Today, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance arrived in Juneau to advocate for the Municipality’s 2026 legislative priorities, including support for the Don Young Port of Alaska Modernization project and the Anchorage Police Department’s (APD) Real-Time Crime Center.

During her visit, Mayor LaFrance is meeting with members of the Anchorage legislative delegation and key stakeholders to secure essential funding for these critical projects and other priorities. 

As Alaska’s largest urban community, the Municipality of Anchorage serves as the state’s economic hub. The Municipality’s legislative program focuses on building a safe, prosperous, and resilient community for all residents and visitors.

“Our communities across Alaska are interconnected, and we all depend on one another’s success,” said Mayor LaFrance. “Whether it is ensuring that goods can reach our shelves or using modern technology to make our streets safer, these investments are about building a more resilient state. I look forward to working with our partners in the legislature to move these critical projects forward for the benefit of all Alaskans.”

As the state’s primary deep-water port, the Port of Alaska serves as the lifeline for Alaska’s economy and food security. The goods that arrive reach 90% of Alaskans and include food, fuel, building materials, consumer goods and more.

The Mayor is advocating for the investment necessary to ensure this aging infrastructure remains resilient, protecting the supply chain for every community from the North Slope to the Aleutians.

The Port of Alaska Modernization Program (PAMP) is on track, with construction on a new cargo terminal scheduled to begin this summer, marking a major milestone in the massive project. The Municipality is actively seeking state and federal funding to help offset surcharges.

Mayor LaFrance is also championing a $1.5 million request for the Anchorage Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center. Recognizing that Anchorage serves as Alaska’s primary hub for health care, social services, and transportation, public safety in the Municipality is a statewide issue. A safer Anchorage means a more secure environment for all Alaskans who travel to the Municipality for work, care, and commerce.

The MOA is also requesting startup costs to launch a drone program in the Anchorage Fire Department, which would help with early wildfire detection, monitoring, and emergency response.

“Whether it’s the food on a shelf in Fairbanks or the safety of a family visiting from the Mat-Su, Anchorage’s infrastructure and security matter,” LaFrance added. “The modernization of the Port and the launch of our crime center are critical investments in our long-term economic stability and well-being.”