A Note from the Alaska SBDC Acting State Director | | | | Last week, I made a quick trip to D.C. for America’s SBDC board meetings and leadership roundtables. I arrived just as the city was under a winter storm warning… extreme cold, high winds, and the possibility of travel delays. But once there, none of that mattered. The focus was on valuable time with SBDC leaders from across the country, talking through processes, policies, and ways to strengthen our national network. | | |
What I always appreciate about these gatherings is the reminder that Alaska SBDC is part of something much larger. No matter where someone is in the U.S., there is an SBDC ready to support them… with local expertise and access to shared tools and experience. We may be separated by time zones and very different definitions of “extreme” cold… but we’re connected by purpose and strengthened by learning from one another.
That same spirit of connection is shaping much of what we’re focused on back home. Finding and keeping customers remains one of the biggest challenges small businesses face, and much of that comes down to visibility and relationships. Love is Local and our BuyAlaska Bingo card aren’t just fun campaigns… they’re practical reminders that thriving businesses depend on engaged communities. If you're like me and still have a few squares left on your Bingo card… consider this my gentle reminder to fill it up.
Across the state, our team continues building strong partnerships and creating opportunities for collaboration. I’m especially thankful to Nuvision Credit Union for inviting us to join them at their table during the AEDC luncheon. It was a great opportunity to strengthen relationships and connect with one of our key lending partners. The SBDC advising team also partnered with SBA to deliver a strong presentation at the Alaska Rural Small Business Conference and share practical tools and resources. Our Alaska Entrepreneurship Business Incubator workshop series is off to a strong start, and there are still ways to connect… including the AI Virtual Pitch Competition and Healthcare Innovation Accelerator. If you’re interested, be sure to get your applications in this week.
And of course, the upcoming 2026 Alaska SBDC Summit is where those connections continue… a day of thoughtful sessions, practical conversations, and time with people who understand the realities of doing business in Alaska.
This work only succeeds because people show up… for their communities, for their partners, and for each other. I’m grateful to be part of this network and proud of the connections we continue to build together.
Kendra Conroy
Acting State Director
| | What's New at the Alaska SBDC | | Meet Our Closing 2026 Summit Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dell Gines | | |
Alaska’s future won’t be built by chasing trends. It’ll be built by communities that know how to adapt, innovate, and stay grounded at the same time.
That’s why we’re excited to welcome Dr. Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer at the International Economic Development Council, as the closing keynote at the 2026 Alaska SBDC Summit.
Dr. Gines works at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and local economies, helping communities navigate big shifts like AI, workforce change, and market uncertainty without losing what makes them work. His focus is simple and powerful: turning emerging ideas into practical tools that strengthen local businesses and local places.
He’ll close the Summit with a clear-eyed look at what comes next for small businesses and communities like ours, and how to move forward with confidence in a rapidly changing economy.
March 6. One strong finish. Don't miss this curated Summit experience. Details and tickets are available at sbdcsummit.com
| | Upcoming Small Business Opportunities | | |
The Alaska SBDC, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and PREDICTif Solutions, is hosting a Healthcare AI Pitch Competition.
Up to 10 businesses will pitch virtually on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with the top three finalists advancing to pitch live and in-person at the Alaska SBDC Summit in Anchorage on Friday, March 6, 2026.
Finalists will compete for AWS partner funding for professional services, delivered by PREDICTif Solutions. This is not a cash prize; all awards are in-kind support to help implement and scale healthcare AI solutions.
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Applications are open for the Alaska Healthcare Innovation Accelerator!
This free, hands-on program supports Alaskans building healthcare solutions that strengthen access, quality, and efficiency, with a focus on rural/remote communities.
Participants dive into personalized coaching and expert insights designed to help validate ideas and move them forward with confidence.
The accelerator is virtual and open to idea-stage entrepreneurs, early-stage ventures, and established organizations launching a new healthcare product or service.
| | | Meet Kristi McDonnell, Mat-Su Center Director | | | | |
The Alaska SBDC is proud to announce Kristi McDonnell as our new Mat-Su Center Director.
With more than 33 years of small business and industry experience, including running her own consulting business and supporting projects across oil and gas and construction, Kristi brings deep, practical expertise to local entrepreneurs. She is passionate about serving Mat-Su businesses and supporting the community she proudly calls the heartbeat of the Valley.
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The 35th Annual Rural Small Business Conference highlighted the power of partnership in supporting rural Alaska entrepreneurs. With strong participation from SBA, Alaska SBDC, and lending partners, the focus stayed on helping businesses access capital, e-commerce tools, and practical guidance to grow.
The e-commerce and lending panel sparked great conversation and reinforced a clear need: when partners work together, rural businesses are better positioned to succeed and strengthen their communities.
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It was great to attend the 2026 AEDC Economic Outlook Luncheon last month!
This is one of Alaska’s largest business gatherings, which brings together leaders from across industries to discuss local jobs, economic trends, and the future of our state.
We also appreciated time with our partners at Nuvision Credit Union, continuing the collaborations that help strengthen Alaska’s small business ecosystem.
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At the 2026 Southeast Alaska Midsession Summit, our Tribal SSBCI Lending Program Assistant Director, Viola Smith, joined regional, Tribal, and industry leaders to discuss priorities shaping Southeast Alaska’s future.
Conversations like these help strengthen collaboration to ensure Alaska businesses have access to the capital and resources they need. Through our Alaska Tribal SSBCI Consortium and State SSBCI programs, this work continues to support business growth, job creation, and stronger local economies across the state.
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Heart eyes for Alaska small businesses. This month and every month, choosing local means supporting your neighbors, strengthening local jobs, and keeping Alaska dollars working in Alaska communities.
Every local purchase helps a business owner, a family, and a community keep moving forward.
Thank you all for showing small businesses the love and making local part of how Alaska thrives!
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Download your 2026 BuyAlaska Bingo card and start crossing off squares while you shop local, try new spots, and support Alaska makers and businesses!
When you spend with local independent businesses, nearly half of that money can recirculate in the local economy, helping support local jobs, services, and communities.
Play along. Shop local. Brag a little.
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This time of year can be tough for small businesses, and their impact goes far beyond dollars. In this op-ed, our Director of Special Programs & Strategy Gretchen Fauske shares how simple actions like shopping local, showing up, and spreading the word make a real difference.
Read the full piece and join us in supporting the businesses that keep Alaska strong.
| | | | Marketing doesn't have to be complicated to work. Most Alaska business owners didn't start their ventures to become marketing experts, but if people don't know about you, they can't support you. Our latest article shares practical, Alaska-specific marketing strategies that work for small businesses across the state. Read the full article to start building a plan that fits your business and your reality. | | Alaska SBDC Workshops & Events | | Workshops Tailored for Your Success | | Alaska SBDC Success Stories | | |
Since 1986, the Alaska SBDC has been dedicated to helping Alaska’s small businesses start, grow, and thrive through expert advising, workshops, and resources.
Check out our recent success stories and join us in celebrating the incredible entrepreneurs who make our communities stronger!
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Walker Landscapes is quickly building a strong reputation across Southcentral Alaska by raising the bar for quality, reliability, and professionalism in landscaping and snow removal. Founded by father and son Jeff and Seth Walker, the company paired strong values with strategic support from the Mat-Su Alaska SBDC to plan sustainable growth and expand toward year-round operations.
With expert advising and financing support from First National Bank Alaska, Walker Landscapes is scaling thoughtfully while staying true to its mission of delivering high-quality work and people-first service to Alaska communities.
| | Alaska SBDC Business Programs | | | | |
The AI Resource Program is preparing for the Alaska SBDC Summit on March 6. As part of the event, the program will host four SBDC business advisors from New Mexico and Tennessee for AI mentoring, hands-on training, and an exchange of ideas aimed at strengthening statewide AI support for Alaska businesses.
The team is also developing a high-interest presentation focused on a growing challenge facing organizations nationwide: the impact of AI-powered search on declining website traffic.
The session will define the issue and provide practical, actionable strategies to help businesses adapt and maintain visibility as the search landscape continues to evolve.
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Anchorage is about to be full chaos in the best possible way.
Expect questionable parking, elite people-watching, and at least one person in shorts insisting they’re “not even cold.”
And while you’re out embracing the weirdness, don’t miss the best part: all the local artists, makers, and vendors who show up with Alaska-made treasures.
Fur Rondy is a celebration of community creativity, so grab something handmade, support a small business, and take home a little piece of Alaska with you.
And don't miss the SBDC Summit Reception on 4th Avenue at Serrano's Mexican Grill for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod on March 7!
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SSBCI’s momentum continues statewide in 2026.
To date, the State SSBCI program has deployed $102,787,863 through 116 loans, supporting 100 businesses in 28 communities, including 82 SEDI and 67 Very Small Businesses.
The Tribal SSBCI Consortium has invested $81,251,228 through 72 loans, benefiting 70 businesses across 24 communities, with 68 SEDI and 41 Very Small Businesses served.
Capital is moving, access is expanding, and Alaska businesses continue to grow.
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SSBCI SUCCESS STORY
Just in time for Fur Rondy and the ceremonial start of the Iditarod, we're excited to showcase Greater Anchorage Inc. For nearly a century, this organization has helped shape winter traditions in Anchorage, bringing the community together through iconic seasonal events.
With support from the SSBCI Loan Guarantee Program and a lending partnership with Northrim Bank, Greater Anchorage Inc. secured working capital to stabilize operations and continue delivering the events, tourism activity, and community experiences that define winter in Anchorage!
| | Partner & Statewide Updates | | | | The Alaska SBDC network and its programs, housed within the University of Alaska Anchorage, are funded by a $777,777 grant from the US Small Business Administration which is matched by $777,777 of non-federal funds. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. All SBA-funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. | | | | |
