Anchorage Alaska:  The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and the World Trade Center Alaska are joined by a common mission: helping to start, maintain, and expand small businesses.  The Parties will work together in the spirit of cooperation and open communications with the primary goal of meeting the needs of the small business community.

World Trade Center Alaska’s mission is to assist Alaskans to successfully compete for trade and investment in the global market.  Small businesses are the driving force of Alaska’s economy, representing more than 69,000 businesses (approximately 96 percent of all businesses in the state of Alaska). The World Trade Center Alaska is a private non-profit membership organization providing international trade and business services to members and community partners across the state.

The mission of the SBA is to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses by providing financial, contractual and business development assistance and advocating on their behalf within the government.  SBA district offices deliver SBA programs and services to the public.

 “Each Party has separate services and resources which, when delivered in coordination with each other, will provide maximum benefits to the small business communities served here in Alaska,” said Assistant Associate Administrator Calvin Goings.  District Director Karen Forsland adds, “The purpose of this Strategic Alliance Memorandum is to develop and foster mutual understanding and a working relationship between the SBA and the World Trade Center Alaska in order to strengthen and expand small business development and exports from the state of Alaska.”

For more information, please contact Scott Swingle in the U.S. Small Business Administration Alaska District Office, 907-474-4878, or visit http://www.sba.gov