Published Jul 10, 2024 by Barbara Norton

Inflation, operating costs and workforce shortages are the most common challenges facing small businesses in Alaska, according to a new survey.

The Alaska Small Business Development Center survey tracks small business growth in the state and projects future trends. This is the seventh annual report.

Inflation was most frequently cited as the top issue facing Alaska’s small businesses. However, survey respondents identified inflation as an issue for businesses more broadly, rather than an immediate one for their specific business. Only 12% named inflation as their business’s biggest challenge, the third-highest after finding clients or customers and their workforce.

Jon Bittner, the executive director of the center, underscored inflation’s impact on rural small businesses during his presentation for the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce on Monday. For small businesses outside of Anchorage, inflation exacerbates the longstanding issue of high prices, according to Bittner.

Published Jul 10, 2024 by Alison York and Eric Miller

Alaska’s risk of wildfire is higher than 78% of other states in the U.S., and 62% of our buildings are directly exposed to flammable vegetation. Alaskans need to understand and prepare for the risks associated with living between forests and inhabited areas. The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ new Wildfire Walk connects the public to wildfire in a way that we hope will lead to greater community resilience and preparedness.

The Wildfire Walk is a new interpretive trail that leads to the 2021 Yankovich Road Fire that burned 3.5 acres of university land and came within 100 yards of a neighborhood. Given the proximity to inhabited areas, the fire received the full attention of wildland firefighters and local fire departments, and was quickly suppressed. Even so it was a sobering experience for the local residents who recalled feeling unprepared when they were told by emergency personnel to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

In Alaska, about half of our wildfires and nearly all of the problematic fires that threaten communities are caused by people. Though we cannot control the weather or the number of lightning strikes, we can control our behavior and the fuels around our homes. We can make Alaska a safer place by learning more about wildfire, being careful with anything that can start a fire, using Firewise landscaping and following burn bans.

Published Jul 9, 2024 by Yvonne Krumrey, KTOO

This is Lingít Word of the Week. Each week, we feature a Lingít word voiced by master speakers. Lingít has been spoken throughout present-day Southeast Alaska and parts of Canada for over ten thousand years. 

Gunalchéesh to X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation and the University of Alaska Southeast for sharing the recorded audio for this series.