Kodiak Island Borough is already home to over 450 small businesses—from fishing families and food trucks to mechanics, accountants, and bakers. Plus an untold number of cottage businesses and side hustles, which need help getting to that next step. We can do more. As part of my mayoral platform, I propose a bold, measurable, and achievable goal:

To make Kodiak the #1 place in Alaska for year-round small business establishments by the year 2035.

We are #1 in the state for non-profit organizations, so why not small businesses, too?

Our current rate is estimated at around 36 small business establishments per 1,000 residents, which puts us on par with Anchorage and Kenai. That breaks down to about one small business for every 30 residents. I aim to increase that so that there's one small business for every 20 residents.

This plan will be the foundation of local economic resilience, keeping more money circulating in our community, unlocking entrepreneurial dreams, and supporting the culture of self-reliance that makes Kodiak special.

My vision builds on the incredible work already happening in Kodiak. Our Chamber of Commerce continues to champion local businesses, promote economic vitality, and guide new entrepreneurs with resources, training, and networking. The Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC) also provides invaluable mentorship, technical assistance, and financial planning support to help small businesses grow.

As mayor, I will work to amplify and align Borough resources with these key partners, not replace them. Together, we can create a stronger, more accessible ecosystem for anyone with a dream, an idea, or a product to share.

My vision is grounded in the economic principle of place-based development: investing in the people, resources, and ideas already rooted in Kodiak. Instead of chasing big-box retailers or outside corporations that extract wealth and ship profits elsewhere, we focus on keeping wealth here at home by nurturing small businesses and microenterprises in our neighborhoods and villages.

National studies show that dollars spent at local businesses recirculate in the community 2 to 4 times more than money spent at chains. For example:

• Local businesses return 52–67% of revenue to the local economy, compared to 13–43% from non-local companies.
• $100 spent locally can generate $45 of re-spending, versus $14 at a chain store.
• Every 10% shift in consumer spending from national to local businesses can generate dozens of new local jobs.

This plan is about community wealth, self-reliance, and economic dignity. We’re building not just businesses, but a more resilient Kodiak.

Kodiak’s economy is deeply connected to fisheries and seasonal tourism. But we cannot rely on unpredictable runs or short-lived cruise ship visits to always sustain our community year-round.

My plan builds a year-round resilient economy by:

• Supporting stable, local businesses that operate 12 months a year.
• Expanding eCommerce and digital markets so entrepreneurs can reach customers even in the off-season.
• Diversifying the economy with creative, craft, and cottage industries not tied to seasonal cycles.
• Building economic buffers that protect us during fishery downturns, weather and transportation disruptions, or tourism slumps.

With this strategy, Kodiak is no longer vulnerable to the peaks and valleys of a few industries. We invest in everyday people with everyday businesses—all year long.

Transparency and accountability matter. That's why I support the creation of a Kodiak Community Wealth Dashboard: a public-facing digital tool that tracks our progress toward building a more resilient, locally-owned economy.

This dashboard could measure:

• The number of small businesses per 1,000 residents
• Cottage and home-based business participation
• Local ownership vs. outside ownership
• Participation in grants, training, and shipping programs
• Village-based entrepreneurship growth
• eCommerce access
• Seasonal vs. year-round income trends

By partnering with Kodiak College, the Chamber, and other community partners, we can keep this dashboard updated and visible to everyone. It’s a way to make sure we are growing the right way: with transparency, equity, and shared momentum.

Cottage, Home, and Co-op Business Empowerment

• Recognize and register informal businesses, especially in villages.
• Partner with economic development organizations to market and distribute "Starter Kits" with licensing help, templates, and mentorship for home and cottage businsses.
• Ensure zoning accommodates low-impact, home-based entrepreneurship.
• Explore establishing an incubator space for economic development using one of the borough's many spaces.

Startup & Microenterprise Incentives

• Support a "First Steps" program to help launch new local businesses through marketing and distribution.
• Work with the city to waive or reimburse municipal fees for first-year businesses.
• Partner with lenders and state programs to ease access to capital through access roundtables with lenders and grantors, support grant and loan-readiness workshops with Kodiak College, and explore micro-lending or microenterprise loan guarantees.

Village & Subsistence Economy Integration

• Support traditional microenterprises like fish smoking, berry harvesting, and craft sales with:
• Shared-use kitchens and cold storage facilities
• Equipment lending libraries (e.g., smokers, sealers, labelers)
• Host rotating “Village Business Weekends” for training and permitting support.
• Co-create a Village Microenterprise Compact, inviting each village to name their priorities.

Regulatory Reform & Planning

• Launch a Business Permitting Audit with the city to remove red tape.
• Support a "One-Stop Shop" online portal for business setup with local economic development groups.
• Explore through combined efforts a Small Business Liaison role to guide residents through startup processes.
• Support succession planning workshops for people looking to retire or sell their business
• Focus community development planning on expanding commercial space

Visibility & Community Culture

• Launch a "1 in 20" campaign: Over 10 years, we aim to help at least 1 in 20 residents become a small business owner or side hustler.
• Celebrate "Kodiak Made" products with branding, decals, and media coverage.
• Create an annual Kodiak Small Business Festival to premier new businesses and connect with investors and customers.
• Discuss a “Buy Kodiak First” pledge for anchor institutions (USCG, KIBSD, healthcare centers, KIB and city, etc.).
• Leverage tourism as a small business "megaphone".
• Maintain a database to connect clients, customers, and vendors to small businesses.

Digital & eCommerce Empowerment

• Create a Kodiak eCommerce Accelerator Program with local partners.
• Offer microgrants for website development, shipping gear, and online tools through our fisheries groups, similar to Bristol Bay Corporation's program.
• Connect tech mentors with elders and entrepreneurs.
• Suppor a shipping co-op to negotiate shared pick-up points and bulk agreements.

Supporting Our Coast Guard Community

Coast Guard families are an essential part of our community, and many spouses, dependents, and veterans seek ways to earn supplemental income or build careers in between transfers. This small business vision plan helps Coast Guard families by:

• Supporting home-based businesses and cottage industries that can move with them.
• Providing access to the same online marketplace tools for military spouses who run craft, consulting, wellness, or freelance operations.
• Offering tech mentorships and training for spouses and young adults entering entrepreneurship.
• Making it easier for military families to plug into Kodiak’s local economy, whether for a few years or a lifetime.

We want every Coast Guard family stationed here to know: Kodiak isn’t just a duty station. It’s a place you can thrive.

Is this realistic? Yes. Kodiak already has a strong small business base. This plan builds on that foundation with clear benchmarks and public accountability. With imagination and cooperation, it can be supported by local, federal, and state resources already available to rural communities.

How will this be funded? Through a combination of:

• Voluntary $10 business registration program to have access to tools
• A small set-aside from marijuana excise tax revenue
• Fisheries Disaster fund allocations approved by the Assembly for fisheries-related small businesses
• Non-profit contracts
• Strategic grants (e.g., USDA, SBDC, Sealaska)
• Partnership with the city, Chamber of Commerce, Kodiak Economic Development Corporation, KIBSD, Kodiak College and UAA, KANA Workforce Development, and others.

Doesn’t Kodiak need large companies to grow? Large firms can provide jobs, but they also extract wealth. Studies show that small businesses keep 3 to 4 times more money circulating locally. Our focus is on building real local wealth that stays here, supporting families, not shareholders in another state.

Who benefits from this plan? Everyone. It supports people with crafts to sell, young people with a side hustle, village entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, military spouses, and the broader community that gains services, jobs, and tax revenue.

What about seasonal jobs and fisheries? Seasonal industries will always be part of Kodiak, and many of the small businesses developed over the next decade will be seasonal. But this plan also builds year-round resilience, so we aren’t as vulnerable to fisheries collapse, weather shutdowns, or cruise ship cancellations. We diversify, digitize, and stabilize.

Isn’t this the Chamber or KEDC’s job? This plan doesn’t duplicate their work, rather it empowers and connects it. The Borough will serve as the convener, broker, and sometimes funder for aligned efforts. The Borough's powers are limited, but we have the powers of economic development funding, lands and zoning to assist businesses, and our voice through resolutions.

What about low-income residents or non-digital businesses? I would like to invest some of our efforts in low-barrier, multilingual, mobile outreach; youth tech mentorships; and non-digital support. Everyone deserves access to opportunity, not just the tech-savvy.

What if we don’t want growth? Can’t we just downsize or stabilize? Some residents feel cautious about growing Kodiak's economy, and I understand that. That's a major reason I've made Kodiak my home for nearly 20 years. This plan isn't about unchecked growth or becoming a big-box town. It's about protecting what we have and making sure it can last. Small or moderate population decline sounds peaceful to some, but it often means school closures, job losses, and weakened services. I believe we can grow smarter, not bigger, by investing in local skills and talents, village businesses, and seasonal resiliency.

Isn’t this just more bureaucracy and development? No. In fact, it's the opposite. This plan simplifies and streamlines access to opportunity with cooperation from the city, non-profits, and educational institutions. I'm not proposing massive agencies or top-down development. I'm proposing small bridges like microgrants, starter kits, a $10 registry, and better shipping coordination—all low-cost, high-impact solutions that help people help themselves.

Is Kodiak really diverse enough for this to work? Absolutely. Kodiak is one of the most diverse communities in Alaska and reflects the kind of economic diversity we need. A community with many types of businesses, cultures, and skillsets is better able to adapt, adjust, and survive downturns. Both downsizing and rapid, uncontrolled growth leave us vulnerable. Intentional diversification is our best buffer.

Why now? Because every month, someone with a great idea gives up. Or leaves. Or never starts. We can change that and show Alaska that Kodiak leads with vision and community strength.

Let’s build an economy that works for our people, one entrepreneur at a time.

• https://amiba.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/The-Local-Multiplier-Effect.pdf
• https://news.d.umn.edu/articles/expert-alert-economic-impact-shopping-local
• https://www.revfcu.com/the-ripple-effect-how-buying-local-creates-resilient-communities/
• https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/files/midcoaststudy.pdf
• https://newslj.com/local-spending-compounding-impact
• https://www.brookings.edu/articles/advancing-inclusive-development-in-rural-towns/
• https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/policy-focus-reports/revitalizing-americas-smaller-legacy-cities/