Made in Alaska Manufacturer of the Year: Why Your Nomination Details Matter

The Made in Alaska Program is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Manufacturer of the Year, an award that recognizes an Alaska business doing meaningful work through local production, innovation, resilience, and community impact.

Last year, Alaska Gear Company was named the 2024 Made in Alaska Program Manufacturer of the Year, highlighting the kind of Alaska-based manufacturing excellence this award is designed to celebrate.

AKMA and the Made in Alaska Program share a common goal: supporting the businesses that make products here in Alaska. While the Made in Alaska Program manages the Manufacturer of the Year award and nomination process, AKMA is proud to partner in celebrating this year’s winner by offering a one-year membership and welcoming them into our statewide manufacturing network.

Who Is Eligible?

To be considered for the 2025 Manufacturer of the Year award, a business must have held a Made in Alaska permit for the year of 2025.

This award is specifically for Made in Alaska-permitted businesses, so if you are not sure whether a business qualifies, check their permit status before submitting a nomination.

It’s Not About the Number of Nominations

When businesses hear “nomination,” it is easy to assume that more nominations means a better chance of winning.

That is not how this award works.

The Manufacturer of the Year award is not about who gets the most nominations. It is about the strength of the information submitted.

The scoring depends on how clearly and thoroughly the nomination explains the business’s work, impact, and growth.

One thoughtful, detailed nomination can be far more valuable than several short nominations that do not explain why the business deserves recognition.

If you are nominating a business, take the time to tell the full story.

What challenges have they overcome?

How have they grown?

What have they improved, created, or changed?

How do they support their community?

How do they work with other Alaska businesses?

The stronger the examples, the easier it is for reviewers to understand why that manufacturer deserves recognition.

Self-Nominations Are Welcome

Self-nominations are not only allowed — they are encouraged.

Manufacturers are often so focused on daily operations that they forget to pause and recognize what they have built. But no one knows your business story better than you do.

You know the challenges behind the scenes.

You know the decisions that helped your business grow.

You know the risks you took, the systems you improved, the products you developed, and the partnerships that helped move your business forward.

A self-nomination is not bragging. It is documentation.

It gives reviewers the details they need to understand your work and the impact your business has made.

What to Include in a Strong Nomination

A strong nomination should go beyond general statements like “they are a great business” or “they make quality products.”

Those things matter, but the nomination should explain why.

Think about including details such as:

Challenges overcome

Did the business navigate supply chain issues, workforce shortages, shipping delays, facility constraints, high operating costs, or major production changes?

Business growth

Did they expand their product line, increase production, hire employees, enter new markets, improve operations, or grow their customer base?

Innovation

Did they develop a new product, improve a process, bring production in-house, solve a technical problem, or adapt to Alaska’s unique operating environment?

Community leadership

Do they support local jobs, mentor others, participate in community efforts, donate products or time, or represent Alaska manufacturing in a positive way?

Collaboration with Alaska businesses

Do they source locally, partner with other manufacturers, work with Alaska suppliers, support local retailers, or strengthen the broader Alaska business ecosystem?

The more specific the nomination, the stronger it becomes.

What the Winner Receives

The 2025 Manufacturer of the Year will receive a custom bowl from the Great Alaskan Bowl Company, engraved with the winner’s business name. The award will be presented by Made in Alaska Program staff.

The winner will also be featured by the Made in Alaska Program through its website, social media pages, and future marketing materials.

As part of this year’s recognition, AKMA is offering the 2025 Manufacturer of the Year winner a one-year membership. That membership connects the winning business with Alaska’s statewide manufacturing network, including industry events, peer connections, visibility opportunities, practical resources, and inclusion in AKMA’s B2B Directory.

Why This Award Matters

Manufacturing in Alaska looks different than it does in many other places.

Our manufacturers operate across long distances, limited infrastructure, high shipping costs, seasonal constraints, and smaller local markets. They build products for some of the toughest environments in the world, often with fewer resources and less visibility than manufacturers in larger states.

That is exactly why recognition matters.

Awards like Manufacturer of the Year help tell the story of what is being made here, who is making it, and why it matters to Alaska’s economy.

They help shine a light on the businesses creating jobs, solving problems, producing locally, and strengthening supply chains across the state.

Take the Time to Tell the Story

Nominations are open from May 8 to May 29. The Made in Alaska Program shared that the award recognizes businesses that have demonstrated the ability to overcome challenges, grow, innovate, lead in their community, and collaborate with other Alaska businesses.

If you know a Made in Alaska-permitted business that deserves recognition, nominate them.

If that business is yours, nominate yourself.

Just remember: this is not about submitting the shortest answer or getting the most people to fill out the form.

It is about telling the story clearly.

Because Alaska manufacturers are doing important work — and the details are what help that work get recognized.

👉 Submit a nomination here