USDA Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Independent USDA feasibility study consultant for Business & Industry, REAP and Community Facilities projects across rural Alaska, prepared to 7 CFR Part 5001 standards for lenders and for review by USDA Rural Development's Alaska state office in Palmer.
Data as of October 2026
On this page
When an Alaska Project Needs a USDA Feasibility Study
Under the OneRD guaranteed loan rule, an independent feasibility study is mandatory for Business & Industry guarantees above $1,000,000 to a new business. Section 5001.306(a)(3)(i) requires a study "prepared by an independent qualified consultant acceptable to the Agency," with its scope set by the Agency according to the complexity of the project and the borrower.
For loans of $1,000,000 or less, and for existing businesses, the study is discretionary. USDA may require one when the lender's analysis does not establish technical feasibility or economic viability, or when the project will significantly affect an existing borrower's operations and historic cash flow (§5001.306(a)(3)(ii)). Across OneRD programs, §5001.303(c)(4) allows the Agency to require an independent study whenever it cannot determine a basis for repayment from the five feasibility components: economic, market, technical, financial and management feasibility.
Community Facilities runs on a parallel standard. Every CF guarantee requires a financial feasibility report "prepared by a qualified firm or individual acceptable to the Agency," and a full independent study is required above $1,000,000 to a new entity or an entity conducting a new activity (§5001.304). Projections for assisted living, skilled nursing and similar residential facilities must be based on no more than 90 percent occupancy.
| Situation | Study status | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| B&I guarantee above $1M to a new business | Required | 7 CFR 5001.306(a)(3)(i) |
| B&I guarantee of $1M or less, or an existing business | At Agency discretion | 7 CFR 5001.306(a)(3)(ii) |
| Any OneRD program where the basis for repayment is unclear | At Agency discretion | 7 CFR 5001.303(c)(4) |
| Community Facilities guarantee, any size | Financial feasibility report required | 7 CFR 5001.304 |
| Community Facilities guarantee above $1M to a new entity or new activity | Independent feasibility study required | 7 CFR 5001.304(a)(4)(i) |
In Alaska, studies are reviewed by USDA Rural Development's state office in Palmer as part of the Conditional Commitment process.
What USDA Means by an Independent Feasibility Study Consultant
7 CFR Part 5001 sets the standard for who may prepare a USDA feasibility study. For B&I guarantees, the study must be prepared by "an independent qualified consultant acceptable to the Agency" (§5001.306(a)(3)(i)). Across OneRD programs, it should be prepared by "a qualified, independent third party" (§5001.303(c)(4)). In practice, that sets three tests for an Alaska project:
Independence
No ownership or financial interest in the borrower, the project or the loan.
Qualification
Demonstrated experience with the asset class, with Alaska's cost and logistics environment, and with USDA Rural Development review.
Acceptability
The Agency, not the borrower, decides whether the consultant and the study scope are sufficient. Engaging the consultant before the lender submits the application avoids scope rework during Conditional Commitment review.
For Community Facilities financial feasibility studies issued with an examination opinion, §5001.304(b) requires preparation under AICPA attestation standards and professional liability insurance. USDA does not publish a list of approved feasibility study consultants. The Alaska state office in Palmer assesses acceptability application by application.
Alaska Is a Top-Three B&I State per Capita
A National Rural Lenders Association–commissioned assessment of the B&I program for 2015–2024 identifies Alaska, Wyoming and Louisiana as the leading states by B&I guarantee amount per capita. Alaska does not appear among the ten largest states by total dollars, and the study publishes no Alaska sector split. Nationally, core B&I obligations totaled $13.4 billion over FY2015–FY2024, and accommodation and food services took 32.06 percent of FY2024 obligations.
USDA's publicly named Alaska B&I deals show the state's pattern. Of three identifiable FY2023 guarantees, two financed lodging and one financed an aviation operator serving mining, oil exploration and firefighting. All three sit in island or off-road communities, the markets USDA's Alaska-specific 90 percent guarantee tier was designed for. In Alaska, eligibility rarely decides a credit. Fee tier, freight and energy cost, seasonality and labor housing do.
| Borrower | Location | Fiscal year | Loan amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan Hotel Owner LLC | Waterfall Resort, Prince of Wales Island | FY2023 | $13,750,000 | Refinancing of the Waterfall Resort |
| Pathfinder Aviation LLC | Nome | FY2023 | $3,993,000 | Helicopter purchase and debt restructuring; 2 jobs created, 62 saved |
| Baranof Lodge LLC | Sitka | FY2023 | $2,502,320 | Hotel acquisition |
Source: USDA Rural Development program charts (December 2022; May 2023); Summit, LLC for NRLA, USDA B&I Guaranteed Loan Program: Economic Assessment 2025 (House Agriculture Subcommittee record, September 18, 2025).
Where B&I Financing Can Go in Alaska
B&I eligibility excludes any city or town above 50,000 population together with its contiguous and adjacent urbanized area. Anchorage (289,221 residents in 2025) is the only Alaska place above the threshold; Juneau (31,182) and Fairbanks (31,068) are next. USDA Rural Development's Alaska B&I guidance states that the entire state is eligible except for the Municipality of Anchorage. On that basis, 449,516 Alaskans, or 60.8 percent of the state's 738,737 residents, live in B&I-eligible areas (calculated from Alaska DOL&WD 2025 estimates).
Three Boundary Traps
Eagle River, Chugiak and Girdwood
Rural in character, but inside the consolidated Municipality of Anchorage and therefore excluded.
Mat-Su core (Wasilla, Palmer, Knik-Fairview)
Generally eligible, but every site is confirmed on the current USDA eligibility map, because 2020 Census urban-area boundaries apply.
Juneau and REAP
At least one REAP technical-assistance provider describes REAP rural areas as excluding Juneau as well as Anchorage. Juneau is below 50,000, so we confirm Juneau REAP eligibility with the state office for each project.
Community Facilities Thresholds
Community Facilities applies to places of 20,000 or fewer for priority purposes. Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks exceed 20,000. Juneau and Fairbanks projects remain CF-eligible but forgo the 15 population priority points available to communities under 20,000, and the reservation of 100 percent of the first $200 million of CF guarantee funds (and 50 percent of the next $200 million) for areas of 20,000 or fewer (7 CFR 5001.316). Health clinic, public safety and early education facilities earn 10 additional priority points.
| Borough / census area | Population (2025) | Connected to the road system |
|---|---|---|
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 117,412 | Yes |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 97,083 | Yes |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 61,327 | Largely |
| City and Borough of Juneau | 31,182 | No |
| Bethel Census Area | 18,188 | No |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 13,377 | No |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 12,430 | No |
| North Slope Borough | 10,555 | Partial (Dalton Highway) |
| Nome Census Area | 9,598 | No |
| City and Borough of Sitka | 8,032 | No |
Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, July 1, 2025 estimates. Road-system status determines eligibility for the off-road guarantee tier and is confirmed for each site.
FY2027 Terms Monitor
As of late October 2026, USDA has not published the FY2027 OneRD guarantee fee notice. The FY2026 notice did not publish until March 9, 2026, five months into that fiscal year, so Alaska credits are underwritten on FY2026 economics, and the rate for the fiscal year of obligation applies (7 CFR 5001.454). The President's FY2027 budget request proposes terminating the B&I program, against a FY2026 program level of $1,428,889,000. The proposal is not enacted, but lenders should carry it as a policy-risk disclosure.
| Loan type | Upfront fee | Annual retention fee | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| B&I, under $5M | 3.0% | 0.55% | 85% |
| B&I, $5M to $25M | 3.0% | 0.55% | 80% |
| B&I, reduced-fee tier | 1.0% | 0.50% | 80% |
| B&I, high-cost isolated Alaska project not connected to a road system | 1.0% | 0.50% | 90% |
| Community Facilities | 1.25% | 0.50% | 80% |
| REAP | 1.0% | 0.25% | 80% |
Loan note guarantees issued before construction completion carry an additional 0.50% fee. Maximum B&I exposure is $25 million per borrower. Fee = total loan amount × guarantee percentage × fee rate.
The Alaska Off-Road Tier
For a high-cost, isolated Alaska project not connected to a road system, the FY2026 notice cuts the upfront fee from 3.0 percent to 1.0 percent and raises the guarantee from 85 or 80 percent to 90 percent. On a $5 million loan, the upfront fee falls from $120,000 (80% guaranteed) to $45,000 (90% guaranteed). Qualification must be documented in the file.
SPUR, New for FY2027
On October 23, 2026, USDA announced the Strengthening Processing for US Ranchers (SPUR) guaranteed loan program (FR Doc. 2026-21858): a 90 percent guarantee, up to $175 million per borrower, possible two-year deferral of principal and interest, and at least $5 billion available. The published notice sets a 3 percent upfront fee and a 0.55 percent annual retention fee, requires the lender to hold at least 10 percent of the loan, and places no rural-area restriction on the facility, so processing plants inside excluded cities can qualify. USDA's announcement names seafood processing as eligible alongside meat and poultry, making SPUR the largest new USDA financing path for Alaska processors.
REAP Rule Change
USDA's revised REAP rule (91 FR 62600, FR Doc. 2026-20178) took effect October 16, 2026. Projects must now be fully built and operating before the applicant applies, with 12 months of actual production or savings data and 12 months of pre-installation data. Ground-mount solar and wind on cropland are excluded, and applicants must identify the country of origin of solar PV and wind components. In Alaska, where construction seasons are short and barge freight front-loads capital, REAP now functions as post-construction reimbursement, so bridge or construction financing must carry the full system cost. Grants are capped at 25 percent of project cost, with maximums of $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements.
High Energy Cost Grants
The latest RUS High Energy Cost Grant round offered up to $10 million, with awards of $100,000 to $3,000,000, for communities whose home energy costs exceed 275 percent of the national average.
Capital Stacking in Alaska
Alaska Native Corporation Land
B&I priority scoring awards 5 points to projects "within the boundaries of a federally recognized Indian Tribe's reservation, within Tribal trust lands, or within land owned by an Alaska Native Regional or Village Corporation as defined by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act" (7 CFR 5001.318(b)(4)). Whether ANCSA fee-simple land also satisfies the "tribal lands" criterion for the reduced guarantee fee is not addressed in published guidance, so we obtain written state office confirmation before a study relies on it.
Reduced-Fee Eligibility (7 CFR 5001.454(d))
A lender may request the reduced fee when the project meets any one of these criteria:
- It is located in a rural community that is distressed under the Economic Innovation Group index, has experienced long-term population decline across three decennial censuses, is in a persistent poverty county, is in a presidentially declared disaster area declared within the prior 24 months, has unemployment at or above 125 percent of the national rate, or is on tribal lands.
- It processes, distributes, aggregates, stores or markets locally or regionally produced agricultural food products and promotes access to healthy foods.
- It is locally owned and managed, and either supports value-added agriculture or produces a natural-resource value-added product.
- It is part of a multi-jurisdictional strategic plan under Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm Bill.
- It provides an additional market for existing local businesses.
Alaska Stacking Sources
| Source | Key terms | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Energy Authority Renewable Energy Fund | More than $333M authorized since 2008; Round 18 (FY2027) recommends 29 projects totaling $41,164,051 | Grants subject to legislative appropriation |
| Power Cost Equalization | Treated as part of residential revenue in RUS High Energy Cost Grant cost calculations | Active |
| RUS High Energy Cost Grants | $100,000 to $3,000,000 awards; home energy costs above 275% of the national average | Latest round up to $10M |
| Denali Commission | More than $1.2 billion invested across 300+ communities | Active |
| Rural Health Transformation Program (state-administered) | $272,174,856 Year 1 federal award; $242.6M awarded to 250 projects by September 26, 2026 | Grant funds; not a source of debt service |
Alaska USDA Feasibility Study Consultant by Project Type
Each module sets out the Alaska-specific evidence a lender or USDA reviewer will expect, and the test the study must pass.
Hotel Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska (USDA B&I)
Alaska visitor volume has plateaued, so hotel feasibility now turns on where demand is being redirected, and on rate, rather than on statewide growth.
- 2,706,900 out-of-state summer visitors in 2025, up 0.1 percent on 2024 and 52 percent above 2015; 66 percent arrived by cruise ship.McKinley Research Group for ATIA, February 2026
- Summer 2025 hotel performance: Fairbanks 74 percent occupancy (down 6 percent) at a $248 ADR (up 3 percent); Juneau 70 percent (flat) at $235 (down 5 percent).STR via Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
- Summer 2025 bed-tax receipts fell 11 percent in Juneau, 13 percent in Ketchikan and 2 percent in Sitka; the Denali Borough was the only market to grow, up 9 percent.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
- Fairbanks, North Pole and the Fairbanks North Star Borough collected a record $9.67 million in combined bed tax in 2024.Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
- Fairbanks winter air arrivals (535,613) exceeded summer arrivals (527,402) for the first time.Explore Fairbanks, 2024; destination marketing data
- Eielson Air Force Base supports more than 8,000 service members and dependents, with dormitories 97 percent full and more than 300 additional personnel arriving.Eielson AFB, June 2026
| Port | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juneau | 1,732,000 | 1,719,300 | −1% |
| Ketchikan | 1,497,700 | 1,524,200 | +2% |
| Skagway | 1,257,000 | 1,358,500 | +8% |
| Sitka | 602,600 | 582,800 | −3% |
| Icy Strait Point / Hoonah | 541,200 | 502,100 | −7% |
| Whittier | 240,800 | 296,300 | +23% |
| Seward | 220,200 | 140,700 | −36% |
| Valdez | 27,500 | 39,800 | +45% |
Source: Alaska Visitor Statistics Program, Summer 2025; DCCED Commercial Passenger Vessel Tax Report.
What the reviewer will test
Demand redirected by port policy, including Juneau's five-large-ship daily limit, its voluntary caps from 2026 of 16,000 passengers Sunday through Friday and 12,000 on Saturday, and Sitka's 7,000-passenger daily agreement. Segmentation into summer leisure, winter aurora, military TDY and PCS, and project workforce, with projects lacking a final investment decision treated as upside only. Short-term rental leakage, since only about a quarter of the roughly 1,000 vacation rentals in the Fairbanks North Star Borough outside city limits remit bed tax. Pro-rata deduction of owner living quarters from loan proceeds.
Wilderness and Fishing Lodge Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Remote lodges are Alaska's clearest B&I precedent, and the off-road fee tier materially lowers their cost of capital.
- USDA guaranteed $13,750,000 to refinance the Waterfall Resort on Prince of Wales Island and $2,502,320 for a hotel acquisition by Baranof Lodge LLC in Sitka (FY2023).USDA Rural Development
- Off-road, high-cost isolated Alaska projects receive a 90 percent guarantee at a 1.0 percent upfront fee and 0.50 percent retention fee, against 85 percent, 3.0 percent and 0.55 percent on standard B&I loans under $5 million.FR Doc. 2026-04581
- Rural heating fuel averaged a record $7.97 per gallon in summer 2026, 44 percent above the U.S. average of $5.54; the Western region averaged about $9.00.DCCED Alaska Fuel Price Report
- Lake Louise Lodging LLC received a $94,930 REAP grant for solar and battery storage (March 2024).USDA Rural Development
What the reviewer will test
Documentation that the site qualifies for the off-road tier; owner and manager living quarters pro-rated out of loan proceeds; fuel, freight and season-length cost modeling; and guest-access logistics (air charter, boat) as a capacity constraint.
Seafood Processing Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Seafood is Alaska's defining rural industry and its most volatile credit, and FY2027's SPUR program adds a 90 percent guarantee path for processors.
- Alaska first wholesale seafood value fell from $4.5 billion in 2023 to $3.9 billion in 2024.ASMI-commissioned study by McKinley Research Group, 2026
- 81.5 percent of Alaska seafood processing workers were nonresidents in 2024.Alaska DOL&WD
- Trident sold four Alaska plants in 2024: Ketchikan and False Pass to Silver Bay Seafoods, Petersburg to E.C. Phillips & Son, and Kodiak to Pacific Seafood. Peter Pan Seafoods entered receivership in April 2024; its King Cove plant, closed since January 2024, had generated 70 percent of city revenue.SeafoodSource; Alaska Beacon; National Fisherman
- Northline Seafoods (Sayak Logistics LLC) received a $40,000,000 USDA Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan for a mobile freezing and processing tender serving Bristol Bay.Alaska Business, 2023
| Season | Commercial sockeye harvest | Average ex-vessel price | Ex-vessel value, all species |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31.6M fish | $0.80/lb base | $128.1M (34% below 20-year average) |
| 2025 | 41.2M fish (208.0M lb) | $1.03/lb | $215.3M |
| 2026 | 30.1M fish | $1.72/lb | $264.0M (21% above 20-year average) |
Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Bristol Bay season summaries.
What the reviewer will test
Debt service at trough prices (statewide sockeye averaged $0.64 per pound in 2023); processor and buyer counterparty mapping after the 2024 consolidation; the host municipality's dependence on fisheries tax revenue; nonresident labor, bunkhouse and travel costs; and SPUR fee and eligibility terms read from the published notice.
Gas Station, Fuel and Highway Services Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska fuel retail is a logistics and working-capital business as much as a traffic business.
- Rural gasoline averaged $7.56 per gallon and heating fuel a record $7.97 in summer 2026; Kokhanok was highest at $14.50.DCCED Alaska Fuel Price Report, Summer 2026
- The Anchorage–Fairbanks NEVI charging corridor was declared complete in March 2026; Phase 2 (2026–2028) targets secondary highways, Alaska Marine Highway ports and rural hubs.Alaska Energy Authority
- 35 percent of personal-vehicle visitor crossings enter on the Alaska Highway at Beaver Creek, making Tok the first service stop in Alaska.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program, 2025
What the reviewer will test
Station-level DOT&PF traffic counts and corridor fuel gaps; working capital for barge-season inventory and price volatility; 24-hour winter staffing on low-volume segments; and the multi-year operating obligations attached to NEVI-funded chargers.
RV Park and Campground Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska's drive market is small and short-season, so RV park feasibility rests on corridor position and a defensible transient use.
- 84,000 highway and ferry visitors in summer 2025, up 7.3 percent but below the 2018 peak of 97,200.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
- Personal-vehicle visitor crossings, summer 2025: Klondike Highway 38 percent, Alaska Highway at Beaver Creek 35 percent, Top of the World Highway 16 percent, Haines Highway 11 percent.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
- RV rental tax revenue fell 5 percent statewide in summer 2025.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
What the reviewer will test
Transient, recreational use demonstrated by stay-length policy and the share of monthly sites, since residential trailer parks are an ineligible B&I purpose; a roughly four-month season; and wildfire and road-access exposure on Interior corridors.
Charter, Tour and Marina Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Shore-excursion and charter demand is large but policy-set, through port caps and federal halibut allocations.
- 1,777,000 cruise passengers in 2025, with 696,130 at Glacier Bay.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
- Cruise traffic rose 23 percent in Whittier and 45 percent in Valdez in 2025.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
- Most Alaska small-boat harbors are municipally owned, which limits private opportunities to dry storage, haul-out, fuel docks and charter bases.
What the reviewer will test
Excursion capture by port under 2026 cruise schedules and caps; annual federal halibut charter limits; and tideland lease and harbor-access tenure for any private facility.
Tourism Attraction and Event Venue Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska attractions now have a second season, as winter aurora demand grows alongside summer park traffic.
- Alaska's national parks recorded 3.47 million recreation visits in 2024, up 29 percent from 2013.National Park Service
- Denali's winter visits grew from 981 in 2000 to 20,966 in 2024.National Park Service
- The Alaska Railroad carried 519,363 passengers in 2025, including 13,020 on the Aurora Winter Train.Alaska Railroad Corporation
What the reviewer will test
Penetration rates from NPS and cruise counts by month; winter products tested against aurora-season demand and Fairbanks air arrivals; and access and climate risks, including Denali Park Road access limits and glacier retreat at Exit Glacier.
Brewery, Distillery and Winery Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska already has one of the densest craft beer markets in the country, and licensing, not demand, is usually the first test.
- 62 craft breweries in 2025, or 11.5 per 100,000 adults of drinking age, ranking 4th nationally; production fell from 145,809 to 133,395 barrels.Brewers Association
- The Title 4 rewrite (SB 9, signed June 16, 2022) took effect largely on January 1, 2024: brewpubs converted to brewery manufacturer licenses, tasting rooms may serve one hour later than before, a Manufacturer Direct Shipment License was created, and brewery and distillery manufacturer license fees rose to $1,250.AMCO
- About 109 communities had adopted a local-option alcohol restriction as of March 13, 2024, and direct shipment into local-option ZIP codes is prohibited.DCCED testimony to the Legislature
What the reviewer will test
License class, endorsements and the site ZIP code's local-option status; tasting-room revenue under statutory hour and serving limits rather than Lower 48 benchmarks; saturation, with per-adult volume falling as brewery counts rise; and inbound freight for glass, grain and cans.
Restaurant Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska restaurant demand follows cruise and corridor flows, and labor and staff housing set real capacity.
- Juneau received 1,719,300 cruise passengers in 2025.Alaska Visitor Statistics Program
- Visitors spent $943.8 million directly in Fairbanks between May 2022 and March 2023.Explore Fairbanks; destination marketing data
- Some local-option communities restrict alcohol licensing to specific types; Bethel, for example, permits restaurant and eating place licenses only.AMCO
What the reviewer will test
Covers modeled from hourly cruise flows under Juneau's caps; seasonal labor and staff housing cost; food freight; and license type and local-option constraints on any alcohol revenue.
Food Processing and Controlled-Environment Agriculture Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska food-security projects attract real capital, but reviewers expect demand sized from data, not slogans.
- The widely cited claim that Alaska imports 95 percent of its food traces to a 1977 estimate and has no verifiable data source.KTOO / Alaska Public Media, November 2025
- Alaska's farm count rose 54 percent from 2012 to 2022.USDA NRCS, citing the 2022 Census of Agriculture
- Alaska Commercial Company received $1.8 million in Rural Health Transformation funds for containerized hydroponic farms in four rural communities.Alaska Beacon, September 2026
- USDA's MPILP awards list as of November 2023 included no Alaska intermediary lender; SPUR (FY2027) now offers a 90 percent guarantee path for meat processing.USDA
What the reviewer will test
Bottom-up demand (population × per-capita consumption × local capture rate); access to inspected slaughter capacity; energy-cost sensitivity for controlled-environment growing under the community's actual tariff; and freight-in for feed and packaging.
Cold Storage Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska cold storage is a seafood throughput business, exposed to processor consolidation and to Railbelt power costs.
- Alaska harvested an average of 5.1 billion pounds of seafood a year in 2023–2024, producing about 2.4 billion pounds of product.ASMI-commissioned study by McKinley Research Group, 2026
- Bristol Bay's 2025 sockeye harvest weighed 208.0 million pounds.ADF&G
- Chugach Electric estimates LNG imports could raise electric bills 12 to 24 percent.Anchorage Daily News, July 2026
What the reviewer will test
A primary survey of existing freezer capacity in the host port; throughput contracts with at least two processors, with a processor-exit scenario; kilowatt-hour cost under current and post-2028 LNG tariffs; and June–August throughput concentration.
Sawmill, Wood Products and Biomass Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Southeast Alaska timber supply is set by federal rulemaking, so log supply is the first credit question.
- The 2001 Roadless Rule covers about 9.3 million acres of the Tongass; USDA's proposed rescission was published August 20, 2026, comments closed October 6, 2026, and the 2023 reinstatement remains in effect pending a final rule.Federal Register
- The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium received a $1,053,041 High Energy Cost Grant for biomass heat in Nulato.USDA RUS
What the reviewer will test
Log supply tied to Forest Service and State Division of Forestry sale schedules, with a scenario in which a rescission is enjoined; young-growth size and grade fit to the mill; and biomass heat offtake (schools, clinics, washeterias) priced against diesel heating oil.
Resource-Sector Support and Manufacturing Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
The North Slope build-out is the strongest near-term industrial demand in Alaska, but much of it is camp-housed and rotational.
- Pikka reached first oil on May 18, 2026, targeting an 80,000 barrel-per-day plateau; its first cargo loaded August 11, 2026.Santos
- Willow put 2,400 workers on the North Slope in 2025 and targets first oil in 2029.ConocoPhillips via KUAC
- Pikka and Willow are expected to lift Alaska oil production more than 40 percent over the next decade, to about 665,000 barrels per day.State forecast via Anchorage Daily News, May 2026
- 40.5 percent of Alaska oil-industry workers were nonresidents in 2024.Alaska DOL&WD
- Pathfinder Aviation of Nome received a $3,993,000 B&I guarantee (FY2023), saving 62 jobs.USDA Rural Development
What the reviewer will test
Customer concentration and contract tenor against Pikka and Willow phase schedules; projects without a final investment decision (Alaska LNG, Ambler Road, Donlin) kept out of the base case; the limited local lodging effect of camp-housed workforces; and local-hire share.
Renewable Energy, REAP and Microgrid Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska's energy economics, from $8 diesel in rural villages to a Railbelt gas shortfall from 2028, make efficiency and renewables bankable, but only on validated load data.
- Chugach Electric's firm Cook Inlet gas supply ends in 2028, and Enstar reported being 18 days of supply short for winter 2026–27 at normal temperatures.Petroleum News; Anchorage Daily News
- USDA High Energy Cost Grants (2023–24) include $3,000,000 for run-of-river hydro in Tenakee Springs, $2,907,000 for heat recovery in Nome and $2,800,000 for solar and battery storage in Venetie.USDA RUS
- Koniag, Inc. received $247,778 in REAP funds for solar and battery storage at the Kodiak Brown Bear Center, expected to save $54,636 per year, plus $40,000 for heat pumps (October 2024).USDA Rural Development
- The Renewable Energy Fund's Round 18 recommends 29 projects totaling $41,164,051.Alaska Energy Authority
What the reviewer will test
Diesel-displacement modeling validated against utility load data; interaction with Power Cost Equalization; begin-construction evidence for federal tax credits, confirmed with tax counsel; and bridge financing for the build-first REAP sequence.
Assisted Living Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska's senior care demand is rising in acuity, and Community Facilities rules cap the occupancy a study may assume.
- Alaska operates six state-run Pioneer Homes for residents 60 and over, with waitlists on which an increasing number of elders require higher levels of care.Alaska Office of Management and Budget, FY2025
- Alaska expanded Medicaid on September 1, 2015; expansion enrollment stood at 57,363 in October 2026.Alaska Department of Health
- Community Facilities projections for assisted living must be based on no more than 90 percent occupancy.7 CFR 5001.304
- Frontier Assisted Living in Fairbanks received a $134,600 REAP grant for a 100 kW solar system.USDA Rural Development
What the reviewer will test
Bed inventory from Department of Health licensing rolls and Pioneer Home waitlists; payer mix separating Medicaid-covered services from room and board, with a scenario for 2025 federal Medicaid changes; staffing and staff housing; and the 90 percent occupancy ceiling on CF projections.
Rural Clinic and Health Facility Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Federal rural health money is flowing into Alaska at unprecedented scale, but grants fund programs, not debt service.
- CMS awarded Alaska $272,174,856 for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program (December 29, 2025); $242.6 million had been awarded to 250 projects, with a median award of $421,000, by September 26, 2026.HHS; Anchorage Daily News
- Awards include $250,000 to Camai Community Health Center for a Bristol Bay specialty care hub and $4.8 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for pharmacy care.Alaska Department of Health; Alaska Beacon
- Community Facilities scoring awards 15 points to communities under 20,000 and 10 points to health clinic facilities.7 CFR 5001.316
What the reviewer will test
Executed grant agreements before any transformation-program receivable is counted; payer mix across Medicaid, IHS and tribal, Medicare and commercial sources; ISDEAA Section 105(l) lease and IHS Joint Venture commitments documented project by project; and provider recruitment and housing.
Childcare Center Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska has the most severe childcare shortage in the country, which makes childcare a workforce constraint on every other asset class.
- 96 percent of Alaska children under 6 live in licensed childcare deserts, the highest share of any state.Center for American Progress, 2025 data
- Average childcare cost is $12,107 a year, and only 13 percent of CCDBG-eligible children receive subsidy.First Five Years Fund, 2025
- The Governor's Task Force on Child Care issued 56 recommendations in its December 2024 final report.State of Alaska
What the reviewer will test
Slot-gap analysis by borough from Child Care Program Office license data against ACS under-5 counts; anchor-employer contracted slots (processor, hospital, military installation); and dependence on subsidy and grant funding. Projects can qualify through Community Facilities, which awards 10 priority points to early education facilities.
Multifamily and Workforce Housing Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska housing markets are tight but small, so unit-mix detail decides absorption more than headline vacancy.
- Mat-Su rental vacancy was 3.5 percent in March 2026; rents rose 13 percent in Mat-Su and 11 percent on the Kenai Peninsula from 2025 to 2026.Alaska DOL&WD Rental Market Survey
- Kodiak vacancy rose from 3.3 percent (2024) to 7.8 percent (2026); Ketchikan stood at 8.4 percent (2026).Alaska DOL&WD
- Fort Wainwright plans about 1,700 additional billets by 2033, requiring 400 to 700 off-post homes.Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 2026 Housing Summit
- Mat-Su built 618 of Alaska's 1,239 new single-family homes in 2023.Alaska DOL&WD / AHFC
What the reviewer will test
Absorption by bedroom count rather than headline vacancy; employer master leases or anchor-demand letters; utility-cost pass-through under post-2028 Railbelt LNG scenarios; and concentration risk where housing depends on a single processor or project.
Self-Storage Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Alaska storage demand is driven by military moves, seasonal equipment and tight housing.
- Eielson AFB dormitories are 97 percent full, with more than 300 personnel arriving.Eielson AFB, June 2026
- Fairbanks North Star Borough rental vacancy fell from 13.5 percent (2025) to about 10.1 percent (2026).Alaska DOL&WD
What the reviewer will test
Square feet per capita by trade area; PCS volumes from installation data; boat, RV and snowmachine storage demand; heated versus cold storage capital cost; and snow load.
Car Wash Feasibility Study Consultant in Alaska
Growth in Mat-Su and Fairbanks supports new car washes, but Alaska's winter sets the cost structure.
- Mat-Su built 618 of Alaska's 1,239 new single-family homes in 2023.Alaska DOL&WD / AHFC
- Eielson AFB supports more than 8,000 service members and dependents.Eielson AFB, 2026
What the reviewer will test
Water and sewer capacity, freeze protection, winter utility cost and discharge permits; and competitor bay counts within the trade area.
Alaska USDA Precedent File
Alaska's published USDA record is thin at the deal level: USDA names few Alaska borrowers outside national program charts. Every Alaska study we prepare documents comparable program precedent directly.
| Program | Recipient | Location | Year | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B&I | Ketchikan Hotel Owner LLC | Waterfall Resort, Prince of Wales Island | FY2023 | $13,750,000 | Resort refinancing |
| B&I | Pathfinder Aviation LLC | Nome | FY2023 | $3,993,000 | Helicopter purchase and debt restructuring |
| B&I | Baranof Lodge LLC | Sitka | FY2023 | $2,502,320 | Hotel acquisition |
| Food Supply Chain Guarantee | Sayak Logistics LLC (Northline Seafoods) | Sitka / Bristol Bay | 2022–23 | $40,000,000 | Mobile freezing and processing tender |
| VAPG | Sea to Shore Seafood | Petersburg | 2022 | $250,000 | Value-added seafood |
| REAP | Koniag, Inc. (Kodiak Brown Bear Center) | Kodiak Island | 2024 | $247,778 + $40,000 | Solar and battery; heat pumps |
| REAP | Frontier Partners LLC (Frontier Assisted Living) | Fairbanks | 2023 | $134,600 | 100 kW solar |
| REAP | Lake Louise Lodging LLC | Copper River region | 2024 | $94,930 | Solar and battery |
| REAP | Northern Honey | Delta Junction | 2023 | $32,000 | Solar |
| High Energy Cost Grant | City of Tenakee Springs | Tenakee Springs | 2023–24 | $3,000,000 | Run-of-river hydro |
| High Energy Cost Grant | City of Nome | Nome | 2023–24 | $2,907,000 | Heat recovery |
| High Energy Cost Grant | Tanana Chiefs Conference | Venetie | 2023–24 | $2,800,000 | Solar and battery |
| High Energy Cost Grant | Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium | Nulato | 2021–22 | $1,053,041 | Biomass heat |
| Community Facilities | TKC Fish Wheel | Aniak | 2023 | $221,000 grant | Vocational training center equipment |
Source: USDA Rural Development and RUS program charts and releases (2022–2024); Alaska Business (2023).
USDA Rural Development in Alaska
USDA Rural Development's Alaska State Office is at 800 East Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645 ((907) 761-7705). State Director Eric A. Koan was appointed in May 2025. B&I applications route through the Business Programs team, led by Business Programs Director Jennifer Pennington, with field coverage from four area teams: West, Gulf/Central, Interior and Southeast. USDA Rural Development reports $2.16 billion invested in 236 rural Alaska communities over the last eight years.
Lender Landscape
On May 12, 2026, USDA revoked or declined to renew OneRD approved-lender status for ten lenders whose portfolios held approximately $620 million in delinquent loans, about 47 percent of Rural Development's delinquent loans. None is headquartered in Alaska. Revoked lenders must continue to service their outstanding guaranteed loans but cannot obtain new loan note guarantees, so every Alaska study we prepare records the originating lender's OneRD standing as of the study date.
How Our Alaska USDA Feasibility Study Consultants Scope a Study
Every Alaska engagement is built around the tests the Palmer state office and lender credit committees apply.
Eligibility at the address level
The Municipality of Anchorage boundary, the Mat-Su urban-area check, and Juneau REAP confirmation.
Fee-tier qualification
Off-road 90 percent tier documentation, reduced-fee criteria, and ANCSA-land priority points.
Borough-level demand evidence
Visitor statistics, bed tax, ADF&G harvest and price data, NPS visitation, and DOL&WD rental surveys.
Alaska regulatory screens
Title 4 local option, Roadless Rule status, the CF 90 percent occupancy ceiling, and the owner-quarters deduction.
Alaska stress tests
Fuel and freight, the 2028 Railbelt gas transition, seafood trough prices, seasonality, and labor housing.
Lender and precedent documentation
The originating lender's OneRD standing and comparable Alaska USDA financings.
Related Case Studies
Lake Texoma RV Resort Expansion: USDA B&I Feasibility Case Study
Great Lakes Marina with Lodging, Ludington, Michigan: USDA B&I Feasibility Case Study
Alaska USDA Feasibility Study FAQ
Does USDA approve feasibility study consultants in Alaska?
USDA does not maintain a public list of approved consultants. Under 7 CFR 5001.306(a)(3)(i), a B&I feasibility study must be prepared by an independent qualified consultant acceptable to the Agency, and the Alaska state office in Palmer makes that determination for each application.
Can the borrower, developer or lender prepare the feasibility study?
Not when USDA requires an independent study. The rule calls for an independent, qualified third party. The lender's own credit analysis covers the five feasibility components, but a required study must come from a consultant with no financial interest in the borrower, the project or the loan.
How do I choose a USDA feasibility study consultant for an Alaska project?
Look for independence, experience with your asset class, and command of Alaska-specific evidence: the Municipality of Anchorage eligibility boundary, the 90 percent off-road fee tier, ANCSA-land scoring, Title 4 local-option licensing, seafood price volatility, fuel and freight costs, and seasonal labor housing. The study should address all five Part 5001 components (economic, market, technical, financial and management feasibility) in the form the state office reviews.
Does USDA require a feasibility study for a B&I loan in Alaska?
Yes, for B&I guarantees above $1,000,000 to a new business. For smaller loans and existing businesses, USDA may require one when the lender's analysis does not establish technical feasibility or economic viability, or when the project significantly affects an existing borrower's operations. Community Facilities guarantees always require a financial feasibility report, and an independent study above $1,000,000 to a new entity or new activity.
Is my site eligible if it is in Eagle River, Girdwood or Wasilla?
Eagle River, Chugiak and Girdwood are inside the Municipality of Anchorage, which USDA Rural Development's Alaska guidance excludes from B&I eligibility. Wasilla, Palmer and the rest of the Mat-Su core are generally eligible, but each site must be confirmed on the current USDA eligibility map.
What is the 90 percent Alaska off-road guarantee?
Under the FY2026 OneRD notice, a B&I project in a high-cost, isolated rural area of Alaska that is not connected to a road system receives a 90 percent guarantee, a 1.0 percent upfront fee and a 0.50 percent annual retention fee, compared with 85 percent, 3.0 percent and 0.55 percent for standard B&I loans under $5 million. The FY2027 notice had not been published as of late October 2026.
Can an Alaska seafood processor use the new SPUR program?
USDA's October 23, 2026 announcement of SPUR names seafood processing as eligible, with a 90 percent guarantee, up to $175 million per borrower and possible two-year payment deferral. The published notice sets a 3 percent upfront fee and a 0.55 percent annual retention fee, requires the lender to hold at least 10 percent of the loan, and places no rural-area restriction on the facility. We assess SPUR alongside B&I and the Food Supply Chain precedent during scoping.
How has REAP changed for Alaska energy projects?
Under the revised REAP rule effective October 16, 2026, projects must be fully built and operating before the applicant applies, with 12 months of actual production or savings data. Grants are capped at 25 percent of project cost, with maximums of $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements. Alaska projects therefore need bridge or construction financing for the full system cost, and diesel-displacement claims must be supported by metered data.
Does Alaska Native Corporation land help a B&I application?
Yes for priority scoring: 7 CFR 5001.318(b)(4) awards 5 points to projects on land owned by an Alaska Native Regional or Village Corporation. Whether that land also qualifies for the reduced guarantee fee under the tribal-lands criterion is not addressed in published guidance, so it should be confirmed in writing with the state office.
Can a brewery, distillery or winery open in an Alaska local-option community?
About 109 Alaska communities had adopted a local-option restriction as of March 13, 2024, ranging from limits on specific license types to bans on sale, importation or possession. Licensing depends on the community's option, and direct shipment into local-option ZIP codes is prohibited, so the site's status is confirmed before any study is scoped.
Does a Juneau or Fairbanks clinic or childcare center qualify for Community Facilities?
Yes. Both cities are below 50,000, but above 20,000, so projects there forgo the 15 population priority points and the funding reservation for communities of 20,000 or fewer. Clinic and early education facilities still earn 10 facility-type points, and leveraging other funds can add further points.
How long does a USDA feasibility study take in Alaska?
Preparation typically runs several weeks depending on data availability and site complexity, and the completed study then enters the lender's underwriting package for USDA review during the Conditional Commitment process. USDA Rural Development staffing reductions in 2025 have extended agency processing timelines, so commissioning the study early protects the overall closing schedule.
What does 7 CFR Part 5001 require the study to contain?
The regulation requires an independent analysis covering economic, market, technical, financial, and management feasibility. In practice that means market demand and competitive supply analysis, site and technical assessment, five-to-ten-year financial projections with debt service coverage and sensitivity testing, and an evaluation of the management team, prepared by a qualified consultant with no financial interest in the project.
Related Analysis and Guides
How 7 CFR Part 5001 decides your file
Every USDA guaranteed loan passes through nine regulatory gates, and the feasibility study decides most of them. Our full framework sets out each gate, the current fiscal year fees and guarantee levels, and what the Agency looks for in the report.
Read the USDA Feasibility Study FrameworkFlagship research · 2026 editionUSDA Rural Capital Atlas 38 asset classes, program comparisons, capital stacks, lender performance and credit forensics.
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Our feasibility study consultants scope every engagement against the five Part 5001 components in a free consultation.
Sources and Methodology
Figures on this page are drawn from primary federal and state sources and verified as of October 2026. Sponsor- or industry-commissioned studies are labeled as such. Where sources conflict, we use the controlling legal document (Federal Register or eCFR) or the most recent official release. Eligibility determinations require an address-level check on the USDA eligibility map.
Full source list (30 references)
- 7 CFR 5001.303, 5001.304, 5001.306, 5001.316, 5001.318, 5001.454
- FY2026 OneRD guarantee fee notice, FR Doc. 2026-04581 (91 FR 11272, March 9, 2026)
- SPUR guaranteed loan program, FR Doc. 2026-21858
- USDA SPUR announcement, October 23, 2026
- REAP final rule, 91 FR 62600, FR Doc. 2026-20178 (October 1, 2026)
- USDA FY2027 Explanatory Notes, Rural Business-Cooperative Service
- Summit, LLC for NRLA, USDA B&I Guaranteed Loan Program: Economic Assessment 2025
- USDA Rural Development Alaska, B&I program highlights and state program pages
- USDA Rural Development Alaska contacts
- USDA revoked lender announcement, May 2026
- USDA RD and RUS program charts: New and Better Markets (December 2022), Rural Partners Network (May 2023; November 2023), REAP (October 2024), High Energy Cost Grants (2021–22; 2023–24)
- RUS High Energy Cost Grants NOFO, RD-RUS-HECG25 (Grants.gov)
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 2025 population estimates; Rental Market Survey (2024–2026); nonresident worker reports (2024)
- McKinley Research Group for the Alaska Travel Industry Association, Alaska Visitor Volume (February 2026)
- Alaska Visitor Statistics Program, Summer 2025
- DCCED Commercial Passenger Vessel Tax Report; DCCED/DCRA Alaska Fuel Price Report, Summer 2026; DCCED local-option testimony (March 2024)
- National Park Service, Changing Visitation Patterns (2025)
- Alaska Railroad Corporation, Business Facts, Passenger Services 2025
- Eielson Air Force Base release (June 17, 2026)
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Bristol Bay season summaries (2024–2026)
- Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute / McKinley Research Group, Economic Value of Alaska's Seafood Industry (2026; ASMI-commissioned)
- Brewers Association, State Craft Beer Statistics (2025)
- Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office, Title 4 rewrite guidance
- Alaska Energy Authority, Renewable Energy Fund and NEVI program updates (2026)
- Santos, Pikka first oil release (May 2026); ConocoPhillips Willow updates
- Federal Register, Roadless Area Conservation rescission proposed rule (August 20, 2026)
- CMS / HHS TAGGS, Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program award (December 29, 2025); Alaska Department of Health award releases (2026)
- Alaska Department of Health, Medicaid Enrollment Monthly Snapshot (October 2026)
- Center for American Progress, childcare desert data (2025); First Five Years Fund, Alaska fact sheet (2025)
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner; Anchorage Daily News; Alaska Beacon; Alaska Business; KTOO / Alaska Public Media; SeafoodSource; Petroleum News (2023–2026 reporting as cited)