New Report: Tax Credits Could Help up to 3.2 Million Small Businesses Provide Health Coverage for Their 19 Million Workers

Affordable Care Act Program Helps Small Businesses Offer Benefits and Compete Against Larger Companies for Best Talent

Melting Sea Ice Generating An Emerging Arctic Economy

Anchorage —The Arctic Ambitions conference, hosted by the Institute of the North and World Trade Center Alaska, determined that both competition and cooperation are hallmarks of the development process in the Arctic. Businesses, along with governments and other stakeholders, will have important roles to play in developing markets for key Arctic resources.

New service features high-speed internet service with no data caps and no overage fees

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska businesses have a new choice for business Internet with the launch of Alaska Communications Business Internet Service. With speeds up to 15 megabits per second (Mbps) Alaska Communications delivers unlimited business Internet access with no data limits or overage charges. Since there are no caps on Internet use or overage fees, businesses can enjoy unlimited data transfer without worrying about unanticipated overage charges.

UIC_AntonovichUIC Construction Services has announced the formalization of a new subsidiary, Kautaq Construction Services, LLC.

Kautaq is led by General Manager Thomas Antonovich, who took the lead of the company in early March. Antonovich is a longtime Alaskan, having raised his family during his 25 years in the state. He has more than 30 years of construction industry experience and recently returned to the Alaska after spending a successful two years working with a New Mexico-based construction company.

Murphy is a certified trainer who specializes in helping mature women live young and healthy lives. She is celebrating her five year anniversary by giving back to women of Anchorage. “I am offering everyone who calls or emails me five free workouts," says Bonnie.

May 1st marks Bonnie's five year milestone as Anchorage’s only personal trainer to help the mature women with fitness. In these five years she has helped 457 women lose 5,484 pounds and 10,054 inches collectively.

Design-PT is a local IT managed services consulting firm serving the non-profit sector. The firm aims to help correct the imbalance of women in computer science disciplines by creating more opportunities for them to grow their IT careers.

BBB Boosts Better Business Benefits

Anchorage, Alaska – During National Small Business Month in May, Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington encourages best practices by offering resources, events and news for businesses.

Standards of Trust: akorww.bbb.org/bbb-standards-for-trust

Code of Business Practices: akorww.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards

Code of Advertising: akorww.bbb.org/bbb-code-of-advertising

Data Security—Made Simpler: bbb.org/data-security

Managing Credit—Made Simpler: bbb.org/credit-management/small-business-credit

Alutiiq wins National Safety Council awards for work on construction projects at military bases in Hawaii, Texas and North Carolina

ANCHORAGE – Alutiiq recently received four National Safety Council Awards for excellence in project safety on construction military projects in Hawaii, Texas and North Carolina.

The National Safety Council is the nation’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to saving lives by preventing injuries and deaths. Less than 2 percent of the Council’s 53,000 members received awards.

The 2012 Business Resource Guide is a joint effort of First National Bank Alaska, the Alaska Small Business Development Center and the Alaska Journal of Commerce.

It aims to provide a resource for Alaskans who want to start a new business or who are looking for guidance on expanding a current endeavor. The expertise these entities offer Alaska businesses totals more than 150 years.

Interactive Map Offers Unique Tools to View Alaska’s Technology Landscape, Guide Expansion Efforts

Anchorage – Connect Alaska today unveiled an innovative new broadband mapping tool offering unmatched views of Alaska’s technology landscape.

The mapping tool, called My ConnectView, is a valuable tool for consumers, policy makers, Internet providers, and planning teams working to increase broadband access, adoption, and use in communities across the state and nation.

Anchorage, AK— Eyemart Express, the value leader in the one-hour optical industry, has announced its newest location in Anchorage. Eyemart Express offers guaranteed low pricing, including complete pairs of glasses starting at $38.74, unique selection of frame styles and one-hour service.

The store is located in South Anchorage at 2011 Abbott Road, next to Dairy Queen, and opened April 16. For more information, call 907-336-4000 or visit eyemartexpress.com

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) released its 2011 annual report today, with audited financial statements showing $13.4 million net income on total revenues of $185.7 million.

Anchorage, Alaska – April 16, 2012 – Visit Anchorage recognized nine exceptional contributions to the visitor industry and the community as a whole at the 25th annual Seymour Awards Banquet on April 13, 2012. Each Seymour Award recognizes a community leader, Visit Anchorage member or volunteer who has provided excellence in product and/or service, contributed significantly to the visitor industry and Visit Anchorage’s programs or enhanced Anchorage’s image as a visitor destination.

2012 award winners include:

PALMER, Alaska (April 4, 2012) – Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA) today announced it will offer iPhone 4S to customers at its stores in Eagle River, Palmer and Wasilla, Alaska beginning Friday, April 20. iPhone 4S will be available starting at $149.99 for the 16GB model, $249.99 for the 32GB model and $349.99 for the 64GB model in MTA retail stores. MTA will also offer iPhone 4 for $49.99 for the 8GB model.

WASHINGTON – A new private-public collaboration will help small businesses strengthen their revenue streams by gaining access to more than $300 billion in combined supply chain spending by a consortium of 15 of America’s largest corporations, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced today.

The Alaska Energy Authority’s 2012 Alaska Commercial Energy Audit Program application period ends Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 4:30 pm. Owners of commercial buildings in Alaska (or their designees) are encouraged to apply online to be eligible to receive a reimbursement for an energy audit. Reimbursement amounts range from $1,800 to $7,000 depending upon the size and complexity of the building. All program details and the application form are at Alaska Energy Authority’s web site: http://www.akenergyauthority.org/efficiencyaudits.html.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, presented Celebrate Safety awards to construction and environmental contractors in ceremonies held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright yesterday and today. Celebrate Safety is an Alaska District program that recognizes and promotes excellence in safety through teamwork with the goal of zero accidents. The Corps evaluated the contractors based on their safety emphasis and performance relative to the project complexity and its environment.

Palmer, Alaska (March 20, 2012) – Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA), a leading telecommunications carrier in Alaska offering state of the art, reliable and competitively-priced communications, announced that the company has entered into an agreement with Verizon Wireless to participate in the LTE in Rural America program. Under the LTE in Rural America program, Verizon Wireless is working with rural carriers to jumpstart the delivery of fourth-generation Long Term Evolution (LTE) services to rural communities throughout the United States.

Porcaro Communications takes four Telly Awards

Anchorage – Porcaro Communications, an Anchorage advertising agency, won four awards in the 33rd annual Telly Awards, an international competition for advertising and communications firms. It is the third straight year Porcaro has been honored.

The competition honors outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films.

This year Porcaro won four bronze awards in the telecommunications/ Internet Service category for its commercials produced for GCI.

* Will provide health care services for nearly 2.9 million active duty and retired military service members and their families

* Administrative services contract worth $1.4 billion over five years

MINNETONKA, Minn. (March 20, 2012) – UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, said its Military & Veterans Services business unit has been awarded the Department of Defense’s TRICARE Managed Care Support contract to provide health care services for active duty and retired military service members and their families in the West Region.