Small Business Loan Officers
CRA Officers
Chief Lending Officers
Branch Managers

Participate in this free luncheon to learn about how we can provide an innovative tool designed to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners. 

In a recent research study by the University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research and the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development, small business owners in rural communities expressed frustration over the difficulty of finding relevant information and training on business and financial management, marketing, and sources of funding. Some of these business owners did not know what they needed to know – often to the detriment of their business – and many more did not know where to turn for assistance.

AKSourceLink – a virtual referral center for Alaska’s entrepreneurs and small business owners – was established in response to this problem by a coalition of regional and statewide economic development organizations, with funding from the Denali Commission. The primary goal of the AKSourceLink website is to connect businesses to the resources they need when they need them. The program also seeks to identify and address gaps in services and to strengthen services where needed. AKSourceLink is a new affiliate of the successful USSourceLink program in Kansas City and has already won recognition from the University Economic Development Association, receiving its 2009 Excellence in Partnership Development award. To date, there are more than 100 resource partners in the statewide network. Entrepreneurs and business managers who visit the website can conduct individualized searches for business assistance, visit the resource library for information, consult the list of resource partners, and check a statewide calendar for training events, conferences, and networking meetings.