In some places, Alaska is still "unassigned territory." Until recently, that was the case for Goodwill Industries, the international organization that provides employment, job training and other community-based programs for people with disabilities, or those who lack education or job experience. They're probably best known for their thrift stores, which often employ people with developmental disabilities.
But count Alaska as unassigned no longer. The nonprofit Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Counties, based out of Eugene, Ore., was granted the "territory" in 2012 and has spent the last two years making headway into Alaska. Goodwill agencies are independently-run organizations, with more than 150 in the U.S. alone, and each one has its own set of procedures for establishing job services in a territory.
Now the Eugene-based agency is about to have a physical presence in Alaska, with the opening of a Goodwill Industries job center in downtown Anchorage. It's the first of what will be a string of job centers and -- maybe more exciting for Alaskans who love Outside brands -- a series of thrift shops.
"We recognized a need that we can fulfill, and we had the resources to do it," said Jim Martin, president and CEO of the Eugene Goodwill Industries that oversees the Alaska division.
In some ways, having the job center first is a bit of a departure from how the company operates, according to Lauren Stuart, job connections coordinator for the center and -- for now -- the organization's sole Alaska employee. The thrift stores generally lead into the job centers, but with Alaska, the parent company decided to open the job center first in an effort to slowly introduce the brand to Alaska.
"This is to plant the seed that this is what your donations feed into," she said.
Stuart said Alaska is in someways an untouched market for thrift shops. There are Salvation Army stores, Value Villages and plenty of independent or mom-and-pop thrifts, but that's about it. She said they're looking at opening the thrift store in northeast Anchorage -- with plans to build a first store near the Northway Mall -- in a neighborhood that could use it. The nearest large thrift shop is a Value Village off of Boniface Parkway, several miles away.
Stuart said construction on a thrift shop could begin anytime in the next three months to two years.
Martin noted that if Anchorage shop is successful, the stores could expand to Fairbanks in the next three to five years, and maybe even to other Alaska communities.
But for now, Goodwill Industries of Alaska consists of just the job center, which Stuart was still working to set up last week. Located at 610 C St., just across from the Anchorage Museum, half a dozen computers line the walls and a small conference table sits in the back. There's a printer in the corner, and several phones are available for use. Proper signage was still on its way. While the space is minimal, Stuart says it has everything someone would need to find a job in Anchorage.
So far just a few people have wandered into the facility as Stuart sets it up. Those have been her test cases, but once the center officially opens on Feb. 6, she has big plans for the facility, with workshops, job outreach and recruitment. All of the services are free. Martin said the only requirement is that people be motivated.
Jobs in Alaska are known for their seasonal nature, especially in fishing. Alaska has mostly weathered the economic downturn, though in recent years job growth has remained mostly flat. In 2014, jobs in Alaska are expected to grow a modest 0.4 percent.
"People think there are tons of jobs here," Stuart said. "That's not necessarily the case -- it's not a realistic perspective to hold."
Getting to those high-paying jobs can also be a challenge, especially for those new to the recruitment system. Stuart said the center hopes to build relationships with those industries to help better connect people.
The job center is one of only a handful of places to access a computer in downtown Anchorage. There is no public library in that part of the city, and the nearest state job center is located in midtown.
But Stuart was clear that the Goodwill center is not meant to be a challenger to any other job centers in Anchorage.
"It's not a competition, it's a collaboration," she said.