Saluting Alaska business monthly's top 49ers: gem of the north.

• Author: Harrington, Susan
• Position: FROM THE EDITOR - Company rankings

Alaska Business Monthly's annual Top 49ers list of Alaskan-owned and -operated businesses, ranked by gross revenue, is an enduring and iconic feature of the magazine--we've been presenting these Gems of the North for 27 years. This year is no exception, though the companies on the list are exceptional.

In the past we've been privileged to honor the people of these Alaska businesses at an awards luncheon the first week of October and we are excited to once again, finalizing preparations as this issue goes to press. This year's luncheon, at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage, is being co-hosted by the folks at the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce. We are grateful to the Alaska Chamber for its support, including the Alaska Business Monthly Top 49ers award luncheon as an item on their annual convention agenda and for loaning us their keynote speaker for the event. Honoring the Top 49ers is a great way to start off the frosty month of October and we look forward to it every year.

There is so much going on in Alaska at press time and LNG is the bellwether for what could become the biggest driving force to the state's economy other than meaningful oil tax reform, which is the single most important action for our economy. It is good to remember the world of difference between the production of natural gas and the production of oil--although any pipeline construction or LNG infrastructure built in-state would be an enormous boost to the economy. We hold high hopes the time for marketing stranded gas has arrived. It is also important to know the difference between subsidized exploration of small fields and reformed taxes for legacy field mega production, and understand how crucial this is to the Alaska economy. Next month we all have the opportunity to make an impact with votes for those who would help in the development of the Alaska economy.

More on the October issue--it has a great line-up of articles for our...