Investing within Alaska is inherently difficult. Extreme weather, daunting logistics, geographical isolation and workforce limitations pose tremendous challenges, even in a good year. The workers, employers and investors willing to overcome these problems are a tough strain of business people. They take on the risks because they enjoy the challenge, and believe in a vision of a functional state with good, family-wage jobs.
Yet, a web of new problems makes current conditions significantly worse. Businesses throughout Alaska are dealing with runaway inflation, crippling supply chain shortages, tremendous increases in fuel and energy costs, extreme lead times on critical items, the inability of vendors to fulfill prior quotes, housing shortages for workers, a “Great Resignation” following dynamic shifts in workforce expectations, and…
