Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’s Economic Resiliency Task Force (ERTF) and the Anchorage Innovation Team (i-team) released a new text-messaging tool to keep Anchorage business owners informed during the pandemic. The texting service, called ANC Small Biz Alerts, sends texts to subscribers to keep them updated on everything from relief funds to safety criteria for businesses to operate. ANC Small Biz Alerts features a menu of up-to-date resources, as well as individualized support and one-on-one assistance. Business owners may text STRONG to 907-891-7192 to subscribe.
“This tool provides real time awareness to businesses that will give them a greater ability to make decisions based on up to date information,” said Mayor Berkowitz.
After subscribing, business owners can expect to receive 1-3 texts per week with key local, state, and federal updates. Subscribers have access to the tool’s automated main menu, with topics ranging from reopening information to unemployment, relief funds, and more. At any time, business owners can reply ‘HELP’ to receive one-on-one support.
“Staying up-to-date on relief funds and reopening guidelines can be a full-time job. We wanted to make it easy for business owners to get the information they need, when they need it - now. It's designed by businesses for businesses because they know what's needed most. With two-way communication built into the tool, we'll continue to learn from business owners and quickly adapt the service to meet their needs," added Emily Bokar, Innovation Strategist for the Anchorage i-team.
Mayor Ethan Berkowitz convened the Economic Resiliency Task Force (ERTF) as a group of business, non-profit, and community leaders to propose immediate actions to mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; to identify post-COVID strategies; and to be a credible, accessible source of information for the Anchorage business and workforce sectors. The Anchorage i-team works to improve the lives of Anchorage residents and save the city money by using data science, human-centered design, and technology to solve problems. Funded by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the three-person team works with partners within municipal government as well as outside partners.
