Patching the Fabric Hole
by Christi Foist | Feb 9, 2026
Patching the Fabric Hole
by Christi Foist | Feb 9, 2026
From Candlemaking to a Kokhanok Campground, Six Win Marketplace Competitions
Six Alaska Native entrepreneurs win business-boosting awards of up to $20,000 in the multi-region Alaska Marketplace business plan competition.
Palmer Board of Economic Development Honors Eight Businesses
Palmer Board of Economic Development begins quarterly campaign to recognize city businesses for being integral to its economic success.
The Side Quest Puts Board Games Front and Center
Games aren’t for sale, and the coffee is limited, yet The Side Quest brings the board game café experience to Anchorage with a new shop near Midtown.
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UIC Stands Up Road-Accessible Vertical Contractor, Iglu Construction
Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation adds Iglu Construction as a Railbelt builder, a different specialty compared to sister subsidiaries UIC Construction, UIC Nappairit, and UMIAQ Design.
GCI Declares Airraq Network Phase One Complete
GCI celebrates completing the first phase of the Airraq Network, a digital fiber extension to reach 11,800 Western Alaskans.
Cook Inlet LNG Advances Floating Storage and Regasification
Cook Inlet LNG and Glacier Oil & Gas are partnering on floating storage and regasification, enabling near-term energy imports for Southcentral.
AEDC Forecast Tentative, Pending LNG Decision
Consumer confidence is lower than ever, but the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation expects a shakeup in its 2026 economic forecast.
UIC Becomes Majority Owner of Northbank Civil and Marine
Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation acquired a majority interest in Northbank Civil and Marine, a Washington–based contractor specializing in civil and marine construction.
Continued Expansion as Credit Union 1 Plans Homer Branch
Credit Union 1 announced it will open its sixteenth branch by mid-summer, to serve member-customers in Homer.
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February 10, 2026 – February 12, 2026
35th Annual Rural Small Business Conference
The Rural Small Business Conference is for rural entrepreneurs, tribal and village leaders, lenders, and nonprofit teams working in agriculture, energy, tourism, fisheries, broadband, and local services.
February 20, 2026 – February 22, 2026
60th Annual Alaska Pharmacy Association Convention and Tradeshow
The 60th Annual Alaska Pharmacy Association Convention and Tradeshow is the premier annual gathering for Alaska’s pharmacy professionals.
February 25, 2026
Mat-Su Transportation Fair
Visit the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Transportation Fair to learn about more than 100 road, rail, pedestrian, air, and safety projects happening across Mat-Su.
Spotlight Digital Profiles
Alaska Pacific University
Associated General Contractors of Alaska
Personnel Plus
Thomas Head & Greisen, PC
SeaTac Marine
Lynden
American Marketing Association Alaska Chapter
Anchorage Economic Development Corporation
Doyon, Limited
Oxford Assaying & Refining
SES Space & Defense
ASRC Energy Remediation
New Leadership Team at Architects Alaska
Architects Alaska named Kathleen Benoit as its new President, with Diane Heaney-Mead stepping up as Vice President and Chrissy Gahm joining as Controller.
Successor Steps Up as Design Alaska President
With the departure of Chris Miller as President after twelve years with Design Alaska, the Fairbanks-based engineering firm is promoting Emily Winfield as his successor.
New Leadership for Alaska Communications’ Carrier and Wholesale Services
Alaska Communications is enhancing its carrier and wholesale services with the appointment of Jesse Kleinbach as the new Vice President of the organization.
Patching the Fabric Hole
When JoAnn Fabrics closed all its stores, including three in Alaska, sewers and crafters immediately felt the loss. In response, a few entrepreneurs are trying to stitch the market back together.
Catalyzing Cafeteria Construction
El Green-Go’s food truck is moving into the former East Anchorage bank that Catalyst Cannabis renovated into a food court. Learn about the complexities of installing special air ducts and why the drive-through window is only halfway open.
The Safety Corner: Avoiding Arborist Accidents
Forestry work is inherently dangerous, but it can be performed safely. Sean Dewalt explains how effective oversight and supportive management help arborists maintain a positive climate.
Characteristics of Leadership: Ego
Throughout 2026, this series on effective leadership will interview knowledgeable Alaskans and share their methods of aligning values with ethical conduct. This month’s topic: the pitfalls of out-of-control ego.
Training Creates Potential; Practice Builds Value
Training alone is insufficient; without a system of skill development, learning lingers as unrealized potential. Brian Walch shows how managers can turn learning into lasting results.
