A Broad Spectrum of Programs
September 14, 2009
By Jason Dinneen, State Director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center.
As our mission states, we are here “To foster, promote, and assist the growth and development of small businesses in the state of Alaska through our family of services.”
We achieve this mission through our free one on one confidential counseling, low cost workshops, computer labs, distance education, and expertise. We not only assist the start-up business, but we are actively supporting and helping in the development of existing businesses throughout Alaska.
Providing Strategic Assistance
Your local Alaska SBDC is your starting point to define where you are in your business life cycle. Our business advisors will work with you to draft a plan of action and engage you with all the programs and services offered by the Alaska SBDC.
We are made stronger, and are able to offer broader scope of services, through the collaborative partnerships we have with our internal partner programs. Below you’ll find these partners and a description of their services, but in a nutshell they offer clients assistance in:
- Government contracting
- Inventions
- SBIR/STTR Grants
- Copyright
- Trademark
- Quality improvement
- Free web-based marketing tool
- Rural outreach
Our internal partner programs
BuyAlaska is a great place to start. This website currently features over 2,500 businesses in 23 communities across Alaska. This program offers you a free web page, that will increase your Google ratings. In addition to providing weekly updates on procurement opportunities, it’s a tool for marketing to big and small businesses to keep your company’s name in the spotlight for those who want to buy in Alaska!
ROPE – Our Rural Outreach Program for Entrepreneurs program embraces the rural communities of Alaska, by extending our services and expertise in response to the extra challenges rural business owners & entrepreneurs face each and every day.
PTAC – Procurement Technical Assistance Center is the program to turn to if you have a product or service that the government would purchase. It is also the place to learn how to bid or understand government solicitations and the award process. This partner program offers free counseling services and workshops specific to government contracting. In addition, their Bidmatch program brings state, federal and local government solicitations, specific to your industry and business, right to your computer each morning.
TREND – Whether you’re an inventor, have experience in research and development, or need assistance with SBIR/STTR grant process, our Technology Research & Development Center is your next stop. TREND is a program of PTAC and your corridor to commercializing your idea or invention.
No matter where you are in the business life cycle, or in the state of Alaska, we have a center near you. Our dynamic and experienced professionals at the Alaska SBDC are here to help you improve your performance. Call us!