STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101

Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/

"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.

In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."

Alaska Small Business Development Center
430 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 110, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: (907) 274-7232
Fax: (907) 274-9524
E-mail: anerw@uaa.alaska.edu
URL: http://www.aksbdc.org

Alaska's small businesses produce more new jobs, ideas and technology than any other business sector. Their innovative, entrepreneurial spirit builds economies and communities, provides employment and income, and encourages growth and prosperity.

• Link to Area Offices
  URL: http://www.aksbdc.org/SBDC_locations.html

Alaska Business Development Center, Inc.
3335 Arctic Blvd., Ste. 203, Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 562-0335
Fax: (907) 562-6988
E-mail: info@abdc.org
URL: http://www.abdc.org/

"ABDC offers personalized technical and financial services to both existing and start-up businesses. They are committed to the establishment and development of commercial fishing and the seafood industry."

Alaska Economic Development Resource Guide
URL: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/edrg/EDRG.htm

Over 120 Financial and Technical Assistance Resources for Alaskan Communities and Businesses. The Alaska Economic Development Resource Guide is designed to bring together in one place an inventory of programs and services which can provide economic development assistance to Alaska communities and businesses. Federal and State agencies as well as national and Alaska private nonprofit agencies are represented. This directory primarily describes those programs which focus on the creation and support of new industries, businesses and long-term jobs. It is designed to help communities match their economic development strategy with existing program resources which could support that strategy.

Alaska Export Assistance Center
U.S. Department of Commerce
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1770, Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 271-6237
Fax: (907) 271-6242
URL: http://www.alaska.net/~export/

"Our commitment is to:

• Promote the export of goods and services from Alaska
• Maintain job security, and create jobs
• Protect and advocate for Alaskan business interests abroad
• Assist Alaskan firms in realizing their export potential by providing expert counseling and advice, information on overseas markets, international contacts, and trade promotion vehicles
• Support the export promotion efforts of other public and private organizations creating, through partnership, a full-service export development infrastructure."

Alaska Grown Program
Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources
1800 Glenn Highway, Ste. 12, Palmer, AK 99645-6736
URL: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/ag/ag_ms.htm

Alaska Grown is a marketing and quality assurance program designed to support and increase the sales of Alaskan Agricultural products.

Alaska Growth Capital
3900 C Street, Ste. 302, Anchorage, AK 99503-5965
Phone: (907) 339-6770; Toll-free: (888) 315-4904
Fax: (907) 339-6771
E-mail: info@alaskagrowth.com
URL: http://www.alaskagrowth.com/

Alaska Growth Capital is a commercial lending institution that is licensed and regulated by the State of Alaska. We can make loans to viable businesses that are deemed "too risky" by banks.

Alaska Investnet
One Sealaska Plaza, Ste. 303, Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 586-1929
Fax: (907) 463-3929
URL: http://www.alaskainvestnet.org/

"Alaska InvestNet is a statewide non-profit corporation helping entrepreneurs access investors by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed."

Alaska Minority Business Development Center
122 First Avenue, Ste. 600, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4897
Phone: (907) 452-8251
Fax: (907) 459-3957
URL: http://www.tananachiefs.org/mbdc/default.htm

"The Alaska Minority Business Development Center (MBDC) can provide minority business owners with a network of resources that will better enable them to meet challenges entrepreneurs face."

Alaska Regional Development Organizations
URL: http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/ardor/ardor.htm

"The ARDOR program is based on the notion that locally driven initiatives, in partnership with the State, can most effectively stimulate economic development and produce healthy, sustainable local economies. The ARDORs are intended to:

• enable communities to pool their limited resources, and work together on economic development issues;
• develop partnerships among public, private and other organizations,
• offer a technical, nonpartisan capacity to develop and implement an economic development strategy,
• often have extensive experience with federal/State programs, and
• provide needed technical assistance via direct links with local citizens."
  

  (They provide a link to regional economic development organizations throughout Alaska.)

Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
217 Second Street, Suite 201, Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 586-2323
Fax: (907) 463-5575
URL: http://www.alaskachamber.com/

Alaska Village Initiatives Microloan Program
1577 C Street, Suite 304, Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 274-5400 or (800) 478-2332
Fax: (907) 263-9971
E-mail: info@akvillage.com
URL: http://www.akvillage.com/index.html

"The corporation has financed more than 85 community-owned businesses in 53 communities throughout rural Alaska."

Center for Human Development
The Self-Employment Project
E-mail: rbroome@anch.net
Phone: (907) 272-8270
URL: http://www.alaskachd.org/

"Goals:
-To expand community awareness of supported self-employment as an option for people with disabilities
-To offer self-employment technical assistance to individuals with disabilities and to employment service providers
-To collaborate with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and to encourage use of existing resources such as the UAA Small Business Development Center
-To address barriers to employment, such as the potential loss of Social Security Benefits, by linking with certified Benefits Analysts "

• Alaska Self-Employment Resources
  URL: http://www.alaskachd.org/employment/self.html
• One Stop Self-Employment Training
  URL: http://www.alaskachd.org/employment/onestop.html
  

Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of AK
320 W. Willoughby Avenue, Suite 300 , Juneau, Alaska 99801-1789
Phone: (907) 463-7197
Fax: (907) 463-7316
E-mail: klammon@ccthita.org
URL: http://www.ccthita.org

To promote and facilitate economic and business development planning in the tribal communities of Southeast Alaska.

Department of Community and Economic Development
Division of Trade and Development, PO Box 110804, Juneau, AK 99811
Phone: (907) 465-2017
Fax: (907) 465-3767
or
3601 C Street, Suite 700, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5934
Phone: (907) 269-8110
Fax: (907) 269-8125
URL: http://www.dced.state.ak.us/

The Division of Trade and Development serves as a commercial liaison for the state and for private sector businesses which trade in international markets. The division was established to develop, promote and expand Alaska's international export markets through the efforts of in-state trade specialists for specific markets and through overseas offices in Japan and Korea, and through contract representation in Taiwan and Russia. The efforts of the Division of Trade and Development are part of the State of Alaska's overall economic development strategy to increase employment and diversify our economic base. The Division also works to strengthen Alaska's economy through the development of a diverse and self-sufficient private sector. The goal is to establish a positive business climate that is conducive to commercial and industrial investment and development.

The Juneau Economic Development Council
612 W. Willoughby Ave- Suite A Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 463-3662 or (800) 478-7232 (in-state)
Fax: (907) 463-3929
E-mail: klammon@sbdc.ptialaska.net
URL: http://www.jedc.org/

"The JEDC works to enhance quality of life by actively promoting economic diversity and sustainable development in Juneau, Southeast Alaska and through specific statewide programs. We assist businesses in creating family wage jobs with our business counseling, revolving loan fund and sector-specific programs, as well as serving as the Overall Economic and Development Planning agency for the City and Borough of Juneau."

Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District
210 Fidalgo Avenue, Kenai, Alaska 99611
Phone: (907) 283-8240
Fax: (907) 283-3014
E-mail: jcarter@gci.net
URL: http://www.ci.kenai.ak.us/economic_development.html

"Our mission is to serve Kenai Peninsula Borough residents by enhancing the quality of life through responsible and sustainable regional economic and workforce development".

Sitka Business Resource Center
212 Lake Street - Sitka, AK 99835
Phone: (907) 966-3066
Fax: (907) 966-3055
E-mail: work@sitkaworks.org
URL: http://www.sitkaworks.org/sbrc/index.shtml

"The Sitka Business Resource Center is a project of Sitka Works to accelerate the growth and development of small and emerging private businesses in Sitka, Alaska. We do this by providing training, technical assistance and support services through a business incubator "without walls."

Women Fund
YWCA
324 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 66501
Phone: (907) 644-9611
Fax: (907) 644-9650
URL: http://www.alaskawomensnetwork.org/work.html

A business training center for women and men who are serious about starting, developing or refocusing a small business in Alaska.