Business is booming for Alaska native corporations

[The Straight Story]

Business is booming for Alaska native corporations
By Robert Brodsky [email protected] March 6, 2009

Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles accompanying the feature "Out in the Cold" in the March issue of Government Executive. The next installment will examine potential congressional changes to the Alaska program.

Small firms nationwide are struggling through the economic recession, cutting health benefits and laying off longtime workers. But for at least one segment of the industry, business has never been better.

In fiscal 2008, companies owned by Alaskan regional and tribal corporations earned a record $5 billion in federal contracts, nearly 10 times the $506 million they earned in fiscal 2000, according to new data analyzed by Government Executive. The data, compiled by Eagle Eye Publishers of Fairfax, Va., makes clear the extent of ANC prominence.

The corporations have won jobs in virtually every state and major sector, from reconstruction contracts in Iraq to information technology agreements in Washington. Individual corporations have thrived. Five ANC parent corporations have brought in $2 billion or more in contracts since 2000, with Anchorage-based Chugach Alaska Corp., leading the way at $4.5 billion.

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