Looking for Vocational, Industrial, and Career Resources for your School in Rural Alaska?

http://lone-eagles.com/voc-ed.htm

-Links to Sites-

A Work in Progress: gathered by John Stilger
Email:  John.Stilger@nsbsd.org

Overview

            Finding business and companies that supply goods, materials, services to Rural Alaska Schools can be a time consuming, frustrating, and a very expensive experience for Rural Vocational Education programs.  The purpose of this page is to provide some proven, cost effective contacts I have used during the last 15 years in my Shop and Counseling programs. 

            Living in a remote site poses its challenges, especially when you need something for your program. It takes thinking ahead to anticipate everything you may need to run your shop in Rural Alaska.

Where to start

            Below is a list of links that I have collected and used over the years.  Many are big company links that will lead you to an Alaska link or a catalog source for pricing and part numbers.  Some wi ll get you addresses and contact numbers to call and talk to someone about ordering. 

            I’ve also included some Career links that are great sources for furthering educational opportunities for your students.  They are also great contacts when going on career trips to the “Big City” to line up companies and places to visit with students.  The Local Village Corporation is also a great source along with the Regional Corporation in your area.  Many have their main or corporate offices located in Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Industrial Hardware, Lumber, and Supply

• Alaska Industrial Hardware – Tools, equipment, and supplies
• Denali Industrial Supply- Specializing in fasteners and industrial supplies
• Ace Ok Lumber Supply- Lumber and builder supplies located in Fairbanks
• Spenard Builder Supply Inc. – Alaska builder supply source with many locations throughout Alaska
• W.W. Grainger Inc. – Industrial supplies and equipment.  Warehouse distribution center located in Anchorage.
• Superior Hardwoods – Great source for hardwood, hard to find wood, and custom millwork
• Tool King – Power hand tools and equipment.
• Amazon.com – Just about everything but I use it for tools, pricing, books, and supplies.
• Northern Tool and Equipment – Source for tools, equipment, welding, and engines.  Great for trailer builder parts and accessories
• Brodhead Garrett – Industrial school supply.  Now part of the School Specialty Family
• Paxton Patterson - Offers a comprehensive line of learning systems, tools, equipment, and supplies for technology
• Satco Supply – Tools for schools and industry
• Woodcraft – Woodworking supplies and projects
• Woodworkers Supply Inc. - The expert's source for woodworking tools and hardware. Now part of the School Specialty
• Rockler Woodworking and Hardware – Woodworking tools, supplies, hardware, plans, and finishing
• Midwest Technology Products and Service – School industrial, vocational, and technology supplies
• Pac-Rim Building Supply – Seattle area building supply. Their focus is offshore shipments with no domestic market to distract their resources.  A great place to order barge shipments in the Spring for arrival in the Fall.  You can save a bundle.  Great communication and easy to work with.
• Tandy Leather Factory – Leather craft tools, equipment, and supplies
• Pitsco – Educational kits, supplies, and materials for lots of fun hands-on projects
• Woodworking Shop – Quality tools and supplies for the woodworker.  Retail outlet for Klingspor
• Klingspor – Abrasives and sandpaper of all types.  Wholesale and business accounts with good prices
• School Specialty - Basic school supplies to curriculum-based solutions.  Great price and support
• Hoffer Glass – Glass and plastics.  Sled runner sheets can be ordered here.  Located in Fairbanks
• Sled Dog Central - Online Sled-Dog Information and Supply links
• Conney Safety - One of the largest National distributors of products and equipment designed to help keep people safe in the workplace
• Alaska Safety – Anchorage source for specialty safety products.

Metalworking and Welding

• Air Liquide – Welding gases and weld supplies.  In Fairbanks on Van Horn road
• Airgas – Another source for gases and weld supplies.  Several locations in Alaska.
• The Welding Depot – Premier online store for Welding Supplies. A wide range of high quality Mig Welders, Arc Welders & Welding Supplies with dependable service, easy online ordering at extremely affordable prices.
• Welding Supply – Another online weld supply company.
• Manhattan Supply Company - One of the nation's leading distributors of metalworking & MRO industrial supplies

Automotive, Snow Machine, and ATV

• NAPA – Automotive parts online with links to Alaska locations.
• Dennis Kirk – Online parts and supplies for snow machines, ATV’s, motorcycles, and more.

Transportation and Shipping

• Bowhead Transport Company – Barge transport for Villages located across the North Slope.  Large equipment and lumber orders generally come this way and originate out of Seattle. 
• Alaska Marine Lines – Barge transportation to lower portions of Alaska.
• United States Postal Service – Most utilized and cost effective way to get most things shipped to a Village.
• United Parcel Service – Good way to get things fast but expensive.
• Fedex – Same as UPS

Air Transport and Cargo

• Frontier Alaska – Local passenger and freight hauler for much of Alaska.  Most freight will end up coming in on Frontier.
• Alaska Airlines – Air cargo and Gold Streak service to all major hubs.
• Everts Air Cargo – Oversize and heavy freight that comes in by air.  No scheduled service to Villages…. only Barrow.
• Northern Air Cargo – Same as Everts
• Lynden – Same as Everts

Alaska Vocational Training and Courses

• Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development – State website for labor information.
• Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) – State website for Vo-Tech
• Alaska Job Corps – Federal boarding program with facilities located in Palmer.
• National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) – Information about training and course programs used within the construction industry.  Many Unions, Trades, and Schools use some parts or entire curriculum.   Nationally recognized.
• NCCER Craft Training Books – Source for books

Alaska Union and Local Apprenticeships and Training

• Anchorage Labors Local 341 - The Alaska Laborers Training School accepts applications year round to apply for the apprenticeship program.
• Plumbers and Pipefitters: Anchorage – Training for Welding, Plumbing, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Pipefitting, and Heating.
• Plumbers and Pipefitters: Fairbanks – same as Anchorage
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - Opportunities statewide for journeyman linemen for both construction and utilities.
• Carpenters Local 1241 - Represents Union Carpenters, Millwrights, Lathers, Metal Stud Framers, Sheetrockers, Acoustical Ceilings workers, Welders, and Insulators working in Alaska south of the 63rd parallel.
• Sheetmetal Workers Union - Training workers to fabricate, install and service heating, venting and air conditioning systems, blowpipe and industrial systems; metal roofing, coping and flashing.
• Alaska Millwrights and Machine Erectors - Millwrights are part mechanic, part machinist, part welder, and part carpenter that can do just about anything.
• Alaska AFL/CIO - Represents and provides services for dozens of local unions and trade councils throughout the state of Alaska.
• Alaska Works Partnership - AWP delivers services in partnership with Alaska’s Building Trades unions, the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Denali Training Fund.

Regional and Local Corporations

• Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) - ASRC represents eight villages on the north slope of Alaska; Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, Atqasuk, Barrow, Nuiqsut, Kaktovik and Anaktuvuk Pass.
• Olgoonik Corporation – Wainwright corporation made up of several diversified companies in construction management, logistics, base operations, facility maintenance, environmental management, technical security, and information technology.
• Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation - The village corporation of Barrow, Alaska.
• Alaska Native Corporations – Links to all Alaska Native Corporations.

Boroughs and School Districts

The North Slope Borough – Information and links

The North Slope Borough School District – New website still being updated.

Alaska Local and Borough Government – Links to all in Alaska

Alaska Public School Districts – Links to all in Alaska

Alaska School Districts - Alaska Teacher Placement – Teacher District and job placement.