Alaska Business Sites

Access Alaska: Resources and Networking for Alaskans

http://www.accessak.org/
This site is powered by the Juneau Economic Development Corporation and the Knowledge Industry Network (KIN). The network’s goal is to work toward diversifying Alaska’s economy through the development of business through creativity and innovation, while providing a thriving environment for students and Alaska professionals.  It offers a powerful search tool, news bites covering issues of importance to businesses, and networking opportunities.  The resource section includes three main categories: 

• Starting Your Business
• Operating Your Business
• Growing Your Business. 

There is a wealth of information in each section. For example, under Starting Your Business, you can get a start-up checklist; get industry-specific information; get tips for writing a business plan; learn about the options for structuring businesses; get info about license requirements, regulations, and labor laws; get tax information; government info; environmental protection info; business assistance resources; financial assistance; and more. 

Alaska Business Development Center: Help for Commercial Fisherman

http://www.abdc.org
This organization is a nonprofit consulting firm specializing in providing business assistance to the Alaska commercial fishing industry.  They offer one-on-one technical assistance to commercial harvesters and small business participants/potential participants in the Alaska fishing industry.  They can help with business plan development, presentations to financial institutions, bankruptcy and tax problem resolution, marketing studies, contracting assistance, and more. 

Alaska Department of Commerce: Commerce, Community and Economic Development

http://www.commerce.state.ak.us
This site is pretty amazing because it is full of Alaska-specific information for the business owner.  Here are some of the highlights of what you will find:

• Business license search
• Buying a business license online
• Small Business Assistance Center
• Alaska Community Database
• Economic Development Resource Guide
• Links to various state divisions and agencies involved in business
• A “What’s Hot” section

Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority (AIDEA)

http://www.AIDEA.org
AIDEA’s mission is to provide various means of financing to promote economic growth and diversification in Alaska.  Their site includes current events, programs, projects, and more.

Alaska InvestNet: Where Capital and Opportunity Meet

http://www.alaskainvestnet.net
Alaska InvestNet’s (AIN) purpose is to create wealth and jobs in the 49th state. They accomplish this by linking Alaska’s most talented entrepreneurs to local financial support, critical for their growing their enterprises. Local private equity investments keep entrepreneurial talent and businesses in Alaska, and help companies build fresh economic infrastructure with sales, new jobs, and enduring wealth. Strengthening the start-up economy creates competitive jobs vital to Alaska 25-to-35 year-old population, reducing brain drain and helping to increase the tax base. Information about funding opportunities is available on their site.

Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership

http://www.ak-mep.org
This organization is committed to developing the state’s economy by providing technical, business, and economic training and assistance to Alaska’s small manufacturers and to rural Alaskans producing, marketing, and distributing Native art and other home-based manufactured products.  Areas they focus on include:

• Creating new web-based opportunities for Alaska businesses
• increasing value-added food processing
• Radio Frequency Identification for inventory control, point of purchase management, and package tracking
• Manufacturing Process Improvement program
• Value-added timber processing
• Online courses in LEAN Manufacturing Techniques, Project Management, Professional Training and Certification, and Six Sigma

Alaska Small Business Administration

http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/ak/
This site offers a wealth of information for Southeast businesses.  You can sign up for a variety of business-related newsletters, including Alaska Lenders, Alaska Womens’ Biz, an Advocacy Newsletter, and more. They offer hundreds of publications including a Small Business Planner with articles on planning your business, starting your business, managing your business, and getting out of business. There is also a great section on SBA services, including SBA loan programs (Alaska Pacific can help with this), contract opportunities, disaster assistance, online training, counseling and assistance, and more

Alaska Small Business Development Center

http://www.aksbdc.org
The mission of the Small Business Development Center is to foster, promote, and assist he growth and development of small businesses in Alaska through a multi-faceted business assistance program.  They offer counseling and training through their offices in several communities in Alaska.  In Southeast, they have an office in Juneau and there is a Rural Outreach Program in Anchorage to assist smaller communities. They have a “Small Business Assistance Links” section on their site, under the Resources menu, and a SmallBizU eLearning University with online courses.

Their “Business Counseling” program is focused in the following areas:

• Business Start-up/Acquisition
• Sources of Capital 
• Marketing/Sales
• Government/Procurement
• Accounting and Records
• Tax Compliance
• Financial Analysis/Cost Control
• Inventory Control
• Engineering/R&D
• Personnel
• Computer Systems
• E-Commerce
• International Trade

Alaska State Chamber of Commerce

http://www.alaskachamber.com/artman/publish/
Get information about the Alaska business community, as well as tourism, relocation, legislative issues, and a profile of Alaska. Plus, a directory of all Alaska City Chambers of Commerce is provided on the ASCC's homepage.

Alaska Travel Industry Association: Help for Travel-related Businesses

http://www.alaskatia.org
This group was formed to promote trade and marketing trade for the over 1,000 large and small tourism and travel-related businesses throughout Alaska.  Their site offers information about their cooperative marketing programs, an event calendar, and membership information.

Buy Alaska Program

http://www.buyalaska.com
The Buy Alaska program assists businesses, consumers, and government agencies in finding competitive Alaska sources when buying goods and services so more is purchased in-state.  Members can register in the network for free, and get sales referrals/leads and get on a list of local suppliers.

State of Alaska

http://www.state.ak.us/
Alaska's homepage offers several valuable business resources. You can, for example, visit the Department of Labor, the Department of Administration, or the Department of Commerce and Economic Development (see the Top 10 List).

Technology Research and Development Center (trend)

http://www.trendalaska.org
Trend is a specialty center within the Alaska Small Business Development Center designed to support and promote Alaska small businesses in the research and development of new technology in Alaska. trend provides one-on-one assistance aimed at identifying a client's business assets and resources for taking a technology to market.  This group provides Alaska businesses with assistance in the areas of research grant proposals, technology transfer, searches and angle capital. All services are free except those offered by AceNet. 

• Comprehensive assistance with the Small Business Innovation Research Grants and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
• Technical searches for background information such as preliminary patent searches and subscription databases.
• Technology transfer (links to NASA technologies)
• AceNet Network operator for Alaska, and SBA-sponsored listing service for entrepreneurs seeking equity investments of $250,000-$5 million.

U.S. Export Assistance Center of Alaska

http://www.buyusa.gov/alaska
The Alaska Export Assistance Center is part of an international network of domestic Export Assistance Centers and foreign offices, offering a unique and valuable service to Alaska exporters. They are in partnership with Alaska’s World Trade Center.  Services they offer:

• Business consulting
• Market research
• International partner searches
• Gold Key Service
• International company profiles
• Product promotion to potential buyers, distributors, and representatives of foreign countries
• Catalog shows
• Export financing options through the US Small Business Administration and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority
• A “Guide to Exporting Alaskan Seafood”
  

World Trade Center, Anchorage

http://www.wtcak.org
This statewide organization is made up of companies, individuals, and organizations involved directly or indirectly with international business.  Their mission is to assist Alaskans to compete for international trade and investment in the global marketplace.  They provide information and services designed to connect Alaska sellers with overseas buyers. Their web site provides information on economic updates and other events of interest to businesses in the international arena.