EconomyAlaska · May 28, 2026
they bet on locals, not tourists
A barbecue joint in a town of 3,000 just got named Alaska's small business of the year.
Daily Alaska staff · May 28, 2026
Firebrand BBQ in Seward, owned by Chad and Stephanie Higgins, has been named Alaska's Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, an honor tied to National Small Business Week. The couple traveled to Washington, D.C. for the ceremony, joining honorees from every state and territory.
The recognition brings a national spotlight to Seward, a town of about 3,000 people on the Kenai Peninsula. For a small community, the honor is a marker of statewide pride, showing that a locally built business can stand alongside the best in the country.
What stands out is where the business's success came from. Rather than relying on the summer surge of cruise ship and tour visitors who fill Seward during peak season, the Higginses credit year round regulars, hotel staff, and harbor and boat crews for steadily sending customers their way.
That word of mouth from locals, not the seasonal tourist rush, built Firebrand BBQ into the business that earned national recognition. For Seward and the wider Kenai Peninsula, the award is seen as a win for the whole community.
In this story
Questions people ask
Who won Alaska's Small Business Person of the Year?
Chad and Stephanie Higgins, who own Firebrand BBQ in Seward.
What made their barbecue business grow in a town of 3,000?
They built their customer base on year-round locals like hotel staff and harbor crews, not summer tourists.
Who gives out this award?
The U.S. Small Business Administration, as part of National Small Business Week.
Where did they go for the award ceremony?
Washington, D.C.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Firebrand BBQ in Seward, owned by Chad and Stephanie Higgins, was named Alaska's Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. · akbizmag.com
- The Higginses traveled to Washington, D.C. to be recognized alongside honorees from every state and territory. · akbizmag.com
- The owners credit year round regulars, hotel staff, and harbor and boat crews for the business's success rather than summer tourists. · akbizmag.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →