The last few years have been some of the most difficult and hard to predict times Alaska’s small businesses have ever seen. Between a global pandemic, supply chain breakdowns, workforce shortages, hundreds of new funding and assistance programs launching, and costs for pretty much everything rising at unprecedented rates, Alaska’s industry sectors have taken more than a few hits.
As the economy starts to recover and policymakers and economic developers across the state start to focus on how to help make that recovery as smooth as possible, I wanted to take a moment to send you the Alaska Small Business Development Center’s 2021 Annual Small Business Survey and 2021 Annual Report. These reports contain a valuable snapshot of small business activity and insights from thousands of businesses in hundreds of communities across dozens of industries.
The Alaska SBDC is committed to serving as a resource and voice for the small businesses that make up so much of our economy. In the coming year, we plan on continuing the work we’ve done throughout the pandemic to provide assistance, education, and access to funding sources for so many Alaskan companies. That being said, no single organization has the ability to solve all of the state’s economic headwinds alone. It’s going to take all of us working together to get Alaska’s economy back on track.
I’m hopeful that the information in these reports will help you craft new programs, policies, and collaborations that will help small businesses in all of our communities not only survive but thrive in the coming months. If there is anything the Alaska SBDC can do to help, please let me know.