Sixteen business leaders from Alaska’s Interior converged on the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau last week to promote the chamber’s priorities of cheap energy & workforce development.

The two days of meetings and presentations also included a catered reception hosted by the chamber.

Represented through the Chamber on the Juneau Fly-In were Alaska Oil & Gas Association, American Red Cross of Alaska, Doyon Ltd., Explore Fairbanks, Fairbanks Children's Museum, Fairbanks Education Association, Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center, Golden Heart Utilities, Interior Gas Utility, Kinross Alaska, Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitor's Center, RESPEC, the Odom Corp., Tower Hill Mines, and Usibelli Coal Mine.

The team met with dozens of state lawmakers and three commissioners on a whirlwind trip that included a lunch presentation from the Department of Law, Alaska Energy Authority, and an update on in-state food and crop production from the Alaska Farm Bureau. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was also visiting the capital and a few chamber members watched her address to the 33rd Alaska Legislature live. By and large, state leaders agreed that bringing down the cost of energy and developing a robust workforce are vital for a healthy economic climate in Alaska.