Best of Alaska Business.

• Position: Awards list

BEST JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES--DENALI AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A doctor with a boy at a Health Clinic in Southcentral Alaska.

[c] Chris Arend / AlaskaStock.com

BEST JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES--ST. ELIAS AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A Doyon Drilling rig drills for oil at Drill Site 5 in the Prudhoe Bay oil field on the North Slope.

BEST JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES--FORAKER AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

High school students are racing the motor vehicles they built during ANSEP's Acceleration Academy. The activity is part of an innovative curriculum designed to ignite interest STEM career fields. The students are, from left, Jared James, Tununuk; Xavier Jones, Kotzebue; Keith Perry, Palmer; and Sadie Sands, Dillingham.

BEST NEW ALASKA STARTUP-DENALI AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Thank you to our community, friends, and families for supporting us and believing in our vision to start a neighborhood craft brewery in Eagle River, Alaska.

BEST NEW ALASKA STARTUP--FORAKER AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Craft brewing is of paramount importance at the 49th State Brewing Company From start to finish we want to provide our guests with a product that we are proud to call our own. While this begins with clear Alaskan water, fine malts and hops, and yeast, we consider the entire experience at the 49th as reflective of our craft. Therefore, at the 49th you'll have beer served by a staff of Cicerone Certified beer servers, proper glassware to accompany various styles of beet, a hearty menu to meet any hunger, and outdoor spaces to bring community to the 49th experience. And at the 49th, we hold the belief that every good beer should be paired with a good song We are pleased to offer entertainment at both brewpubs, so everyone can celebrate the beer and music culture in Alaska.

I'm from Alaska and we started this company because we saw a need for specific businesses and we saw things that were lacking. We really tried to create something unique in Healy and we've achieved that. We're really excited to have won the award and it's a reminder that locals want authentic Alaskan businesses in their communities and tourists are looking for that too.

Alaska is built on people thinking big and dreaming big and we created something big because it hasn't been done before and we're taking this little company and making it a big company. It's hospitality and it's the core of what we're trying to do in the state --Jason Motyka

It's about a startup and the award is one thing but the evidence that speaks the loudest, is the warm reception we're receiving from the Anchorage community. So many know our other businesses and have overwhelmed us with the positive feedback on our new brewpub opening.

A lot of people talk about concepts and ideas--turning that into a reality is the challenge and that's what Jason and I are focused on. It's a labor of love and we believe in small business ownership and growth for our state. We had a concept and we were driven to make it happen and that's how the 49th State Brewing Company started in Healy.

It's an honor to be named one of the best startups. And what makes a startup succeed is the constant push to get the business off the ground. Our team is phenomenal and has allowed us to be a truly Alaskan-owned hospitality company that incorporates our restaurants, brewpubs, and lodges. Whenever we start a season or a new brand, we tell all the managers in the startup that we're not trying to reinvent the wheel, we're trying to own our concepts and be great at executing them.

We're not risk averse. If you're going to make it, you have to get a little uncomfortable sometimes. A solid plan peppered with some risk is the recipe for growth. The risks we're taking are calculated and hopefully the business minds of Alaska get caught up in the wave and we see more small business owners taking over.

For our latest startup, the 49th State Anchorage, we needed a spot that had the elements that make a perfect match to the Denali brewpub, i.e, a blend of community, tourism, and outdoors. When we found the location downtown at 3rd and G, that search was over. It was originally an Elk's Lodge built in 1918; Over the decades it grew into a local social club where one in six people in Anchorage were members. The three story property located on the water with a view of the Alaska Range had a private bar. dining area, bowling lanes, and ballroom which made it the gathering place in Anchorage. In '96, the Snow Goose bought it and transformed it into a brewery and commercial restaurant that fit right in with Alaska's brew scene. As our new brewpub comes of age, you'll find the approach and philosophy unchanged from the original Healy spot. Were sticking to our full circle philosophy and working with other Alaskan businesses to procure services and goods for our company. We look to be stewards in the community to keep the craft alive, independent businesses thriving, and chain companies on the fringe.

--David McCarthy

49TH STATE BREWING COMPANY ALASKA

49th State

Mile 248.4 George Parks Highway,

Healy, AK 99743

907-683-2739

717 W. 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501

907-277-7727

facebook.com/49thstatebrewingcompany

BEST NEW ALASKA STARTUP--ST. ELIAS AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Our founder and mother of two--Zoi Maroudas, has used her medical background and the Mediterranean diet to help grow strong healthy babies. Every product we offer starts with fresh organic ingredients farmed just for us. Our recipes are inspired by leading research and supported by pediatricians and allergists for allergy prevention, nutrition, and superior flavor. We guarantee parents quality and convenience. Our mission is simple: Real food parents can trust and flavors children will love.

I am humbled and honored that our vision is shared that the quality of food for children is essential to life. This is an honor not just for us but we are sharing this with the farmers who grow the organic vegetables and the fishermen who provide us with the beautiful sustainable Alaska seafood--together we make an amazing product that benefits generations. --Zoi Maroudas, Founder and CEO

BEST TOWN TO GROW A BUSINESS--DENALI AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

ANCHORAGE

Credit for this award goes to the people of Anchor age-for being entrepreneurs willing to take risks for the businesses they want to grow, and for making this city a great market and talent pool Credit also goes to those who make sure that our city has the schools, parks, trails, and infrastructure that make Anchorage a great place to grow a business.

--Ethan Berkowitz, Mayor Municipality of Anchorage

This award reflects the hard work of the Municipality of Anchorage in leveraging federal funds for programs that promote business growth, such as Startup in a Day, and in fostering new business growth, with programs like the Welcoming Cities initiative, that are conducive to a business friendly environment. AEDC is happy to support these efforts and work towards making Anchorage the number one city to live, work, and play.

--Bill Popp, President & CEO Anchorage Economic Development Corporation

Municipality of Anchorage

632 West 6th Avenue,

Anchorage, AK 99501

muni.org

AEDC

501 L Street, Suite 603, Anchorage, AK 99501

907-258-3700

aedcweb.com

BEST TOWN TO GROW A BUSINESS--ST. ELIAS AWARD

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

EAGLE RIVER

What a wonderful honor to hear the announcement that Eagle River has been voted "the best town in Alaska to grow a business". Ours is a wonderful, thriving community with new and established businesses that serve the entire region. The mission and vision of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce is to promote sustainable business and civic interest and to be the "most livable and unique community in Alaska." We are proud of the local businesses and entrepreneurs who work diligently to provide great experiences and opportunities to meet the needs of residents of the region.

--Dana Thorp Patterson, Executive Director

Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce

12001 Business Boulevard, Suite 108, Eagle River AK 99577

907-694-47021 cer.org

BEST TOWN TO GROW A BUSINESS--FORAKER AWARD

WASILLA

You live in Anchorage and when you come to the Valley you see it as a whole, but each community has a niche: Palmer is government services--the DMV, pay court fees, see your probation officer, pay your taxes, get your driver's license-people who live in the Valley go to Palmer for all that. Big Lake is recreation, Houston is industrial, Talkeetna is...