A Note from the Executive Sponsor |
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As Summer comes to a close there is a lot for Alaska to be thankful for! The tourism season was better than many expected with several cruise ships being able to come to the state as well as a higher than expected number of independent travelers. As cities loosened restrictions, restaurants and other businesses were able to open more fully and take advantage of the new visitors as well as the locals who were excited to dine in for the first time in a long time. Although employers are still having trouble filling positions in most industries, the latest jobs numbers show that employment continues to rebound after the historic lows of 2020.
With federal funding to support businesses mostly finished, it's more important than ever for Alaska to keep the momentum going and keep our businesses open and their staff safe. We can't afford to go back to the COVID-19 levels of 2020, because this time we would be doing so without the benefit of over $10 billion in federal relief funding to get us through it. That is why it's so important for all of us to do our part to get the state's COVID-19 numbers under control. Vaccinations, masks, responsible social interactions, all of these are necessary tools in reversing the current trends that have resulted in several communities returning to lockdowns and hospitals reaching capacities.
If there's one thing that the BuyAlaska program has taught all of us here at the Alaska SBDC, it's that together businesses are stronger than they are alone. By partnering up and celebrating our mutual successes, promoting the various opportunities and tools that are available and leveraging our partnerships with our sponsor organizations we can not only survive but thrive in these challenging times. I hope that you will read this newsletter and find something that can help your business or community. More importantly, I hope that you see something that sparks a partnership idea or an idea on how to help support Alaska's small businesses. We are all in this together, and BuyAlaska is proud to support the state's small businesses as they grow Alaska's economy and lead the way back to our economic recovery.
Sincerely,
Jon Bittner
Alaska SBDC Executive Director
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Thinking Local this September |
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Take Advantage of these September Shoulder Season Steals! |
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When all the visitors to Alaska have gone home, we are lucky enough to enjoy the best of what Alaska has to offer year-round.
This September, take advantage of the Shoulder Season Steals that these BuyAlaska business members are offering up.
Rediscover Alaska, love local, and save!
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'Local First' Focus of September - Amplify Alaska Businesses |
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This September, help us amplify Alaska businesses!
Post about a business you love on your social media or share their post, refer a small business to a friend, write a good review, sign up for a newsletter. There are so many ways that you can boost the presence of small Alaska businesses.
So whether is on social media, at your sewing circle, or Sunday dinner... for the month of September amplify Alaska businesses with us.
#AmplifyAlaskaBusinesses
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Alaska, Stand By Our Businesses - We are in this together. |
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Across Alaska, and beyond, small businesses are experiencing worker shortages, increases in supply costs, or supply shortages all together.
In many cases, businesses have had to make necessary changes to stay afloat. These look like decreased hours, increases in prices, and unavailable items.
Thank you for practicing patience and standing by Alaska businesses as we work together to get through extraordinary times.
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Are you a small business that is experiencing these challenges? We want to hear about your experience and how your business has had to pivot. |
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Local Investing for a Regenerative Economy 4-week Online Series |
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Curious to learn more about how grassroots investors can invest locally, businesses can leverage local capital, and/or policymakers can facilitate local investment?
Michael Shuman, the author of The Local Economy Solution and Local Dollars, Local Sense, will lead a training on Local Investing for a Regenerative Economy in Alaska.
Save the Date: Sept 14th (free launch webinar) followed by 4 weeks of paid sessions (tentatively scheduled for Sept 21, 28, Oct 5,12), all at Noon-1:30 pm AKT.
The training will answer questions like:
- How can Alaskans re-engage our communities and re-ignite our economies at this phase of the pandemic?
- How can we make our communities more resilient to prepare for future global crises, climate disruption, and ultimately transition off fossil fuels?
- How local people, organizations and businesses invest our money in the ventures, projects, and people we love—instead of Wall Street?
The material in the workshop incorporates and updates key points from Michael’s last three books: Put Your Money Where Your Life Is (Berrett-Koehler, June 2020); The Local Economy Solution (Chelsea Green, 2015); and Local Dollars, Local Sense (Chelsea Green, 2012).
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AEDC Launches New Tool for Job Seekers and Employers |
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AEDC's new job finding tool, Anchoragejobfinder.com, pulls existing job listings into a database that allows job seekers to filter and search by employer, occupation/job title, industry, skill, certification and more.
There are no fees to use the site, it’s free for job seekers and employers. Additionally, it links directly to the original postings, ensuring that applications go right to the source. Read more here.
If you can't find your organization's postings on the site, please email sshroyer@aedcweb.com to have them added.
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Alaska MEP has Partnered with UAA College of Engineering to Offer Free Engineering Assistance
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The Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership has teamed up again with the University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering to offer free assistance to manufacturers for 3-6 weeks.
This opportunity is available to a limited number of local manufacturers. If you know of a business could benefit from this service, please see the attached flyer for additional information and details about this project initiative.
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Discover 600+ Alaska Businesses on the BuyAlaska Business Directory |
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Sustainable Businesses of Alaska |
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"All-natural ingredients", "Plastic-free", "Zero-waste", "Reusable containers", "Creativity, conservation, and community", "Sustainably harvested"
These are just some of the ways these BuyAlaska retail businesses have described integrating sustainability into their businesses.
#ChooseSustainable and check out the Alaskan sustainable businesses for yourself! at BuyAlaska!
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The mission of BuyAlaska is to promote and elevate local businesses to better Alaska’s economy. We do that with YOU.
Please like, follow, share, and most importantly, interact with us.
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Programs for BuyAlaska Business Members |
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'Shoulder Season Steal' offers for BuyAlaska Members and Followers |
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This September, we will feature 'Shoulder Season Steals' for BuyAlaska members and our followers on social media.
If you would like to provide us with a discount to share for this 'Shoulder Season' campaign, please let us know by completing the form below!
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Promotional items are available for FREE!
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Do you know of an organization, event, or initiative worth mentioning in the 'BuyAlaska' Buzz? |
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We welcome all ideas for supporting Alaskan-owned businesses.
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The BuyAlaska Program is a multi-stakeholder and statewide initiative housed by the Alaska Small Business Development Center (Alaska SBDC) under the UAA Business Enterprise Institute (BEI) and partially funded by the Small Business Administration (SBA) |
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