Alaska Fellows Program: Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation - Small Business Development Fellow
Alaska Fellows Program position description
Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation
Small Business Development Fellow
Fairbanks, AK
This position is part of the Alaska Fellows Program. All fellows live together, “in community,” in their respective host site. Each host site is unique and remarkable.
Fellows receive housing, a $1200 monthly living stipend and a $750 relocation stipend. The fellowship includes facilitated and funded opening and closing retreats.
For other questions about the application process, email applications@alaskafellows.org.
Work Term: Sept 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027
Host:: Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Contact: Jomo Stewart, jstewart@investfairbanks.com
Title: Small Business Development Fellow
Organization Description:
Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation is a 501(c)6 Non-Profit Corporation, overseen by a Board of Directors, who invest into protecting and promoting a diverse and thriving economy for residents and businesses in Interior Alaska. The staff of FEDC lead Interior Alaska in finding and promoting solutions for economic development through facilitating awareness of opportunities and leveraging resources and partnerships.
Position Description:
The Small Business Development Fellow will help coordinate two different projects—the Alaska Interior Business Accelerator (AIBA) fall and spring programs and the Moose on the Loose small business scavenger hunt during the Fairbanks Winter Solstice Festival.
AIBA is an 8-week long program run twice a year, consisting of a Spring and Fall cohort. There are 7 weeks of instructional courses, and 1 week (the final week) dedicated to an in-house pitch competition. These courses are designed to give people who do not come from the business world the basic 101 skills of how to own and operate a business—such as types of business entities, basic accounting, marketing, taxes, etc. Classes are held after normal work hours (currently 5pm to 7pm) under a blended in-person and remote (ZOOM) delivery model meant to encourage participation from across the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
A good example of someone this program is aimed towards would be a plumber looking to start their own plumbing business. They know how to do the physical labor of their job, but aren’t sure what business structure they should be, how to market their business, etc.
Over the 8 weeks, the cohorts are instructed on 7 different topics by academic and business leaders of the community. The final week is dedicated to the in-house pitch competition where students get practice preparing and delivering the kind of presentation they might give to a bank’s lending officer to secure a loan by pitching their business idea to a panel of community leader judges. Winners of the Fall and Spring pitch competitions have the subsequent opportunity to pitch their business to the members of the local Chamber of Commerce at a special Membership Luncheon.
At minimum, the Fairbanks Small Business Development Fellow will be integral to the coordination and execution of the Fall and Spring AIBA programs. However, as noted above, steps have been taken over the last 18-months to position the AIBA for expansion beyond the bounds of the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB). These have included the successful addition of a second physical meeting location (at the North Pole Welcome Center) and a web-based “remote participation” option. FEDC is eager to build on this success and offer the benefits of the AIBA to residents outside the FNSB. It will, therefore, be highly supportive of the fellow should they wish to engage with neighboring communities and build the partnerships that will allow the AIBA to be offered in one or more additional areas by the end of their fellowship.
Between AIBA sessions the fellow will help coordinate and execute the Moose on the Loose small business scavenger hunt as part of the Fairbanks Winter Solstice Festival or assist in the execution of a similar seasonal “buy local” shopping event. The Winter Solstice Festival is a relatively new annual event held in Downtown Fairbanks beginning in 2023 and is hosted by a partnership including FEDC, the Fairbanks Downtown Association, Explore Fairbanks (local tourism marketing bureau) and FNSB Parks & Rec. The Festival brings together formerly separate events hosted by the partners during the holiday season and culminates with a large fireworks display held on the Saturday closest to the winter solstice (December 21st). FEDC coordinates the Moose on the Loose small business scavenger hunt that takes place the days immediately prior to and on that Sparktacular Solstice Saturday.
The main purpose of the MOTL scavenger hunt is to help residents discover and visit locally-owned small businesses they might not otherwise know or become aware. For the scavenger hunt itself, community members pick up “passports” listing participating businesses (up to 20) and visit those businesses to find an orange, wooden moose named "Mortimer" hidden somewhere on premises. Once found, the hunter can have their passport “stamped” before heading off to another participating business. Participants are encouraged to visit multiple businesses as each moose they find / stamp they receive grants them an entry into a raffle where they can win prizes donated by participating businesses. It is completely free to participate for the scavenger hunters, with the only cost to the participating businesses being the prize donation ($20 value recommended). The fellow will help to coordinate the hunt amongst the local businesses as well as work with the partners and marketing consultant to promote it as part of the Winter Solstice Festival activities.
Finally, to help them become broadly familiar with the local business community and other major influencers of the local, regional and state economies, the fellow will be encouraged to participate on one or more of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce’s five standing advocacy Committees (which have meeting schedules ranging from weekly [transportation] to monthly [energy]) and, in the Spring, assist FEDC in performance of its annual analyses of the local/regional economy and updating of the community’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy update.
This fellow role will give someone an amazing opportunity to make connections with the established businesses integral to the Fairbanks community, connect with burgeoning business owners, and help facilitate their journeys, as part of the AIBA program and perhaps even expand the AIBA into a regional enterprise. It will also give the fellow, should they choose to pursue such opportunities, the chance to meet and interact with some of the local, regional, state and national policy-makers whose decisions help shape Fairbanks’ and Alaska’s future.
Qualifications:
Required:
Bachelor’s degree;
Strong written and oral communication skills;
Strong organizational and time management skills
Fair proficiency with MS Office suite (Work, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent
Belief in “grow local, buy local” ethos
Passion for assisting budding entrepreneurs to gain knowledge and success
Comfort with public speaking and public engagement
Willingness to build on given direction with personal initiative and creativity
Ability to work as a productive team member as well as in individual setting;
Preferred:
Experience or training in providing workshop and educational programming;
Experience in project management, including both task- and initiative-driven activities;
Experience in social media marketing and management (Facebook posting and boosting)
Work Authorization: This host organization is currently unable to sponsor visas.
Application Materials: A complete application should include:
- cover letter
- Resume
- two references.
- Two sample work products
Contact: Jomo Stewart, President, FEDC
jstewart@investfairbanks.com
To Apply: Please complete the google form linked HERE including submitting all requested application materials.