Matson has committed $5 million in cash and in-kind shipping services to food bank networks supporting families in need in Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam. Already a longtime financial supporter in those communities, Matson will provide the food banks with ocean shipping of food supplies at no cost for all of 2021, 2022, and 2023. The new commitment follows Matson’s support earlier this year for Food Bank of Alaska, as well as other Alaska community food security programs, including the Port Users Food Drive; Children’s Lunchbox; Unalaskans Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence; and The Salvation Army.
matson.com | foodbankofalaska.org

The 2021 Business Plan Competition, sponsored by UAA’s College of Business and Public Policy, has expanded eligibility to include members of the community in addition to UAA students. Four finalists will be selected to present their start-up ideas at the “Perfect Pitch” final competition on March 26, 2021. A panel of twelve judges will select Grand Prize ($6,000) and Second Prize ($3,000) winners. Audience members will select a People’s Choice ($1,500) winner. Entries are due February 8, 2021.
uaa.alaska.edu

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) was awarded the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence—Inventory, Tracking, and Reporting grant in November from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to begin the process of implementing a program to track sexual assault kit (SAK) testing. The grant provides $998,791 to the state over the next three years and will go toward the cost of software as well as two positions to manage the tracking program. The rollout of the SAK tracking software is expected to occur before the end of 2021. This system will also be a statewide mechanism for survivors to check the status of their kit at any time as well as provide them with notification when testing is complete.
dps.alaska.gov

Moda is offering increased health coverage to more communities throughout Alaska in 2021. In addition to its Moda Health Small and Large Group and Medicare Supplement plans currently offered statewide by Moda Health Plan, Moda Assurance Company will provide individual health plans in key new markets. “With this market expansion of our Individual plans into more areas of the state, Alaskans now have a choice of coverage that provides high-quality benefits designed specifically for them,” says Jason Gootee, VP of Strategic Market Development at Moda.
modahealth.com

An electric vehicle (EV) charger is now available at the Rustic Goat restaurant in West Anchorage, installed by the Municipality of Anchorage, which leases the parking area to the restaurant. The charger is the fourth and final charging facility funded in part by Chugach Electric Association as part of an EV charging research program. Chugach launched an incentive program last year to help the utility learn more about the use of publicly available EV chargers. The Chugach program reimburses up to $7,500 in upfront costs for each of the chargers in exchange for three years of charging data. To date, charging stations have been installed at Alyeska Resort, the South Anchorage Mall, and the Dimond Center. The charger in the parking lot near Rustic Goat, across Turnagain Street just east of the restaurant, is the latest in the research program.
rusticgoatak.com | chugachelectric.com

Nearly 1 million tons of cargo passed through Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in the third quarter of 2020, a 25 percent increase in cargo tonnage compared to the same quarter of the previous year. “The pandemic has caused a significant shift in the air traffic mix. Nominal amounts of passenger aircraft are flying, displacing the cargo they once carried in their bellies. It has created considerable demand for freighter space to carry that cargo,” says ANC Airport Director Jim Szczesniak. The future looks bright for ANC, with more than $500 million of private cargo development and expansion projects on the horizon. Alaska Cargo & Cold Storage, 6A Aviation, FedEx, and UPS have all put forward plans for development or expansion at the world’s sixth busiest cargo airport.
dot.state.ak.us/anc