Fairbanks sees great growth in construction: the state's second-largest city is experiencing growth in construction, especially in retail and military projects.

• Author: Stricker, Julie

Workers with Tilly & Company general contractors work on the roof of a new mini-mall under construction on the site of the M&O Schucks Auto Supply store on the Old Steese Highway in Fairbanks. The mall, with nearly all of its space already leased, is just down the road from other commercial construction sites active in Fairbanks. Schucks will not be in the new mall, but the old sign will be updated for the new businesses.

The sound of hammers and heavy equipment is music to the ears of Jim and Denise Taylor. They've been busy, so busy in fact, that the North Pole couple, who run a concrete cutting business, have tripled the size of their work force, but have still had to turn down projects in the booming construction industry in the Interior.

"This year just completely swamped us," Denise Taylor says. She has 20 projects on the calendar and has had to turn some down because they can't find enough workers.

"We've been in business since 1984 and we normally have three full-time employees," she adds. "This year we've had 10 full-time employees all season. We need more and we can't find them. All the good employees are already working someplace."

The Taylors' business, Concrete Cutters, has been working on projects like the utilidors at Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base. They also have worked on the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library renovation on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and the new Bassett Army Hospital.

The Taylors aren't the only ones with work stacked up. They are remodeling their house and have been waiting weeks for a plumber to fit them into the schedule.

And next year looks to be even busier.

THE FAIRBANKS BOOM

Overall, construction in Alaska is down because of a drop in North Slope projects, says Dick Cattanach, executive director of Associated General Contractors of Alaska. However, Fairbanks and the Interior as a whole are feeling the boom from increased military spending at Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base and from missile defense construction in Delta Junction. In addition, a wave of Lower 48 retail and dining chains are testing the Interior business climate.

The retail interest in Fairbanks is overdue, Cattanach says.

"I think what Fairbanks is doing is just catching up on some things," Cattanach says. "I think that's going to continue for awhile."

The Home Depot opened an 118,000-square-foot store in 2002 in north Fairbanks. In June 2003, Wal-Mart began construction across the street on a...