Lifelong Valley resident launches new app to connect locals to events and businesses

WASILLA — Wasilla resident Makayla Gallagher recently launched a app called Mat-Su Events and Food Truck App.

This new app is designed to keep locals connected to community events as well as their favorite food trucks and other small businesses across the Mat-Su Valley. Gallagher said that she’s trying to help people discover the various points of interest in the community. She said that most events and small business happenings are posted on social media, but more often than not, people simply have a difficult time finding events, don’t see the posts until it’s too late, or never see them to begin with.

“There’s just so many resources out in the Valley that people don’t know about,” Gallagher said. “The only way we could find events was just by scrolling and scrolling and scrolling.”

That’s where the new locally-made app comes in. Gallagher said that it’s free to download and can be used to scroll through local posts gathered from across the Valley and receive notifications when an event is coming up. She noted that people can sign in as guests but only those that create accounts will be able to receive notifications, but both options are free of charge.

“I’m never going to charge anybody for it,” Gallagher said. “It’s just good to support the Mat-Su right?”

Gallagher said that she’s already received a lot of positive feedback from community members since she launched the app last month.

“They said they love it,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher has no formal technology background. She said that she has lived in the Valley her entire life and decided that this was a way she could help the local families and business owners that rely on each other year-round.

“It’s kind of a fun little hobby,” Gallagher said with a laugh. “I just want to be able to support the community.”

The Mat-SU Events and Food Truck App is available for download in The App Store on Apple and Google Play on Android.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com