Restaurant Week gives residents and visitors alike a chance to explore new
Running Free Hope & Sole Fundraiser
Running Free Alaska presents Heart & Sole Fundraiser Running Free Alaska invites you to an evening dedicated to community, connection, and impact. The silent auction will help fund our ongoing programs and support the development of a new transition house—a vital next step for women rebuilding their lives after incarceration. Join us for a meaningful night featuring:Prepared appetizers and wineArtwork from local creatorsA diverse selection of auction itemsInspiring stories from past
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
Alaska Chamber announces 2025 Premier Business Award recipients
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Chamber will honor outstanding businesses and organizations for their accomplishments and contributions to the statewide economy at this year’s Alaska Business Summit on Oct. 9, 2025, at the Alyeska Resort. The 2025 Premier Business Award recipients are: Bill Bivin Small Business of the Year: Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year: STG Inc. Local Chamber of the Year: Kenai Chamber of Commerce William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year:
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
From Brother Francis Shelter to First Friday: Local Artist Showcases Work
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – On Friday, October 3, Anchorage’s First Friday Art Walk will feature the vibrant work of local artist Noel Perez Delgado, a client of Brother Francis Shelter who found his creative voice after arriving at the shelter during a difficult chapter in his life. His pieces will be on display at Stephan Fine Arts & the Captain Cook Coffee Cubby from 5:30 to 9 p.m., alongside other featured artists and live music. Born and raised in Cuba, Noel studied architecture before moving to the
One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)
H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is one of the most comprehensive, positive pieces of legislation for Alaska signed into law in decades. Nevertheless, there have been over one million dollars’ worth of ads in Alaska run by far-left dark money groups that have inaccurately described this bill.This letter is focused on setting the record straight with the facts about what is actually in the bill. Because the OBBBA covers many areas, with Alaskans writing me about different elements of the
Alaska Legislators Urge Congressional Delegation to Oppose Federal Cuts to Research and Higher Educa
FAIRBANKS, AK – Today a group of 14 Alaska State Legislators sent a letter to Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Representative Nick Begich (R-AK) urging them to oppose federal funding cuts for research and higher education. President Trump’s budget request includes billions in cuts for federal agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and many
Anchorage Concert Association Receives Prestigious Grant to Launch INSPIRE Anchorage
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust provides a Transformative Step Toward a Local Arts Agency Anchorage, Alaska – [September 17, 2025] — Anchorage Concert Association (Anchorage Concerts) today announced it has been awarded a $261,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to support the development and implementation of INSPIRE Anchorage, Anchorage Concerts new arts agency program designed to strengthen the arts and culture ecosystem in Anchorage. This milestone grant marks a resounding affirmation of
Toast of the Town Acquires Alaska Event Services, Forming the State’s Largest Event Planning, Décor,
Anchorage, Alaska – Toast of the Town, a women-owned Anchorage event planning firm founded in 2015, announced today that it has acquired Alaska Event Services (AES), a respected event décor and rental provider established in 2004. Together, the companies now form Alaska’s largest event planning, décor, and rental entity, producing more than 150 events annually and anticipating job growth in the year ahead. Both Toast of the Town and Alaska Event Services will continue operating under their existing names.
Congratulations to TCF's 2025 Scholarship Recipients!
2025 Competitive Awards Your achievements inspire the next generation of students and show the strength of our community. Together, these scholars were awarded more than $130,000 in endowed scholarships. $20,000 Special Excellence Annual Scholarship Kirby McDonald Fund ✨ Easton Snider $12,000 Special Excellence Annual Scholarship Roy M. Huhndorf Fund ✨ Kaylee Merrill $10,000 Excellence Annual Scholarships Roy M. Huhndorf Fund ✨ Ashtyn Lopez ✨ Donald Kashevaroff ✨ Myra Larson ✨ Ryan
thread Announces 6th Annual Summit on the Economic Impact of Early Care & Learning: Building Solutions & Creating Opportunity
Anchorage, Alaska — thread, Alaska’s Statewide Child Care Resource and Referral agency, will host its 6th Summit on the Economic Impact of Early Care & Learning: Building Solutions & Creating Opportunity on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott Anchorage Downtown. The full-day event will bring together local and national leaders, policymakers, businesses and community advocates to focus on solutions that strengthen Alaska’s child care system. Families, communities, and
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
