Upcoming Editorial ✎
Want a sneak peek of what’s running in the September 2025 edition? Check out the headlines and summaries below.
Also, if you’re looking even further ahead, our October and November 2025 initial lineup is ready for you to view.
Editorial Focus
Entrepreneurship| Retail
Environmental, Fisheries, Telecom & Tech, Tourism
Deadlines
Space: July 21, 2025
Art: July 28, 2025
Editorial Content: July 10, 2025
♦ September Special Section ♦
Entrepreneurship
Building Networks
Several organizations in Alaska host or organize events for entrepreneurs to gather with others in the business community to meet, learn, and form relationships. Learn more about valuable opportunities to build a robust professional network.
Startup Accelerators
Startup accelerators share a mission to help small businesses build their business, sometimes through capital, but also through other methods. Get to know a few of Alaska’s accelerators.
Keeping the Value of an Acquired Business
Acquired companies are often merged into existing enterprises, but not always. Guest Author Christian Muntean explains how to retain the value of an acquired company that is not being purchased as a subsidiary or merged into an existing business.
New Survival Suit
Diego Jacobson, owner of White Glacier, has developed a cold-water survival suit that helps those stranded in Arctic waters to potentially survive for five days while waiting for aid.
Alaska Adaptable Housing
At the University of Alaska 2025 Arctic Innovation Competition, Alaska Adaptable Housing took first place for its work exploring innovative solutions for housing in rural Alaska. The organization is now moving forward with its adaptable foundation system.
Environmental: Fish and Wildlife Evaluations
Most permitting processes require an environmental impact statement. The impact on the environment is determined through a study of the environment, but what does that study entail? What data is gathered, how is it gathered, and how does that vary from project to project?
Fisheries: Profiting Off Waste
Processing fish into value-added goods results in a significant amount of fish waste, which is generally deposited back into the ocean. In an effort to better utilize the whole fish, several Alaska companies have found ways to add value to fish byproducts.
Telecom & Tech: Ecommerce Trends
Ecommerce saw a significant bump in activity during the pandemic, and the trend is expected to continue as the accelerated use of AI, AR/VR, livestreaming, social commerce, and voice search enhance the shopping experience. This represents an opportunity for entrepreneurs to engage in online commerce, which has a lower barrier of entry than traditional retailing.
Tourism: Bike Tours
A relatively small portion of Alaska is connected by road, but since Alaska is huge, even that small road system offers abundant opportunities for cyclists to see the 49th state. For those visiting Alaska, several cycling tour outfits offer rentals, itineraries, tour packages, or all of the above to highlight Alaska.
40th Anniversary: Retail in Alaska
We launched the Top 49ers in 1985, and that year Carr-Gottstein Foods topped the list, and one of the oldest operating companies in Alaska is Alaska Commercial Co. Retail has a long, rich history in Alaska, and this article will provide highlights of the evolving Alaska retail landscape.
Retail: Re-loved Retail
Guest Author Lincoln Garrick provides an overview of Alaska’s secondhand, resale, and consignment stores.
♦ October Special Section ♦
Top 49ers
Top 49ers Directory
The Top 49ers are companies that were founded in Alaska, remain headquartered here, and have not been acquired by a non-Alaska company, ranked by gross revenue.
New/Up-and-Coming Top 49ers
Get to know the companies who have joined the Top 49er ranks for the first time, as well as those who we expect may join the ranks in the coming years.
Ranked by Revenue Growth
The Top 49ers are ranked on gross revenue for one year, but for some of the companies the real story is how much their revenue has grown year over year. In this article we check in with several Top 49ers who saw significant revenue growth to get their insights on what’s going right in their operations.
Mapping the Future
The Top 49ers share their exciting upcoming project, policies, and other initiatives.
Construction: H5 Construction
Based in Wasilla, H5 Construction is a family-oriented company with experience in residential and commercial projects. Get to know one of the general contractors helping to build Alaska.
Finance: What Financial Institutions Can Offer Small Businesses to Facilitate Growth
Not every small business is looking to expand, but for those that are, figuring out how to pay for additional staff, inventory, space, or other expansion activities can be daunting. Alaska’s local financial institutions provide insight on the options available to small businesses looking to grow.
Tourism: Marketing Alaska
Alaska offers incredible experiences to travelers, but the state competes with other extraordinary travel destinations around the world. How are we drawing visitors to Alaska, and how do these marketing dollars, spent Outside, help to grow Alaska’s economy?
Oil & Gas: Alyschem
Alyschem is developing a methanol and ultra-low sulfur diesel production facility on the North Slope, which will help monetize stranded North Slope natural gas and reduce fuel imports to the state. Learn more about this first-of-its-kind North Slope infrastructure project.
40th Anniversary: 1986 Illustrated Covers
In 1986, all twelve covers of Alaska Business were illustrated, and the majority of them were attempts to illustrate how Alaska was working its way out of a devastating recession. This article looks at the covers, their topics, and how many of the questions they raise remain pertinent today.
Business Development: Trade Show Trends
Trade shows afford companies the opportunity to connect with customers and industry partners so they can showcase their products/services, examine market trends—and check out their competitors. To facilitate that, trade shows are incorporating more technology, face-to-face connections, and engaging designs.
Telecom & Tech: AI’s impact on Leadership & Executive Decision
Making AI remains a hot topic as leaders across industries explore how it can help or hurt the bottom line, but questions remain. How can AI enhance executive decision-making, such as predictive analytics and real-time insights? How can leaders successfully integrate AI into their strategic planning? And what is the evolving role of leadership in an AI-driven organization?
Professional Services: Buying Your First Business
Guest author Christian Muntean shares his expertise to first-time business buyers on what to do—and what to avoid.
Real Estate: Garage Condos
“Garage condos” provide space for boats, RVs, and other recreational equipment or home goods. Anchorage now boasts its own garage condos: what do they offer and how do they measure up to other storage solutions?
Professional Development: Summer Internships
A summer internship is an opportunity for young professionals to get real-world experience that will aid them during their education and beyond. Read more from the organizations and interns participating in summer internships, and the value they can offer to all involved.
Professional Services: Photography
Most everyone carries a camera in their pocket, yet professional photographers are still in high demand. Learn from local photographers and marketers what sets a professional apart from a hobbyist and how they can help your business look its best.
Professional Development: Building Networks
Several organizations in Alaska host or organize events for entrepreneurs to gather with others in the business community to meet, learn, and form relationships. Learn more about valuable opportunities to build a robust professional network.
Small Business: Consignment in the Valley
A summer internship is an opportunity for young professionals to get real-world experience that will aid them during their education and beyond. Read more from the organizations and interns participating in summer internships, and the value they can offer to all involved.
Retail: Refilleries
Much of our daily waste comes from the food that we consume. Many foods and food products are packaged for the convenience of the buyer, but some Alaska retailers are trying to reduce waste by providing their customers with little to no-waste options for buying many foods. Discover what refillery options may be available in your community.
Editorial Focus
Top 49ers | Top Local Businesses Ranked by Gross Revenue
Construction, Finance, Tourism, Oil & Gas
Deadlines
Space: August 21, 2025
Art: August 28, 2025
Editorial Content: May 12, 2025
Editorial Focus
Natural Resource Development | Manufacturing
Education, Engineering, Environmental, Telecom & Tech
Deadlines
Space: September 22, 2025
Art: September 29, 2025
Editorial Content: September 10, 2025
♦ November Special Section ♦
Natural Resource Development
Dawson Mine Project
Dawson Mine is an underground gold mine on Prince of Wales Island. Explore its operations and contributions to the island’s economy.
Growing Agriculture
Agriculture in Alaska is growing, and not by accident. Although Alaska will likely continue to import the majority of its food, building up internal food systems can have a multitude of benefits, including more access for everyone to fresh, healthy foods.
Carbon Credits
Alaska’s cornucopia of natural resources includes the state’s potential to participate in carbon credit programs. This article is an overview of carbon credits programs and initiatives in Alaska.
Southeast Timber
The Sitka Conservation Society is sourcing young-growth timber from a small mill in Petersburg and delivering it via the Alaska Marine Highway to build an outdoor learning shelter for a local high school. That same mill is also bidding to supply blocking for Sitka’s new marine haul-out—a major infrastructure and economic driver for the community.
Antimony
Antimony has several industrial uses, but it is primarily known for its use in hardening lead alloys, especially in batteries and solders, and as a key component in flame retardants. More than one party is interested in Alaska’s potential for antimony mining.
Education: Pilot Training
Alaska has a rich aviation history, and today people from a variety of backgrounds and interests pursue a license to fly planes and helicopters. What resources are available for those looking to take to the skies?
Engineering: Building Commissioning
Commissioning a building is a whole-building quality assurance process that verifies a building’s systems have been installed and are operating correctly. This process ensures a facility is safe and can serve its intended purpose.
Environmental: Red Devil Mine
Red Devil Mine northeast of Bethel quit producing mercury more than fifty years ago, and now federal land managers have a plan to deal with its toxic tailings. Discover more about the $40 million effort to finalize reclamation for the long term.
Telecom & Tech: Building Alaska’s Networks
Telecommunications providers have been working steadily to bring faster, more reliable connectivity to Alaska communities through a variety of methods, such as fiber and satellite service. While the work is never done, we check in on the progress that’s been made.
40th Anniversary: Gold: History, Prices, and Production
Gold has drawn people to Alaska since before it officially became a state, and that legacy remains today, with gold contributing to Alaska’s economy through a range of activities, from highly skilled mine workers to tourism outfits.
Manufacturing: B2B Manufacturing
Manufacturing takes place all over the state, and this article highlights the quality products made in Alaska.
Insurance: Coverage for Cyber Risks and AI
Cyber insurance can help businesses mitigate the impact of cybersecurity incidents and emerging liabilities related to AI. But with AI-specific coverage still developing, it’s important to understand cyber insurance options and how to select the right policy.
Professional Services: Alaska Manufacturers Association
The recently-formed Alaska Manufacturers Association is connecting makers, vendors, and innovators. Get to know the association, its mission, and its activities.