How an Alaska fiber mill survived the pandemic, despite plummeting sales and low supply
Kate Wattum began operating her fiber mill business in Fairbanks in 2016. But it wasn't until 2020 that she felt like she'd hit her stride, turning raw animal fibers into yarn. Then came the pandemic.
Steep job losses in Alaska plus historic federal aid led to a ‘very different recession’ in 2020
As federal aid poured in, personal income in Alaska actually rose in 2020.
Independent travelers pour into Anchorage as summer tourism season begins
Big cruise ships recently got the green light to sail to the state again. At the same time, independent travelers are showing up in force in Southcentral.
Ammo shortage leaves Alaska businesses shooting blanks
Alaska and the rest of the U.S. are deep in an ammunition shortage, likely due to a confluence of current events and production setbacks.
Alaska’s brewing industry continues to grow, despite pandemic challenges
New breweries have been popping up in Alaska for years, and, despite earlier predictions that growth would plateau, it hasn’t let up yet. vv
At Anchorage farm, refugees in Alaska gain training and economic opportunity
The Mountain View farm took the place of a vacant parking lot. Today it’s tended by more than 20 immigrant and refugee farmers who live in Anchorage.
‘Cruise ships are back, baby’: Alaska’s first large cruise ship in 21 months visits Ketchikan
The first large cruise ship to visit Alaska since 2019 arrived in Ketchikan early on the morning of July 9. The federally mandated test voyage is the symbolic start of the Alaska cruise season.
Consumer prices spiked more than 6 percent in urban Alaska over the last year
Anchorage has seen a consumer price increase of more than 6% in the last year, with some sectors rising by nearly 50%.
Federal child tax credit expected to cut child poverty in Alaska
An expanded federal tax credit for working families rolled out last week as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Many have already seen their bank accounts credited $250 to $300 per child this month. It’s a plan that experts say will cut child poverty in half across the country — including in Alaska.
Federal eviction moratorium extended for nearly all of Alaska
The new moratorium only applies to areas experiencing “substantial” or “high” levels of COVID-19 transmission. That’s nearly all of Alaska right now.
Alaskans have until Friday to apply for pandemic rental assistance
Renters who make 80% or less of area median income for their community are eligible for rental assistance until Friday, Oct. 1.
AMBASSADORS UNPLUGGED SERIES | Ambassador Anniken Krutnes & Consul General Okko-Pekka Salmimies
mimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles. This program is a part of the Evangeline Atwood Distinguished Speakers Series and Ambassadors Unplugged, a series of talks with Ambassadors on issues such as climate change, gender equality, technology, alternative energy, and the world post-Covid.
Alaska’s economic recovery lags behind most states
As of July, Alaska had made up less than half of COVID-related job losses.
Without citywide mask rules during COVID surge, Anchorage businesses feel the pressure
As COVID-19 case rates in Alaska continue to lead the nation, Alaska’s largest city has no municipal health measures like a mask mandate or gathering restrictions in place. That’s left businesses to navigate which prevention steps to take on their own, which can get complicated for owners trying to weigh the health risks of doing business.
Toyostoves are scarce this year. That’s bad news for keeping homes in rural Alaska warm.
Step into any home in rural Alaska and there’s a good chance that a Toyostove is what’s keeping it warm. Toyostoves are heaters that run efficiently on stove oil. But the supply of Toyostoves in Alaska is running low, and it’s yet another symptom of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alaska’s vaccine sweepstakes aimed to get more people vaccinated. It’s unclear whether it worked.
The Alaska Chamber gave out nearly $1 million in a vaccine sweepstakes program, but it's unclear how effective the program has been at increasing Alaska's vaccination rate.
Supply chain bottlenecks are holding up winter gear in Anchorage
Across Anchorage, with snow covering the ground and temperatures dropping, waitlists for fat-tire bikes and skis are common. The demand for winter outdoor gear is high.
Anchorage retailers hope for spending rebound fueled by higher wages and ‘revenge shopping’
At Anchorage’s Dimond Mall, some retailers are reporting that sales have surpassed pre-pandemic levels thanks to pent-up demand and supply chain shortages that are vexing online shoppers.
More tiny homes are coming to the Y-K Delta, thanks to pandemic relief funds. But are they a good idea?
A surge of new housing is coming to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Most of those new units are slated to be of the trendy, tiny home variety. But with households in the region generally much larger than the national average, some tribes are questioning whether tiny homes are a good fit for the communities.
Alaska schools have long struggled to hire and keep teachers. The pandemic is making it worse.
The pandemic is making it even more difficult to hire and retain educators in Alaska. Strains from burnout and absenteeism are piling on the stress for a system that’s already buckling under the pressure.