A Statewide Voice: The Alaska Chamber advocates for businesses, big and small.

• Author: Capozzi, Kati

The Alaska Chamber is a statewide organization that represents the business community's interests throughout Alaska. While many Alaskans can likely imagine what their local chamber of commerce works on and advocates for, clear differences exist between these valuable organizations and ours. Local community chambers focus almost solely on businesses located within their geographical location or those with potential to impact their local business community. At the Alaska Chamber, we advocate for businesses throughout the state, providing a unified voice on issues affecting the statewide business community. We also offer resources and networking opportunities to our members, helping them to grow and succeed in the 49th State.

Based in Anchorage, we represent the business community as a whole, not just specific industries or sectors. No matter how small or large the business, each Chamber member has an equal opportunity to submit, weigh in on, and advance our policy agenda. This "one member, one vote" parity not only ensures that our policy positions do, in fact, represent the entire business community, but it also lends the Chamber credibility when we meet with elected officials and policy makers; they know that, to pass, a priority or policy position must survive scrutiny by a diverse membership.

Decades of experience have taught us there is no substitute for old-fashioned relationship building and constant communication on important issues. We maintain a strong presence in Juneau during the legislative session, regularly meeting with policymakers and members of the administration, providing testimony and sending letters to elected officials on legislation and regulations that impact our members. In addition, we remain engaged in discussions with key elected leaders by actively participating on task forces relevant to the business community, such as Governor Dunleavy's Office of Broadband or his new childcare task force.

Steering the Discussion

By far, the core of what the Chamber does is strategic development of our policy positions and priorities. By discussing, debating, and analyzing the big public policy issues of the day, we provide a "one-stop-shop" to elected and community leaders seeking guidance on where the business community stands, both at the state and federal level. Our annual policy forum takes place every fall and is exclusive to members. Its purpose is to revise and add relevant positions to our advocacy platform for the...