A Note from the Alaska SBDC State Director | | | | |
It’s hard to explain the frantic feeling of summer in Alaska to outsiders. The 24/7 sunshine, the hordes of awestruck tourists, the fishing, berry picking, and the multitude of outdoor activities that we cram into every waking moment of our brief but beautiful summers are unique to the Last Frontier.
While it’s fun and exciting (and in the case of the fishing and berries, delicious), it can also be exhausting! Make sure to take some time from the non-stop action to stop and smell the fireweed, enjoy a meal with friends at your favorite local restaurant, or just sit and soak up the sun. You’ve got to save some energy for the State Fair in August, after all!
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After you figure out how to take it a little easier over the summer, maybe you could swing by the Alaska SBDC offices and teach my staff how to do that, too? Instead of relaxing in the sun, they’ve been running the Mountain Marathon, attending the Anchorage Chamber’s Make it Monday lunches, teaching business classes, and giving presentations at the Dena’ina Center! Talk about overachievers.
On the bright side, that means they’ve got plenty of things to talk to you about to help your business grow, show you new technologies, help you secure funding, and more. If you haven’t talked to your advisor (or worse yet, don’t have one!), reach out today and get them to tell you about all our programs and services.
Normally, this is the part of my intro where I encourage you to go out and support local businesses (which you should totally do), but this month I also want to encourage you to reach out and support your favorite non-profits. The recent federal budget cutbacks, retraction of existing grant funding, and increased operating costs across the board have resulted in many non-profits having serious financial difficulties. Our friends over at ACLT recently announced that they are pausing operations for the summer to help them weather the loss of grant funding, which is a huge loss for indigenous entrepreneurship, and many other organizations are in the same financial boat. Until things settle down and programs figure out their new normal for funding, I hope you’ll reach out and try to help the programs that have helped you or those you care about. Whether through volunteering, donating, or just cheerleading, everything helps right now.
Which leads me to where I want to leave this month’s newsletter: we’re all in this together.Alaska is a small state spread over a large geographic area. We rely on each other to overcome living in one of the most difficult environments on the planet. Together, we’ve built communities, developed technologies, grown industries, and built infrastructure through perseverance and ingenuity. We’ve solved problems and overcome difficulties that other states couldn’t even comprehend, and there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll do it again.
The Alaska SBDC tries to reflect that spirit of perseverance and community in all of our day-to-day activities. We’re here to help you and your business succeed, and having worked with all of you for almost forty years, we know better than anyone that you’re doing the same for your communities and neighbors every day. Together, we can make sure that Alaska continues to be a place for big ideas, big dreams, and big fun.
In the meantime, may your freezers be full of fish, your buckets full of berries, your days full of sunshine, and your businesses full of clients. We’ll sleep in the fall!
| | What's New at the Alaska SBDC | | Meet Kenai Peninsula Center Director, Cliff Cochran! | | |
With offices in Soldotna, Homer, and Seward, Cliff and his team bring practical, data-driven guidance to businesses across the Peninsula.
Their work helps Alaska entrepreneurs start strong and grow with confidence!
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Under the steady leadership of Center Director Cliff Cochran, the Alaska SBDC’s Kenai Peninsula Center saw strong growth in 2024.
The team supported 40 new business launches, 817 jobs, and secured $17.5 million in capital for local enterprises while providing over 1,500 hours of one-on-one advising!
| | Introducing Viola Smith, Tribal SSBCI Lending Director | |
| | We're thrilled to introduce Viola Smith as our Tribal SSBCI Lending Director. Viola is a Cup'ig Alaska Native originally from the village of Mekoryuk on Nunivak Island, and the daughter of Alice Smith and Dale T. Smith Sr. Viola holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Alaska Pacific University and two Master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Business Administration. She brings over 20 years of leadership experience serving on her village corporation board and 15 years working within Alaska’s Tribal healthcare system. Her experience is an invaluable addition to our team! | | | | Welcoming Sami Jo Lewis, Communications Specialist | |
| | We’re excited to share that Sami Jo Lewis has joined the Alaska SBDC as our new Communications Specialist! Sami Jo brings nearly a decade of experience in public relations and content strategy, along with a passion for creative storytelling that celebrates Alaska’s small business community. Before joining the SBDC, she led statewide communications for Alaska MEP, building digital outreach, launching video series, and discovering a love for community-building along the way. We’re thrilled to have her on the team and can’t wait for you to see her work in action! | | | | | | We're thrilled to share that State Director Jon Bittner has been named a 2025 Achievement in Business Leadership honoree. This award recognizes his innovative leadership and impact on Alaska’s small business ecosystem, including expanding rural and Tribal support. Under Jon’s leadership, the SBDC has launched 124 businesses, supported over 1,500 clients, and advanced programs that grow local economies across Alaska in 2024 alone! | | | | |
We’re proud to celebrate our SSBCI Tribal Operations Specialist, Genta Lena, who overcame setbacks to complete the challenging Mt. Marathon race in Seward this year. Her determination, steady training, and positive spirit remind us that perseverance wins the climb.
Congratulations, Genta, on this fantastic achievement - here’s to many more!
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Are you thinking about starting a business in Alaska? Our Anchorage Business Advisor, Ginny Grabowski, leads one of our most popular workshops, breaking down licensing, planning, and funding into clear, actionable steps.
Upcoming dates: August 15, September 29, November 15, and December 15 - details here!
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Susitna Animal Urgent Care has officially opened its doors in Wasilla! Our Mat-Su Center Director, Misty O’Connor, was there to celebrate the grand opening on July 12.
Misty shared how proud she is to have supported owners Ciara, Paige, and Emily in bringing this locally owned veterinary urgent care to life. Supporting our clients is a huge perk of the job!
| | | | Director of Special Programs & Strategy Gretchen Fauske and SSBCI State Lending Director Aurora Agee attended the Anchorage Chamber’s Make it Monday forum, which featured an inspiring presentation from the Scotty Gomez Foundation and a lively panel on the legislative session. It was great to see so many small business owners engaged and asking thoughtful questions. Thank you to the Anchorage Chamber for hosting another excellent event! | | | | Access to capital is a common challenge for small business owners, and the Alaska SBDC is here to help. From SBA-backed loans to local credit unions, various programs, including State and Tribal SSBCI, support entrepreneurs statewide. No matter your business stage, we're committed to helping you access the capital you need to grow. Learn more. | | Alaska SBDC Workshops & Events | | Workshops Tailored for Your Success | | |
Entrepreneurs are resilient and gritty. No matter the hour or where you live in the state, we're right there with you.
Visit our website for our suite of statewide SBDC workshops to get started at your convenience and at your pace. Remember to ask your Alaska SBDC advisor about accessing client discounts on fee-based workshops!
All Alaska SBDC workshops are free for active duty military, spouses, and veterans. Contact us to set that up for you!
Upcoming Workshops:
| | 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!
| | Alaska SBDC Business Programs | | | | AI Resource Program Director Carlos Macucha and AI Implementation Specialist Solomon Himelbloom hit the stage at the Dena’ina Center, thanks to an invite from Visit Anchorage! They had a packed room of 60+ small business owners and admins diving into “Getting Started with AI: A Roadmap to Our AI Assessment, Training, and Successful Implementation.” The questions were sharp, the energy was high, and the interest in AI is growing fast across Alaska’s business community! | | | | |
Are you a BuyAlaska Member?
Show your Alaska pride with a “Come In! We Are Local” window cling from our BuyAlaska program!
Shoppers want to support local businesses, and this cling helps yours stand out while letting customers know you’re proudly Alaska-owned. It’s a simple way to welcome visitors and neighbors while showing you’re part of the BuyAlaska movement.
The cling is free (just cover shipping), and it’s easy to order.
Claim yours today and let’s put Alaska-owned pride on display
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In July, the State SSBCI program supported 94 businesses with 109 loans totaling $96.7 million, reaching 27 communities across Alaska. Of those funded, 81 were SEDI businesses and 65 were very small businesses (VSBs), reflecting continued momentum in expanding access to capital for Alaska entrepreneurs.
Tribal SSBCI lending grew to $49.6 million across 39 loans, funding 37 businesses in 17 communities. All 37 were SEDI businesses, with 22 classified as VSBs, underscoring the program’s commitment to strengthening small business growth statewide.
| | Partner & Statewide Updates | | |
ACLT is pausing summer services to evaluate programs, ensuring they can continue building neighborhood economies for the long term. Check out their 2024 Impact Report.
The Alaska State Fair will be in full swing August 15 - September 1!
Save the date for Upstart Pitch Competition, Fall 2025: September 29 from 5-7:30 PM!
Alaska Entrepreneurship Week is Coming September 29 - October 3!
| | | | 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. | | | | |
