The long reach of Weldin Construction.

• Author: Rowley, Leanne

This small business is making a huge impact on Alaska's construction industry.

When Richard Weldin wakes up in the mornings this summer, he will have to organize his days very carefully. With projects from Galena to Attu, Weldin will have miles of ground to cover and Alaska's long summer days will come in especially handy. Richard Weldin, the U.S. Small Business Administration's 1998 Minority Businessperson of the Year, however, has a track record of solving logistical puzzles.

Richard Weldin was born in Anchorage and grew up in Alaska. During the trans-Alaska pipeline construction, he worked on the North Slope and in Valdez. He worked in Anchorage doing finish grading and in Palmer moving dirt for Anchorage Sand and Gravel. In 1982, Weldin began exploring the possibilities of going out on his own with the help of programs offered by the Small Business Administration and minority business organizations. In 1983, Weldin Construction Inc. was formed.

Business Booms

Since 1983, Weldin and Weldin Construction have been moving tons of dirt around Alaska. As a subcontractor for larger northwest general contractors like Wilder Construction and Summit Paving and Construction, Weldin Construction performed specialized excavation, road construction, and utility installation work throughout Alaska. In 1996, Weldin decided to make the move to general contractor himself, pursuing and winning projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Air Force. His workforce and equipment have run nonstop ever since.

The company provides comprehensive construction, environmental restoration, and construction management services for projects ranging from land clearing to installation and replacement of oil-water separators, with projects costing up to $3 million. Recently, Weldin added an electrical division to complement the services already offered. Repeat customers include local, state and...