Gateway to Kenai Fjords

Seward, Alaska, a scenic gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant community life in a stunning maritime setting.

Seward, Alaska, is a picturesque locale shaped by glaciers, nestled between mountains and the ocean, and known as the ancestral homeland of the Sugpiaq people. This town serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and has attracted explorers since Alexander Baranov took refuge here in 1792. Modern visitors come to Seward to enjoy hiking, wildlife exploration, paddling, fishing, and learning about its historic community.

Despite its northern latitude, Seward benefits from a temperate maritime climate with cool summers and relatively mild winters. The town has a small year-round population of about 2,800 residents but plays a crucial role in the region.

It operates under a council-manager government system, has been designated an All-America City three times, and actively promotes diversity and economic growth. Seward’s economy is primarily driven by commercial fishing, commerce, tourism, and education, with major employers including the State of Alaska and the City of Seward. The town also boasts significant infrastructure like the Alaska Railroad, the only multi-service, ice-free port in the area, and the recently completed Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC) breakwater, which supports a thriving marine service industry.

Key institutions in Seward include the world-class Alaska SeaLife Center, the Alaska Vocational Technical Center, the University of Alaska’s Institute of Marine Science, and the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery, further highlighting its importance as a hub for marine biology and education.

Kat Sorensen, City Manager

410 Adams Street City Hall Building
Seward, AK 99664
Phone: (907) 224-4012
Contact: ksorensen@cityofseward.net
Website: City of Seward

Kris Peck, City Clerk

410 Adams Street City Hall Building Suite 204
Seward, AK 99664
Phone: (907) 224-4038
Contact: clerk@cityofseward.net
Website: City of Seward

Samantha Allen, Executive Director

2001 Seward Highway
Seward, AK 99664
Phone: (907) 224-8051
Contact: director@seward.com
Website: Seward Chamber

Harding Icefield is the biggest ice field in the U.S.

tons of freight was moved by the Alaskan Railroad in 2023

Naturally

Ice-Free Port

Client Feedback

ALASKA BUSINESS MAGAZINE

“Business is booming on the Kenai Peninsula, in large part due to the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District (KPEDD), one of only four federally recognized business districts in Alaska.”

ALEX DOUTHIT

OWNER, KENAI PENINSULA DRIVING INSTRUCTION

“In the very beginning, we needed a lot of help with the licensing process; it was a big hurdle to get around the cumbersome regulations, and I was getting stonewalled throughout the process,” Douthit explains. “KPEDD were able to help point us in the right direction and to make contact with the people we needed to reach, which was integral to us starting the business.”

GENEVIEVE DEROOS

OWNER, RUSTIC ROOTS

“They really are just genuine, great people to talk to, and they really want to see small businesses succeeding, which is awesome,” she said. “Working with them has kind of made it feel like this is possible.”

TIM JAGIELSKI

VICE PRESIDENT, JAG MARINE GROUP

“They made initial introductions with AVTEC when we first came into Seward, which has really helped out across all trades of our operation,” says Jagielski. “Tim Dillon [KPEDD] is usually our first call when we get into situations where we need assistance.”