The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, whose headquarters are pictured here, is leading state efforts to develop oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and to build roads to mining deposit in the Mat-Su and Northwest Alaska. (Courtesy/Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal)



The state agency leading some of Alaska’s most polarizing development projects has approved a new communications budget, saying it needs to do a better job telling its own story amid attacks from critics.