March 15, 2012, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell nominated Robert “Ed” Dersham and Howard “Dan” Hull for consideration by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for continued service on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The governor also named Timothy Evers and Julianne Curry as alternate nominees.

(March 15, 2012) DOWL HKM has opened its doors at 41 East Broadway, Dickinson, ND 58601.

Thomas J. Grimm, P.E., a senior geotechnical engineer from the Billings, Mont., office, has accepted the opportunity to lead DOWL HKM’s new office in Dickinson. Adam J. McGill, P.E., LEED AP, a graduate of North Dakota State University and civil engineer from the Palmer office has also accepted a position on the initial launch team.

Wells Fargo earns high marks from local judges

Anchorage, Alaska – March 15, 2012 – "How does your business impact the community?" When asked this question, Wells Fargo, the Alaska winner of Better Business Bureau's 2012 Business of the Year Torch Awards, shared an inspiring account of team-member volunteer efforts, financial education outreach, and an astonishing $1.5 million in annual investments towards more than 280 nonprofits and schools in Alaska.

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines recently applied for two new flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the closest airport to the nation’s capital. The airline’s bid would provide nonstop service from Washington, D.C., to Portland, Ore., and San Diego — the two cities with the largest passenger demand that don’t already have flights to National. If granted, Alaska would offer one daily roundtrip flight to each city.

The Alliance has scheduled some key events happening all happening around the state in the coming weeks.

Make it Meaningful: Rally for Reform
Join the Alliance and other like-minded sponsors as we "Rally for Reform" in our quest to improve Alaska's oil tax system and investment climate.

Noon Wednesday, March 28
Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center, Anchorage
Register at http://www.alaskaalliance.com

March Membership Madness - Mardi Gras Night

March 13, 2012
WASHINGTON — With business tax-filing deadlines fast approaching, the Internal Revenue Service today encouraged small employers that provide health insurance coverage to their employees to check out the small business health care tax credit and then claim it if they qualify.

(Anchorage, AK) – The Board of Forestry will meet in Juneau on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 20-21, starting at 8:30 a.m. on March 20 and 8 a.m. on March 21. The meeting will be held at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) office located at 400 Willoughby Ave.

The meeting agenda includes reports on the proposed Susitna State Forest, the Timber Jobs Task Force, wood energy, landslide regulations and annual reports to the board from the Division of Forestry, Department of Fish and Game and the DEC. Other forestry matters may be added on the agenda.

The Division of Agriculture has scheduled a March 22 meeting to discuss recent issues involving potato production in Alaska.

Topics include bacterial ring rot, Alaska’s seed certification standards and the Alaska Seed Growers, Inc. proposal to implement new regulations requiring the use of certified seed on all commercial potato fields of an acre or greater.

Apache Corp. has opened new offices at 510 L Street, Suite 310, in Anchorage, said John Hendrix, general manager of Apache’s Alaska operations. The phone number at the new office is (907) 272-2722.

Hendrix also said that Lisa Parker has been hired as manager of Government Relations. A lifelong Alaskan, Parker has spent most of her professional career working with the state’s resource industry.

Apache has acquired approximately 800,000 acres in the Cook Inlet basin and commenced a multiyear seismic acquisition program with initial operations on the basin’s west side.

Dimond Center taps industry veterans to lead leasing efforts

ANCHORAGE - (March 8, 2012): Dimond Center LLC, owner and developer of the state of Alaska’s leading shopping destination known by the same name, announced today it will develop The Outlets of Alaska at Dimond Center, the state’s first-ever outlet shopping destination.

Fireweed Human Capital Management System (HCMS), a cloud-based application designed to assist businesses with human capital management challenges, is now available to companies of all sizes, according to Cloud49, the company that developed and distributes the software. Cloud49 specifically designed Fireweed to assist Alaska Native Corporations with their unique human capital challenges.

Anchorage, Alaska – Hot Wire, Inc. (Hot Wire) including its five Alaska based subsidiaries: Hot Wire Electric, Inc., Hot Wire Communications, Inc., Electric, Inc., Redi Electric, Inc. and Alaska Power & Communications, LLC (55%), have been acquired by Chenega Commercial Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of the Chenega Corporation.

Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska USA Federal Credit Union has opened a new branch and mortgage office on West Abbott Road in Anchorage.

The West Abbott branch, located at 8745 Hartzell Road near Home Depot, opened March 5 with a ribbon cutting by Mayor Dan Sullivan. The branch offers a range of credit union services, including a 24-hour ATM, a self-service center, and drive-through service. It is open to serve members six days a week, Monday through Saturday. The building also includes a new Alaska USA Mortgage office to provide home loan and real estate services.

Statewide program celebrates pro-active efforts in Seward to protect Alaska’s marine environment

Associated General Contractors of Alaska, with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Major Participant, is sponsoring Industry Day on March 21, 2012 in Anchorage.

ANCHORAGE – Industry Day for small business and large business owners to network with industry professionals and form collaborative alliances with key government representatives will be held Mar. 21 at the Hotel Captain Cook. The event is sponsored by the Associated General Contractors with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the SBA, the SBDC and other federal and state agencies attending.

Marketplace Chaplains has brought their service to Alaska after completing an agreement with Hilcorp Energy Co., which has multiple locations here and in the Lower 48.

Since 1984, Marketplace Chaplains USA has provided Chaplain care teams comprised of male, female and ethnically diverse, non-denominational chaplains to serve and care for the employees and family members of public and private companies across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Europe and Canada as a personalized and proactive employee care service.

Monday, March 5
Starting Your Own Business, 5-8 p.m., YWCA, 324 E. Fifth Ave. YWCA Alaska Brass Tacks’s Business Basics class will introduce you to what it takes to start, plan, market and grow your business. This is an essential class for all prospective entrepreneurs. Free. (Call 644-9611 to register or email cailleo@ywcaak.org.)

Wednesday, March 7

Anchorage, AK— As most Anchorage businesses know, consumer spending decreases significantly during the months leading up to summer. But four organizations are working to reverse that trend.

For the third year, the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, the Anchorage Chamber
of Commerce, Anchorage Downtown Partnership Ltd., and Visit Anchorage are launching Anchorage First, a program designed to encourage local spending by consumers during the months of March, April and May.

Local Women Benefit from Key4Women’s Strong Support of Business Growth

ANCHORAGE, Feb. 28, 2012 — KeyBank has reached its goal to provide $3 billion in loans to women-owned businesses by April, 2012 – three months ahead of its target. Key’s achievement included loans to businesses of all sizes.