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Build Your Business With Alaska Women's Business Center
Committed to training and financing female entrepreneurs
The Alaska Women’s Business Center supports the startup and growth of women-owned businesses. We equip women and their families in Alaska with the connections, resources, and training needed to successfully start and run a business. Our services are open to all.
Alaska Women's Business Center helps launch your dream! Starting and running a small business takes dedication, passion, and time. It takes information, connections, and new skills. We provide free to low-cost classes and free one-on-one business coaching to develop your business, strengthen your systems, work smarter with your team, and increase profit margins.
AWBC is a program of Business Impact NW in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Alaska Women’s Business Center at Business Impact NW began on August 1, 2022. Classes are offered virtually to Alaskans throughout the state, with on-demand options available by visiting the training calendar at businessimpactnw.org. Coaching sessions are offered based on client need through video conferencing or telephone by appointment. Drop-in clinics are offered the first and third Tuesdays of each month through call-in consultations. The center is staffed by Lisa Noland, Alaska Women’s Business Center Director, and Carrie Shephard, Alaska Women’s Business Center Business Coach & Trainer. Please visit our website for services. For additional information, call (907)290.3296, or email awbc@businessimpactnw.org for more information.
Get connected with a business coach today!
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Our Goals
- Increase the number of women-owned small businesses
- Maximize jobs created by and for those businesses
- Reinforce the growth, profit, and value of each business
What You Can Gain
- Understanding of your funding options
- Help in preparing loan packages and presentations for lenders and potential investors
- Skills to help you manage business profitability
- Support in creating a comprehensive business plan and financial projections
- Help to identify business expansion options
- And more!
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Build Your Business with AWBC
- Receive one on one business coaching
- Take classes, trainings, and workshops for aspiring and current small business owners, in-person and online
- Host a workshop: sliding scale group-setting instruction provided to organizations, groups, and corporations on starting or growing a business and more – contact us to inquire
- Receive referrals to valuable business resources
- Join us for our Celebrating Dreams annual event
- Click below to follow a path - Launch, Grow, or Fund Your Business - or jumpstart your access to services by registering here
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Navigating COVID-Related Resources & Adapting Your Business Model to the COVID Business Environment
Click Here to Receive One-on-One Business Coaching
Our team of business coaches can provide the following one-on-one assistance:
- Additional help navigating the city, state, federal, and private economic relief programs related to COVID-19.
- Answering specific questions when filing SBA, State, and City grant and loan applications.
- Mitigation planning for the long-term economic effects of COVID-19 or similar occurrences.
- Building resiliency into your business model
- Understanding your business model and hazards and prevention of the transmission of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases
- Contingent planning for potential effects of COVID-19 on the supply chains, distribution, and sale of products
- Implementing new management and practice of telework to reduce possible transmission of COVID-19
- Managing remote customer service by electronic or other means
- Learning about the risks of and mitigation of cyber threats in remote customer service or telework practices
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Business Coaching
Loan Readiness
If you are looking to apply for funding through Business Impact NW or another institution, we offer training and coaching on what you need (in addition to a good business plan and financial projections) in order to apply for funding.
Resource Referrals
In partnership with the SBA and through outreach we conduct, we have developed a network of partners who can assist with your business needs.
Comprehensive Feasibility Analysis
A feasibility analysis helps you ask the correct questions and formulate an approach to answering those questions – before launching a business.
Financial Planning
Our coaches can work with you as you prepare your financial projections. We can walk you through financial planning workbooks and provide you the resources you will need to complete well-researched financial projections for your business.
Assistance with your Lean or Business Model Canvas
The Lean Model Canvas and Business Model Canvas are great pre-venture planning tools. We provide training on these tools which includes how to relate your canvas to a business plan.
Guidance with Business Planning
Our accredited business coaches can guide you on developing and/or maintaining a business plan. We do so through various workshops, one-on-one coaching, and access to business planning platforms. The business plan includes such elements as the legal form of the business, equipment requirements and cost, organizational structure, a strategic plan, market analysis, and a financial plan & projections.
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Sign Up For Services
Our partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration requires all clients to register with an online service request before we can provide assistance. This form also acts as Confidentiality and Code of Conduct Agreements. All client information is held in strict confidence. Any request for technical assistance (business coaching, training, or counseling) is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL!
To unlock your access to all of our classes and the ability to receive free one-on-one business coaching,
By appointment only. Our office is located at 911 W 8th Avenue, Anchorage AK 99501
Office hours are Monday-Friday: 9 am-5 pm. While we do not have physical office hours over the weekend or during the evenings, counselors are available remotely over the phone or video conference on nights and weekends per client request.
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Classes & Training
Join in on a class by the AWBC through our calendar, or read more about our featured classes below. Our classes and trainings are open to all.
Square One - Get Started with Free Business Services
Square One is your gateway to access capital or business coaching through Business Impact NW. Whether you’re new to BIN, just starting out, in need of coaching, or ready to apply for a loan, this 1 1/2 hour WBC course will introduce you to the programs and services we offer, give you the opportunity to schedule meetings with a business coach, and offer specific information regarding our lending process as it applies to you individually.
Launch & Grow - Start & Grow Your Own Business: A Cohort Class Series
Launch & Grow Your Business is a Washington State SEAP-approved course designed to train participants on starting and running their business. Launch & Grow is for aspiring and early-phase small businesses owners, or those that have already launched a business but need to create a business plan to support their strategic growth or secure financing. Through seven 3-hour sessions plus eight weeks of 1-on-1 business coaching, you will learn how to manage, market, and finance your business while creating a solid business plan. This opportunity is designed to be an immersive, seven-week program and is a paid course.
Grow & Thrive - Strategic Planning & Mentorship Program
Grow & Thrive is a structured mentor program with expert guidance & advice, perfect for any business owner who wants to take their business to the next level. Participants will develop a strategic plan with 3-5 year objectives, working with their current financial statements, operating manuals, marketing materials, etc. The course will conclude with a networking reception and an opportunity to hone your pitch. This opportunity is designed to be an immersive program and is a paid course.
GROWING YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE: MARKETING TO KEEP CUSTOMERS & PROMOTE YOUR SITE
Are you ready to create your website/ecommerce store for the ultimate customer experience? Join this FREE, online, & self-paced course with FREE GoDaddy product bundles to establish your online presence. Through this course, you'll learn how to reach more customers using social media and email marketing & how to use online marketing including social media to reach your goals. You'll receive two years of FREE digital products including 1 shared website hosting account with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Email marketing, domain name & a FREE one-hour session with a website and marketing expert.
Getting Your Business Online: Building Your Website/Ecommerce Store
Are you ready to create your website/ecommerce store for the ultimate customer experience? Join this FREE, online, & self-paced course with FREE GoDaddy product bundles to establish your online presence. Through this course, you'll receive the tools, skills, and mentorship needed to build a successful digital presence at NO CHARGE. You'll receive two years of FREE digital products including 1 shared website hosting account with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Email marketing, domain name & a FREE one-hour session with a website and marketing expert.
Re-energize Your Growth Potential: Get Your Big Dream Mojo Back
This workshop covers the 3 biggest barriers on the goals you’ve set to meet your dreams and offers some tools in resolving them. We will also provide a new way to understand your own power, a method not based in class/race/gender and privilege. We then look at the role conflict plays in limiting your business’ growth and how it can be your own personal Geiger counter (detecting professional development opportunities). We’ll cover four conflict response hacks and provide some take-home tools you can use right away.
Celebrating Dreams Webinar: Marketing for Business Recovery
Finding new clients and keeping existing clients has been challenging during the pandemic. Join our marketing professionals to get your business on the path to recovery and beyond with actionable marketing strategies. Let us help you pivot your marketing plan to retain and find clients.
Business Expert Session: Creating Your Online Presence - Website & E-Commerce
Often, your website will be the “make or break” point for potential customers, and ultimately, your sales. In this webinar, we will provide you with the tools and skills to build an effective website and online store, and help you strengthen your online presence and your ability to generate sales.
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About Us
The Alaska Women’s Business Center is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to all who are interested in starting or growing a small business with an emphasis on working with women and traditionally underserved populations – entrepreneurial low/moderate-income earners, BIPOC, Veterans, immigrants, refugees, or members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Meet your Director – Lisa Noland
- Meet your Business Coach – Carrie Jean Shephard
- Meet your Administrative Team – Bo Abeille, Barbara Orts, & Tianie Olson
If you don’t have a business coach yet, all you need to do is register!
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From idea, to plan, to business start,
let us help you launch your dream.
We work with you to take your
established business to the next level.
We work with you to secure funding
for your business to thrive
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Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact awbc@businessimpactnw.org or call 907.290.3296 x133.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the US Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
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Sustaining Partners
