Jon Bittner

As I end my tenure as the Alaska Small Business Development Center’s state director at the University of Alaska Anchorage, I find myself thinking about Alaska’s economic future. Our economy doesn’t exist in isolation; global and national trends affect us more than most states. Alaska is especially vulnerable to outside forces: oil and mineral prices, strength of fish runs, inflation and global market shifts hit our state particularly hard.

As the holiday season approaches, one day stands out for its potential to shape the future of our communities and economy: Small Business Saturday. Celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, this annual event offers more than an opportunity to check off items on your holiday shopping list — it’s a critical reminder of the important role small businesses play in Alaska’s economy. On Nov. 30, we encourage every Alaskan to reflect on the impact their spending has on our local economy.