Three electric utilities providing electric service in the Railbelt announced their support to create an entity to meet the combined generation and transmission needs of customers in the region. Leaders of Chugach Electric Association, Matanuska Electric Association and the city of Seward in a joint meeting expressed support of legislation to create the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation, or GRETC. The organizations outlined their vision in a resolution that noted benefits the new organization would bring, including joint planning, state-assisted financing and utility technical expertise to operate and maintain projects. Legislation to create GRETC was introduced in both the House and Senate earlier this year, but the Legislature adjourned with the bills still in committee. The Railbelt Electrical Grid Authority study, completed in September 2008, was led by the Alaska Energy Authority. It identified an average annual net savings of between $10.5 million and $30.9 million.

SBA adds new training tools for veterans

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced a three-year agreement to expand entrepreneurship training for service-disabled veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The agreement with SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development will support the expansion of the yearlong "Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities." The expansion will maximize small business programs for veterans, service-disabled veterans, reserve-component members, and their dependents or survivors. SBA also launched a new online contracting tutorial as part of its efforts to expand services to veterans and service-disabled veterans. Veterans and military spouses who own small businesses can utilize this free online course to learn how to identify and take advantage of federal contracting opportunities. On the Web at www.sba.gov.

Porcaro takes 5 Davey Awards

Porcaro Communications, an Anchorage advertising agency, won five silver awards in the International Davey Awards, a competition for advertising and communications firms. Entries are judged to evaluate distinction in creative work. Porcaro won five silver awards in two categories, including Business to Consumer: GCI - Rural Wireless Winter Camp; Business to Consumer: GCI - Wireless Radio Campaign; Business to Consumer: GCI - DS Snail Radio Campaign; Internet Services: GCI - "Milkman"; Internet Services: GCI - "Stockbroker." The Davey Awards are judged by the International Academy of the Visual Art, an invitation-only body consisting of professionals from media, advertising and marketing firms. Porcaro Communications is a full-service advertising agency with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Alaskans accepted to national veterans' project

Sen. Mark Begich announced the inclusion of video accounts from three more Alaska veterans to the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. The project currently houses accounts from 92 veterans from Alaska with periods of service dating back to World War II. The accounts of these Alaskans joined the entry of Pvt. Roy Bailey, an Alaska Native living in Sitka who served in World War II, in the Library's collection of veteran stories. Bailey's story was selected by the Library of Congress as one of nine Native Americans featured in the Library's "Willing to Serve - American Indians" project. The three accounts accepted to the Veterans History Project this year were: Jacob Lestenkof, of St. George Island, who served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and later as an officer in the Alaska National Guard; Marc Hoffmeister, born in Springfield, Mass., who served in the Army during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflict - was wounded in Iraq - and currently stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base; and Maurice Bailey, born in Memphis, served in the Army during Vietnam, and trained as an airplane/helicopter mechanic. Begich's office also recorded video accounts of three Alaska Territorial Guard members. The Library of Congress is still processing their potential inclusion in the Veterans History Project. These accounts include: James Peter Sr., of Kwigillingok, who served with the ATG from 1942 to 1947, achieving the rank of sergeant; Joseph Lomack, of Akiachak, who served with the ATG from 1942 to 1947, achieving the rank of master sergeant; and Jacob Nelson Sr., of Kukak, who served with the ATG from 1942 to 1947, achieving the rank of corporal, and later joined the Alaska National Guard, where he was a staff sergeant and assistant chaplain.

SBA Alaska names Wells Fargo as lender of the year

The U.S. Small Business Administration Alaska District Office announced that Wells Fargo Bank was selected as the Alaska SBA Lender of the Year for 2009. The award recognizes the SBA lender that achieves the overall highest number of SBA loan approvals to businesses located in Alaska during the federal fiscal year. Wells Fargo recorded 37 loan approvals during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 totaling $6.6 million.

SBA names Alaska Pacific as community lender of the year

The Small Business Administration Alaska District Office presented its 2009 community-based bank award to Alaska Pacific Bank for the third year in a row.

During the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, Alaska Pacific Bank, headquartered in Juneau and serving Southeast Alaska, had 29 loan approvals totaling nearly $2.3 million. Alaska Pacific Bank also recently received SBA's Preferred Lender Program status, which provides delegated lending authority to SBA lenders that demonstrate proficiency in processing and servicing SBA-guaranteed loans.

Alaska helps raise money for the cure

Anchorage's Simon & Seafort's restaurant raised $1,477 as part of Restaurants Unlimited Inc. efforts to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. The restaurants raised $30,796 system wide in October, breast cancer awareness month. For every cosmopolitan cocktail purchased through October at any RUI restaurant, $1 was donated to the local Komen affiliate and the guest received a pink cause bracelet to help raise awareness. RUI also donated $1 for every non-alcoholic fresh mint Mojito purchased.

LifeMed earns accreditation

LifeMed Alaska LLC is now one of the 150 programs worldwide to earn accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. CAMTS awards this certification to air medical services that provide quality to constituents and demonstrate that their main priorities are patient care and safety of the transport environment. LifeMed Alaska, an Alaska licensed air ambulance company with bases in Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Palmer and Soldotna, provides 24-hour medical transport services to all acuity of patients, from the basic to the critical.