(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – Two new concessions opened at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Cinnabon and the Alaska Doghaus opened new outlets in the B Concourse of the South Terminal. The Cinnabon store features the trademark Cinnabon products, and also has an expanded menu of breakfast sandwiches and specialty drinks for passengers awaiting their flights after clearing security. This second outlet complements the other Cinnabon, located on the airport's public side.

(Anchorage, AK) – The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold its annual sale of oil and gas lease tracts in the Beaufort Sea, North Slope, and North Slope Foothills on Nov. 7, 2012.

Pebble stakeholders and interested parties:

The Alliance board nominations & elections committee is seeking members to serve on the Alliance board of directors. There are four, three-year terms available in the FY 2013 elections. Election results will be announced at the annual meeting on Thursday, October 4th, 2012. Newly elected members will begin serving their term October 4th, 2012.

The Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development has released August Trends, a report that examines the aging of Alaska’s labor force. The large number of baby boomers, who are just entering their senior years, means the average age in Alaska is increasing. More older Alaskans are also choosing to stay in the state and work longer than they have in the past.

The online class, “Managing with Emotional Intelligence” (BA 363-JD1) is being offered for the second time at the University of Alaska Southeast and is available to executives, managers and business professionals throughout Alaska. In this course (which begins Aug. 30, 2012) you will be introduced to emotional intelligence, executive coaching and appreciative inquiry as a means to facilitate change and create employee loyalty.

Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation has announced the following grants:

Economic Development Administration

* $125,000 grant to the University of Alaska Anchorage for the University Center Economic Development Program.

United States Department of Justice

* $46,053 grant to the Alaska Department of Public Safety for the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program.

* $21,665 grant to the City and Borough Of Juneau for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ASRC Energy Services, Inc. has been selected to take the lead as the owner’s engineer for the MHA Thunder Butte Petroleum Services oil refinery project on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in western North Dakota. The Thunder Butte refinery would be the first to be built in the Lower 48 in the past 30-plus years, and will be able to process crude oil from the Bakken formation to make gasoline, diesel and propane.

Green Kid Crafts Partners with Hope Community Resources, Selected as Finalist for People & Planet Award

Grant Aviation has announced plans to open a base in King Salmon on October 1 st 2012. Grant has planned an expansion in this region of Alaska for some time now, and the recent announcement by Pen Air has provided the perfect opening to move forward with longstanding plans. Schedules for flights to the surrounding villages will be published on August 8 th 2012 on Grant Aviation’s website, www.flygrant.com. Grant will begin taking reservations on the same day and they can be made by calling 1-888-FLY-GRANT (1-888-359-4726) or by emailing res@flygrant.com.

(Anchorage) - The Board of Forestry will meet on Wednesday and Thursday, August 15-16, 2012, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in Palmer at the Division of Forestry, 101 Airport Road, in the training room.

The agenda includes reports and updates on wood energy projects, the Alaska Timber Jobs Task Force, and the previously proposed legislation establishing a Susitna State Forest.

(Fairbanks)—The Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) is soliciting proposals for two helicopter-borne geophysical surveys in southwestern Alaska.

The Farewell Survey includes part of the McGrath and Lime Hills quadrangles, and is in the McGrath mining district.

Universities in AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR and WA Awarded Federal Funding

WASHINGTON – Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced $1 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants to universities in eight states as part of the University Center Economic Development Program, a partnership to leverage university assets to promote American innovation and strengthen regional economies.

ANCHORAGE – Nerland Agency today was named to Outside Magazine’s fifth annual “Best Places to Work” list. Nerland Agency was ranked No. 28 out of 100 selected companies. Profiles of the top 10 performing small, medium and large companies will be published in the September issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands Aug. 14. The full list of 100 will be available Aug. 2 at outsideonline.com.

The Anchorage area will find itself with another renewable energy source with the activation of Doyon Utilities’ landfill gas plant at the Anchorage Regional Landfill and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER).

Anchorage – The Anchorage District Recorder’s Office has begun electronically recording (e-recording) land record documents such as deeds, mortgages, and reconveyances on a limited basis. Over the next several months, additional recording districts will begin e-recording.

Anchorage, Alaska – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has resumed the Automatic Terminal Information Service recorded information hotline for pilots. The service is heavily used by pilots in planning their flights in and out of Anchorage’s busiest seaplane base and General Aviation airstrip.

“The airport and Lake Hood users agreed that this was an important element in supplying up-to-date information to pilots in an accessible and efficient manner,” said John Stocker, Acting Manager at Lake Hood Seaplane Base.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – USKH Inc. is the 14th highest rated multidiscipline architecture/engineering firm to work for in the country.

Awards were announced July 19 at the Best Firms to Work For conference, sponsored by ZweigWhite. Rankings were made based on the results of a comprehensive survey of workplace practices and an independent survey of employees.

Forty-year-old facility to receive estimated $230 million upgrade

July 24, 2012 – Seattle – The Port of Seattle Commission gave final design authorization today for an estimated $230 million renovation of the north satellite at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to better serve passengers. The project will include modernizing facilities, seismic upgrades, enhanced traveler amenities, three new gates and a new roof-top lounge for Alaska Airlines, soon to be the sole tenant in the north satellite.

Delta Junction, AK – The Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation is soliciting proposals from qualified bidders to operate the Big Delta State Historical Park under a concession contract. The contract involves operation of Rika’s Roadhouse, other historical buildings, a campground, RV dump station and other commercial activities.

Proposals must be received no later than 4 p.m., Alaska Standard Time, on Aug. 23.