A New Era for Alaska Manufacturing Starts Here.

If you’ve been around Alaska’s manufacturing scene lately, you might have noticed some changes.

We’ve had people come up to us at events, reply to emails, or send messages that start with:

“So… are you the Alaska MEP now?”

“Is this the Made in Alaska program?”

It’s a fair question. The short answer? Nope.

But we understand why there’s confusion—so let’s clear things up.

First, a little history.

For years, the Alaska MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) was the go-to for technical assistance and consulting. They worked with a lot of manufacturers, but in June 2025, the Alaska MEP officially closed its doors.

At the same time, the Made in Alaska program has continued doing important work, certifying products that meet the 51% made-in-state threshold and giving makers a recognizable seal to put on their goods. That’s still run by the state, and it’s not going anywhere.

So where does that leave us—the actual people making, building, and producing in Alaska?

Enter AKMA.

The Alaska Manufacturing Association isn’t a government program. We’re not federally funded. We’re not here to consult you from afar or stamp your product with a seal.

We’re here because we’re manufacturers ourselves—and we got tired of watching decisions get made about Alaska manufacturing by people who’ve never set foot in a shop, cannery, or fab floor.

We know how hard it is to operate here. The shipping costs. The packaging headaches. The finishing services that don’t exist in-state. The raw materials you can’t source without pulling your hair out.

So instead of waiting for another agency to appear, we decided to build something new.

What makes AKMA different?

We’re building a community-powered movement. That means:

• Direct connection – A Slack community where makers can trade tips, share resources, and solve problems together.

• Visibility – A statewide B2B directory so you can actually find co-packers, suppliers, and service providers here in Alaska.

• Face time – Regular mixers and virtual roundtables where manufacturers—not just support orgs—are the ones talking.

• Advocacy with teeth – Using our collective voice to push for real solutions: freight, shared equipment, tax incentives, production support, and more.

This is less about top-down advice and more about building sideways, together.

“So… are you replacing MEP?”

Not really. We’re not here to replace what’s gone.

We’re here to fill the gaps MEP and others couldn’t—and to do it in a way that actually works for people on the ground.

Think of AKMA as the kitchen table for Alaska’s manufacturing community. The place where you can pull up a chair, be honest about what’s working (and what’s not), and leave with new connections, solutions, and energy.

Why this matters now

Alaska’s manufacturers are some of the most resourceful, resilient people out there. You have to be. But “going it alone” has limits.

What happens when we stop trying to muscle through separately—and start building a stronger, connected manufacturing economy together?

That’s what AKMA is here to find out.

Join us

If you’re making, building, processing, or producing in Alaska—you belong here.

• Become a member

• Subscribe to stay in the loop

• Show up at a roundtable or mixer and see for yourself.

We’re just getting started. And no—we’re not the MEP, and we’re not Made in Alaska.

We’re AKMA. And we’re building this with you.