“Alaska Communications plays a leading role in powering this transformation across the state by expanding high-speed broadband, investing in infrastructure, and delivering modern connectivity solutions designed for organizations of all sizes,” Christopher says. “In 2025 alone, we expanded high-speed broadband to tens of thousands of locations across Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, Juneau, and Fairbanks. These investments are helping Alaska businesses embrace new technologies, reach new customers, and compete on a broad scale.”

GCI views its role as providing the “digital foundation” that Alaska businesses need to operate effectively, efficiently, and confidently, according to Vice President of Sales Brad Spees. Whether it’s connectivity for a retail shop, secure solutions for a large enterprise, or reliable service for a small team managing its day-to-day operations, GCI’s network enables a huge range of essential work across the state. “We’ve spent decades building infrastructure that’s designed for Alaska’s geography and climate, because digital transformation only works when the connection behind it is strong, predictable, and built for the realities of this place,” he says.

Spees says technology must be dependable and easy-to-use because most small business owners do not have time to troubleshoot or manage complex systems. That’s why GCI focuses on delivering reliable connectivity and straightforward solutions that support everyday needs like scheduling, online sales, point-of-sale systems, and secure communication. “We also back that up with local support teams who understand both the technology and the communities they’re working in,” he says. “When the connection works the way it should, business owners can focus fully on their customers—and that’s the goal.”

Small business owners cannot afford to worry about network security or operations; they need a trusted partner, Christopher says. “We offer Small Business Bundles that allow business owners to delegate their connectivity and IT needs, gaining peace of mind and allowing them to focus on what truly matters—growing their business and enjoying a better work-life balance,” she explains.

Dependable connectivity, Spees says, gives companies room to grow and innovate. It might mean adding an online store, opening a second location, or using cloud-based tools to streamline operations. “In communities like Unalaska and Bethel, where fiber connectivity has come online more recently, we’re watching businesses modernize how they communicate with customers, manage inventory, and support their staff,” he says. “Once the bandwidth is there, a lot of doors open. And businesses are quick to take advantage of that.”

Telecom services can be especially impactful to businesses in Alaska’s remote communities. “In rural Alaska, access to fast, reliable connectivity can be genuinely transformational,” Spees says. “With initiatives like the Aleutians Fiber Project and the AIRRAQ Network, we’re significantly strengthening connectivity in some of the most remote communities in the state,” he explains. “Now, local businesses in places like Unalaska and Bethel can operate more efficiently, communicate more easily, and participate more fully in the digital economy. Reliable service gives them a foundation to grow, and we’re already seeing that momentum build.”

GCI has worked with a range of Alaska businesses that exemplify how reliable connectivity can make a real difference. LVSH Studio in Anchorage, for instance, uses the company’s internet and mobile services to handle scheduling, point-of-sale, and day-to-day operations of the hair salon without interruption. Another example is Swedish outdoor apparel brand SKHOOP, which has a local vendor near Downtown Anchorage. The outlet relies on GCI to power its online store and internal systems, helping its small team stay efficient and responsive. “What ties all of these stories together are the dedication and resilience of Alaska’s entrepreneurs,” Spees says. “When they have the right digital foundation, they’re able to focus on their mission—and we’re proud to help make that possible.”

This shift is especially important in Alaska, where businesses often operate with lean staffing, higher logistics costs, geographic constraints, and limited access to specialized talent. “In this environment, efficiency is not optional; it is essential for survival and growth,” Machuca says. “AI gives small teams the ability to perform work that previously required dedicated departments, whether in marketing, analysis, customer communication, or administrative support.”

The AI Resource Program helps small business owners move from AI curiosity to structured, practical implementation. Rather than focusing on theory, the program emphasizes embedding tools like large language models and other specialized AI solutions directly into real business workflows. It concentrates on helping small businesses with high-impact operational areas where they experience the most pressure. “The goal is to make AI operational—something that supports daily operations, decision-making and execution—not just a concept discussed in seminars,” Machuca says.

Integrated Project Services (IPS), an Anchorage-based data analysis consultant, for example, worked with SBDC to adopt AI for document creation and Excel-based processes, slashing production time in half. The adoption resulted in an estimated annual savings of $174,570 per team member, with the projected total savings for full team adoption to exceed $523,710 annually. “This technology has transformed weeks of work into days, making a significant financial impact,” says IPS Vice President Thad Phillips.

To help small businesses like IPS remain competitive, the AI Resource Program operates as a full AI adoption ecosystem, not just a one-time workshop. It offers tiered learning pathways and a four-part workshop series covering AI fundamentals for business, marketing with AI, data analysis using AI tools, and the development of custom AI assistants. The program’s training is increasingly being tailored to Alaska’s key industries, which ensures relevance to the state’s unique economic landscape. “The objective is not just education—it is competitive positioning,” Machuca says. “Businesses leave with working tools, clearer processes, and repeatable systems that strengthen efficiency and long-term resilience.”

To reduce the risk of “shadow AI”—where employees use unvetted tools—the program provides a six-stage roadmap for AI adoption: awareness, experimenting, adopting, optimizing, standardizing, and transforming. Machuca explains: “By using this six-stage framework, the program prevents random experimentation and replaces it with structured progression. AI becomes a managed organizational capability that evolves deliberately rather than a fragmented or reactive initiative.”

BuyAlaska offers an online directory of more than 1,300 business listings that make it easier for consumers to find products and services from local enterprises.

Each business manages its own directory listing, but BuyAlaska vets them. “I make sure it is an actual business that has a business license in the state of Alaska and that the license is active,” says Dante Medema, who runs the BuyAlaska program.

Additionally, BuyAlaska helps businesses broaden their reach through digital community engagement. It uses social media to “hype” local enterprises and build visibility, which helps counter the geographic isolation that many businesses face in Alaska. Instead of relying on repetitive messaging, BuyAlaska encourages business owners to engage in digital storytelling. “We’re tagging them in things like the Member Moment Mondays and oftentimes prompting our followers to tag their favorite businesses on different posts,” Medema explains.

BuyAlaska’s Love Local strategy also promotes peer-to-peer tagging to drive digital engagement, especially in competitive sectors like coffee shops. “Oftentimes, those posts are our most popular ones because people just want to spread the love,” Medema says. “By posting about local businesses and the benefits of shopping local, we hope to encourage Alaskans to keep our money in state, which will create more opportunities for more Alaskans and keep building up the economy.”

By participating in BuyAlaska, business owners become part of a supportive community that emphasizes the importance of conscious spending and mutual support. “Being part of this program is really like being part of a community where people are encouraging one another to be mindful of where they spend their money and mindful of supporting our neighbors,” Medema says. “If one of us benefits, we all benefit.”

By leveraging community connections and resources like BuyAlaska, the AI Resource Program, GCI, and Alaska Communications, small businesses are not just overcoming challenges, but they’re shaping a stronger economy for the state. Their ingenuity shows that, with the right support and technological solutions, Alaska’s business community can turn obstacles into opportunities and build lasting success.