The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce supports the increase to the base student allocation (BSA) passed by the 34th Legislature.

As one of the largest business organizations in Alaska, with nearly 800 members representing over 40,000 employees, the mission at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce is to advance a successful business climate by attending to the civic, economic, and cultural betterment of our community. For over 100 years, we have served as a resource where members can gain business knowledge, strength, and insight, and we are motivated to support growth and success for our members, ultimately strengthening the economy for all of Anchorage. 

A well-funded school system is a key component of a strong workforce development pipeline for a robust business environment. For several years, this has been the priority issue for our advocacy and legislative agenda. This includes support for not only student education and our future workforce, but also competitive compensation for the educators of our current workforce.

Continued constraints on the Anchorage School District will degrade the long-term economic health of Anchorage. As the largest community and economic hub of Alaska, these impacts have detrimental ripple effects statewide. We already see the impacts in continued outmigration, and Alaska won’t get the chance to foster transformative solutions without the trust of families. We must demonstrate that we believe in their students’ success and are willing to fund their education.

We urge the Alaska State Legislature to continue to support the Base Student Allocation (BSA) that originally passed in HB 57 and reinforced with a veto override earlier this session.

Thank you for your commitment to advancing the business environment across our great state.

Best regards, 

Kathleen McArdle

Anchorage Chamber of Commerce

President & CEO