New organization aims to keep business owners informed

The group, Mat-Su Business Alliance, was created late last year by its president Kay Slack and a team of four advisers. Slack described it as an organization aiming to promote businesses and economic development, but one that also researches Valley issues and offers one-on-one consulting for businesses that want to learn more about budgeting, cost analysis, bidding on government contracting and other issues.

The main goal, Slack said, is to keep businesses informed about issues that might affect their bottom line.

"We can be a voice for businesses, as opposed to each individual business being its own voice," she said. "Business owners are busy. They don't have time to investigate issues and go out to meetings."

Slack is familiar with research. She owns a consulting business called Capital Idea and has lived in the Valley since 1989. She formerly ran Kay Slack Associates, another consulting company, where she did market analysis for housing developments targeted toward seniors, special needs and low-income residents throughout the state. She also was a consultant in the 1990s for the state Science and Technology Foundation.

The Business Alliance idea was formed over coffee with another business owner, Crystal Nygard, one of the Alliances's advisers.

Nygard owns Tutka LLC, an environmental contracting company. She believes businesses need an organization through which they can make their concerns known without being singled out for their opinion.

"On some issues businesses don't have a problem expressing their concerns and showing their identity," she said.

But sometimes businesses don't want to be singled out for their stance and prefer to speak with a group voice, Nygard said.

Nygard and Slack said they aren't trying to copy local chambers of commerce or the Mat-Su Small Business Development Center. Both women have been involved in chambers and the SBDC and said the Alliance is more focused on giving business owners an organized voice in local laws and government than on increasing foot traffic or helping small businesses gain the tools they need to grow.

"In no way do we see ourselves as replacing or trying to provide services already being provided in the community," Nygard said.

The Alliance is a for-profit corporation with an income based on business subscriptions that range from $25 to $250 a year. Subscribers get regular updates about issues in the community and are eligible for discounts on one-on-one consulting appointments and business seminars.

As an example of what the Alliance does, Slack said she recently finished a research project about the rail spur the Mat-Su Borough wants to build from the main Alaska Railroad line to Point MacKenzie. She sent out a one-page flier to subscribers outlining why it's a project that could benefit the entire state, she said. She'll also be researching and reporting back to subscribers about a rehash of the borough zoning code and an economic development plan being drafted by the borough.

The Alliance plans to host luncheon meetings the third Friday of each month. Mat-Su Mayor Talis Colberg spoke at their first meeting. The Alliance hasn't found a permanent lunch spot yet, but Slack said she hopes to find a place between Wasilla and Palmer.

Find Rindi White online at adn.com/contact/rwhite or call 907-352-6709.