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In the News


AIDEA Moves $50M Toward Ambler Road — What It Means for Alaska’s Supply Chain
The Ambler Road project just took a major step forward. On November 3, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) voted to commit an additional $50 million toward advancing the 211-mile industrial access road through the Brooks Range — a move that could reshape how materials, freight, and equipment move across Alaska in the coming decade. This brings AIDEA’s total investment to $85 million, with the funds earmarked for permitting, design, and early constru
Lacey Ernandes
Nov 173 min read


When Tourism Thrives, So Does Manufacturing: Alaska’s Hidden Economic Chain Reaction
Every summer, Alaska becomes a magnet for travelers chasing midnight sun and bucket-list adventures. But behind every packed cruise ship, tour van, and roadside café lies an unseen story — one powered by Alaska’s manufacturers. A recent article in Travel and Tour World called Alaska “the state poised to transform the U.S. travel economy.” That transformation doesn’t stop at tourism. It ripples outward — into logistics, packaging, food production, retail goods, and the small
Lacey Ernandes
Nov 173 min read


When Manufacturing Meets Food Sovereignty: What Typhoon Halong Taught Alaska
When Typhoon Halong tore through the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta this fall, it didn’t just destroy property — it wiped out freezers full of smoked fish, berry caches, and dried meat that families depend on through the winter. For many Alaska Native communities, those losses aren’t just about food. They represent centuries of knowledge, tradition, and self-reliance. As the Alaska Native Heritage Center and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium stepped up to organize relief — collec
Lacey Ernandes
Nov 122 min read


From Blooms to Bio-Innovation: How One Peony Grower Is Redefining Alaska Manufacturing
When most people think of Alaska manufacturing, they picture seafood, metals, or construction materials. But Mike Williams of EagleSong Peony Farm is proving that innovation can bloom from the soil itself. Featured in Alaska Business Magazine’s November issue, Mike’s story highlights how Alaska’s peony industry—once known mainly for its stunning cut flowers—is now pushing into value-added production and bio-manufacturing. “We’re looking beyond the bouquet,” Williams says. “
Lacey Ernandes
Nov 122 min read


Industry Pulse: What AFCO’s Acquisition of Alaska Mill & Feed Signals for Local Manufacturing
Last week, AFCO Distribution, a division of Skagit Farmers Supply in Washington, announced it has acquired Alaska Mill & Feed, the longtime Anchorage-based manufacturer and supplier of feed, garden, and pet products. The company will retain its employees and continue operations under its familiar name — a sign that larger regional players see real value in Alaska-made production. For Alaska’s manufacturing community, this is worth watching. The move strengthens regional feed
Lacey Ernandes
Nov 122 min read


We’re Featured in Alaska Business Magazine!
We’re thrilled to share that the Alaska Manufacturing Association (AKMA) is featured in the November 2025 issue of Alaska Business Magazine ! The piece, “Manufacturing Connections: A New Trade Association, Fresh from the Assembly Line,” captures how Alaska’s manufacturing community is coming together—makers, producers, fabricators, builders—to build something bigger than any of us could do alone. “Manufacturing is an untapped economic engine in Alaska,” AKMA Co-Founder Megan
Lacey Ernandes
Nov 32 min read


Ambler Road Back on Track: Alaska’s Biggest Infrastructure Debate Reignites
Road sign with "ROAD CLOSED" blocks a paved road, leading to snow-capped mountains and pine trees at sunset. Calm and scenic.
Lacey Ernandes
Oct 102 min read


Alaska’s $43.4M Antimony Investment: From the Brooks Range to the Pentagon
A $43.4 million defense contract just put Alaska on the map for one of the world’s most critical minerals: antimony. On October 3, the...
Lacey Ernandes
Oct 32 min read
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