Alaska Business Development Center Inc.: making its mark in the business community by helping Alaska businesses grow and prosper.

• Author: Stong-Michas, Jennifer

Understanding the unique needs of the Alaska business climate is not something that everyone just naturally gets. But, on the other hand, there are some organizations that understand the intricacies so well that they have not only made great strides throughout the state, but have drawn attention and support nationally as well.

Alaska Business Development Center Inc., ABDC as it is most commonly referred to, has definitely made its mark in the Alaska business community for the past 27 years. Michelle Kern, vice president, ABDC, says that the organization has "always been focused on Alaska business and rural Alaska." It is easy to say that ABD C can offer a helping hand to just about every business issue from IRS resolution, to disaster relief assistance to financial planning for commercial harvesters and small businesses throughout Alaska, even those that are located in hard-to-reach places. It is perhaps that ability to offer all of these services on a far-reaching basis that truly sets ABDC apart from the rest.

One of the biggest draws of ABDC is that its programs are not only vitally important and helpful, but they are also unique. In fact, ABDC prides itself in the fact that each of its programs is not a typical canned solution, but rather a well-thought-out and customized program that addresses local needs and issues. Kern describes this as a "hands-on approach." Their methodology works, and works well. Some of the programs offered by ABDC have been met with rave reviews and unprecedented success.

VTLP

One of the most successful programs to come out of ABDC is their Volunteer Tax & Loan Program, otherwise known as VTLR Gary Selk, president of ABDC, explains that what once started out as a pilot program 10 years ago has evolved into a nationally recognized and award-winning program that has changed the lives of thousands.

The program sends teams consisting of accounting students and a supervisor out to the rural communities and prepares tax returns at no cost to the locals.

ABDC partnered with the Alaska Division of Investments, Internal Revenue Service and the University of Alaska and created this program as a way to assist commercial harvesters to become compliant with the IRS and thus stave off the seizure of their Limited Entry Permits, which are vital requirements for commercial fishing. This meant that individual livelihoods were preserved. Prior to the VTLP, many jobs were in jeopardy of being lost as a direct result of the permit...