Why Choose Anchorage?

Living and working in Anchorage provides unique opportunities. Anchorage thrives amidst a beautiful and vast wilderness. Bordered by the Chugach Range to the east and Cook Inlet to the west, Anchorage is a culturally diverse community that embraces all newcomers. Over 90 world languages are spoken by Anchorage students, including many Native languages – we are the largest Native Village in Alaska. Anchorage is a growing frontier metropolis, balancing vibrant energy and accessible wilderness solitude.

America’s commercial gateway to Asia, Anchorage International Airport is the world’s fifth busiest cargo airport. FedEx and UPS route freight operations at the facility. Anchorage is also home to the world’s busiest float plane airport at Lake Hood. Home to half of all Alaskans, Anchorage is the state’s economic engine, and the focal point for tourism and adventurers exploring the vast expanse of Alaska.

Anchorage’s three large hospitals (not counting significant facilities at two major military installations) serve as the base for a mature statewide telemedicine industry. Many remote villages can only be reached by air, with villagers isolated by both weather and expense. Anchorage based healthcare professionals are leading providers of Tele-Health services to remote communities. During the past ten years over one billion dollars has been invested to develop, test and deploy leading edge Tele-Health solutions.

Our residential market is prepared to adopt – and heavily utilize – new Internet services. The Muni (Anchorage’s city government) recently surveyed residents in preparation for a Muni wireless project. The survey validated that more than 90% of Anchorage homes have at least one computer. Adoption of broadband Internet access service by Anchorage residents exceeds the national average by ~20%. Anchorage’s two facilities based telecommunications companies aggressively develop and market new Internet access services that keep Anchorage technologically current. Competition has resulted in significant infrastructure investment in Anchorage, including installation of new fiber optic network facilities to many Anchorage neighborhoods.

Distance and location present Anchorage with unique challenges. Twenty hour long summer days are offset by long cold winters. Anchorage has adapted to these conditions; although the construction season is not as long, our workforce and construction practices are efficient and our local government is extremely flexible and supportive. We are quick to test and accept innovations as they are proven in the field.

Why choose Anchorage? Long winters and a relatively remote location might seem like hindrances rather than advantages for a test bed project. Anchorage believes that Google is looking for a community that brings many challenges that will help the company to determine strategies that would facilitate a nationwide expansion. Anchorage believes that if Google can succeed here – it can succeed anywhere. The community is excited about the potential that this project brings and is looking forward to a fruitful and prosperous partnership with Google.