Above calendar photo "Downtown Harbor" by Ellen Carty from our 2026 Relocation Guide Photo Contest. Above featured photo from Kodiak Crab Festival 2026 "Crab Festival Parade" by Ellen Carty.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Chamber Members,

We are well into July, halfway through 2026, and hanging onto the incredible summer season that makes living in Kodiak more than worth it. I hope that you’ve been able to enjoy the best that summer has to offer while still making nice strides at work and finding time for your yourself.

I'm pleased to welcome Alexa San Juan in her new role at the Chamber as our Member Relations Executive. Alexa worked for us this past year as our Administrative Assistant. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Analytics and Digital Marketing, her time in the Chamber Admin role this past year combined with her educational background, great work ethic, and outstanding customer service make her an exceptional fit for this role. To get in touch with her call or stop by our office or email: memberrelations@kodiakchamber.org.

In the summer months things can seem a little quieter at the Chamber office but there’s actually a lot going on. This month we’ve held two Small Business Collaboration Group meetings, the first one focused on hearing from our members about potential changes to the City Sales Tax Code and for Moonlight Madness & Community Block Party planning. We’ve also started making plans for the Chamber’s Annual Dinner on October 24^th, for numerous Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies and Business After Hours Events, along with our Local Candidates Forums in September and for the 2026 House, Senate & Gubernatorial Fisheries Debates. 

We've also partnered with the Alaska Small Business Development Center, KANA & Koniag again this year to host 4 Free Small Business Workshops in September. The workshops will be on AI in the workplace, Marketing that Works and Financial Planning. You’ll find registration links for each session in the newsletter.

Our Summer Litter Patrol Employees having been hard at work all month long keeping our community clean, picking up trash along the road system from Bells Flats to White Sands, near businesses and in our neighborhoods, these kids do the hard work of keeping Kodiak clean all summer long for local residents and visiting guests. Know with confidence that when you support our Chamber you are a part of helping to keep Kodiak clean and beautiful.

The Chamber's 2026 Relocation Guide is live at kodiakchamber.org and we have hard copies are available in the office. If you’d like copies for incoming employees or new recruits, or you just haven’t received a copy yet please reach out to Anastasia at our office and she will help you.

This weekend at Ardinger’s & Co. they’re having a Big Anniversary Sale, scroll down for more details and of course…just go shopping! Next Wednesday Sea & Spruce Studios is holding an Open House from 6 to 8 in their new location next to Kodiak Diesel and Honey Salon on Selig Street.

At the beginning of this newsletter, you’ll find a link to a Kodiak Sales Tax Modernization Business Survey for all businesses that collect and remit Sales Tax to the City of Kodiak. It takes about 5 to 7 minutes to complete the survey and to let the City know your thoughts on the process.

Be sure to scroll all the way through for more information on member benefits and what's happening with some of our Member Businesses this month.

Warm Regards,

Ellen Simeonoff, Executive Director

The City of Kodiak needs your feedback.

The City Manager's Office and Finance Department are conducting a survey with the intent to help the City Council hear from our Kodiak Business Community about "the Sales Tax Collection & Remittance Process" and where improvements can be made. Let your voice be heard.

Click below to complete the survey.

Friends by the Ocean Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting - July 18th

We're so excited to announce that our 2027 CrabFest LOGO CONTEST IS OPEN!!!

We've partnered with the Alaska Small Business Development Center, KANA, & Koniag to Host Free Business Workshops in Kodiak September 14th & 15th.



• Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Small Businesses
• Marketing that Works
• Financial Projections

Important Reminder:

Alaska Minimum Wage increased on July 1, 2026

June 1, 2026

No. 26-11

JUNEAU — Alaska's minimum wage will increase to $14.00 per hour on July 1, 2026. In November 2024, Alaska Statute 23.10.065 was amended through the passage of Ballot Measure 1 to include this increase. The minimum wage will increase to $15.00 per hour on July 1, 2027. Starting Jan. 1, 2028, the minimum wage will return to annual adjustments for inflation.

The Alaska minimum wage applies to all hours worked in a pay period regardless of how the employee is paid, whether by time, piece, commission, or another agreement. The minimum compensation an employee must receive per pay period is all hours worked in the pay period multiplied by the Alaska minimum wage. Any claimed exemptions to the minimum wage must be clearly and specifically named in Alaska law.

Salaried employees who are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements under Alaska Statute 23.10.055(b) as bona fide executive, administrative, or professional employees must earn a salary equivalent to twice the minimum wage for the first 40 hours worked. Accordingly, effective July 1, 2026, the minimum salary for these employees will increase from $1,040 per week to $1,120 per week.

More information about Alaska's wage laws can be found at: https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/whhome.htm.

For more information, contact Wage and Hour at (907) 269-4900 or statewide.wagehour@alaska.gov.

Keep reading the newsletter for a full listing of our upcoming Business After Hours.

Monthly Chamber Board Meeting in August

• Wednesday, August 19th, 2026
• 11:30 am
• Kodiak Chamber Conference Room

Sea & Spruce Studios Creative Studio Open House Wednesday July 29th 6-8pm

July Walk-In Wednesday Headshot Special

$195 during July, regularly $225

Wednesdays from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

No appointment required; subject to availability

Includes:

• 15–20 minute studio session

• Multiple lighting and backdrop options

• Professional posing and expression coaching

• Image viewing and selection during the session

• One fully retouched digital image

• Additional images available for $50 each during July

The special is also available by appointment throughout July.

Kodiak Portrait Collective Soft Launch

Sea + Spruce Studios is celebrating the launch of the Kodiak Portrait Collective, our new studio home and shared creative space at 1420 Selig. We’ll host a soft-launch event on July 29th for local photographers, artists, content creators, and other interested creatives to check out the space.

Hourly, half-day, and full-day studio rentals are now available, with options to add studio assistance and equipment rentals.

Kodiak Portrait Collective Memberships

Studio Memberships for photographers and creatives will open soon. These memberships include recurring studio access, use of shared shooting spaces and backdrops, basic lighting and modifiers, and discounted rates for additional studio time.

Portrait Memberships for families and editorial boudoir clients will also open soon. Each membership will include a series of short portrait sessions throughout the year, with a new creative theme for each session.

Visit kodiakportraits.com to join the email list and receive updates as memberships, portrait dates, and other events open for booking.

Ardinger's Anniversary Sale This Weekend!

Islander Bookshop: Book Signing

Join us for a special evening on Friday July 31, 2026 from 5:00-7:00pm with author Mary Jacobs as she shares selections from her memoir, She Takes the Helm: Lessons in Grit from Alaska's Fishing Grounds.

This inspiring memoir chronicles Jacobs' journey from working in Alaska's salmon canneries to becoming a crew member, and ultimately the owner and skipper of an all-women salmon seiner based in Kodiak.

Following the reading, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the author, ask questions, and have books signed.

Come celebrate a remarkable story of determination, adventure, and the enduring spirit of Alaska's fishing communities.

Event is free and open to the public.

Kiwanis Pink Salmon Derby

Kodiak History Museum: Book Reading

Island Trails Network

Kodiak Outdoor Film Festival Is

Now Accepting Submissions!

The "Wait... That's Not Covered" Club

Courtesy of Aurora National Insurance Agency

If you've been in business long enough, you've probably had at least one moment where you thought, "Wait... my insurance doesn't cover that?"

Welcome to the club.

Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance is like a really good offensive lineman—it protects you from a lot of hits. But it can't play every position on the field.

Here are a few things it politely declines to handle:

 Your company truck meets a deer.

That's a Commercial Auto claim. (It's Alaska... try not to hit Bambie)

 A hacker locks up your computers and demands Bitcoin.

That's Cyber Insurance territory. Your CGL policy doesn't negotiate with cyber criminals.

 An employee gets hurt on the job.

Workers' Compensation steps in here—not your liability policy.

 You give professional advice that accidentally costs a client money.

That's where Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) coverage earns its paycheck.

 A fire damages your own building or equipment.

Your CGL covers damage you cause to others—not damage to your own business property.

The lesson? Commercial General Liability is an essential foundation, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. Assuming it covers everything is a bit like assuming duct tape can fix every problem. It works surprisingly often... until it doesn't.

A quick insurance review can uncover gaps before they become expensive lessons. And those are lessons nobody enjoys paying tuition for.

Give us a call at 907-562-3020 and lets chat about your business insurance.

www.aurorainsurance.net.

Well Being Massage & Rossiter

FRIENDS BY THE OCEAN

Summer Opening Special 10% off cottage rates for local stays

(907) 539-1978|www.friendsbytheocean.com

Orthopedic Physicians Alaska

SUMMER WEEKENDS at THE RENDEZVOUS

July at The Rendezvous is looking good!

We’re excited to announce that we’re now serving LUNCH ON SATURDAYS all summer long!

Lunch: Tuesday–Saturday | 11:30am–3pm

Dinner: Tuesday–Saturday | 5pm–9pm

Taco Tuesday

Military Wednesday – 20% off food with Military ID

Live Outdoor Music Friday & Saturday nights

Burger Truck 7pm-10pm Friday & Saturday nights

Whether you’re heading out the road, coming back into town, or looking for a place to spend a summer evening, we’ve got you covered from lunch through live music.



Check out our July lineup and make plans to join us!

July at "A Balanced Approach"

SolWater Collective

Hannahville Creations

Perfect for birthdays, baby showers, graduations, holidays, and all your special celebrations.

Every banner is custom designed, cut, and assembled by hand with so much care.

KeyBank at Kodiak Job Center

KODIAK JOB CENTER

HAVING AN EVENT?

List Your Event on the Chamber Calendar

Chamber News & Views

Let's talk about what's new at your business!

Chamber News & Views is a weekly, two-minute, pre-recorded radio segment that airs on KVOK & HOT 101.1

Each segment spotlights one of our local Chamber Members and is recorded at the KVOK studio.

What is Discussed?

Maybe you have a sale coming up, or a new menu, or want to let the community

know about a new feature, event or changes at your business. We will help guide your message, but anything business-related is fair game!

Who Can Take Advantage?

Any Chamber Member is able to take advantage of this unique promotional opportunity. Anyone from the organization can be interviewed. You choose the direction and goal you'd like to accomplish, and we will work with you to achieve it! This is a completely FREE service we provide for our Chamber Members.

How Do I Get Started?

Contact Alexa to schedule an interview, via email, stop by the office, or

call (907) 486-5557 to schedule an interview by calling the Chamber office. Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Contact our office to set up an appointment to share what's happening at your business through Chamber News & Views!

Membership Portal

Alaska Small Business Development Center

Visit https://aksbdc.org/ for more On Demand Workshops and More!

Workshops &

On-Demand Classes

• Combating Fraud & Identity Theft
• Creating a Compelling Commercialization Plan
• Avoiding Security Disasters for Small Businesses
• SBA Loans & What the Lender Requires
• Digital Marketing Trends
• Beginner's Guide Sell Your Products on Etsy
• Credit It is that important
• ADA Law What Businesses Should Know
• Financial Health of Your Business
• Anatomy of Modern Websites
• Bookkeeping Basics
• Creating Financial Projections for your Business Plan
• Developing a Marketing/Sales Strategy
• How to get a Business License in Alaska

Health Care for Chamber Members

As a Chamber Member, you and your employees have access to excellent health care insurance. Participation is available through Associated Industries, whose mission is to provide comprehensive healthcare products to Alaska employers at affordable prices. 

Please email us for more information.

Not a member? Join the Chamber

Interested in becoming a member?

The Chamber Membership gives your organization the tools and support it needs to succeed. With access to business resources, educational materials, advocacy, networking opportunities, and much more... 

If you're interested in becoming a PIKE Sponsor let us know.

Reach out to Ellen at 907-486-5557

or email: ellen@kodiakchamber.org or

Ericka via email at erickathompson@kodiakchamber.org

Chamber Board of Directors

President Sara Fraser

Past President Mary Beth Loewen

Vice President Robert Greene

Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Skinner

Board Members              

Lindsay Knight, Emily Stewart,

Wesley Snyder, Sarah Vega,

Nicholas Mangini, Nichole Miles,

& Laura Mullican



City of Kodiak Representative

Tim Putney

Kodiak Island Borough Representative Aimee Williams

USCG Base Representative

Capt. Gordon Hood

USCG Air Station Representative Capt. Dusty Williams

KEA Representative Dan Menth

Discover Kodiak Representative

Sabrina Hicks

Play Pull Tabs @ Henry's!!