Possibly moving to Delta Junction from Washington State (Fairbanks, Fort Greely: rental, hotels)

[RSA01]

Hello!

My family and I are currently living in Washington State outside the Seattle area and I'm currently having a hard time finding work with the local grocery store, fast food places and such. We are thinking of possibly moving to Delta Junction, AK which I understand the nearest major city would be Fairbanks and wondering what kinds of work I could find in Delta Junction or any nearby cities.

Also, if anyone can provide information regarding gas station location, grocery store location and also where are some good places for singles in the Delta Junction/Fairbanks area it would be appreciated. Any information on anything regarding Alaska and the Delta Junction/Fairbanks area would be appreciated.

How would the Internet situation be like? Is the Internet dial-up or DSL or Cable? How about television? Satellite or Cable?

I am 20 years old.

Thanks,

Rob

[HighlandLady]

I think the most important thing you should have on your mind is having a job before you arrive. With the economy such as it is and jobs being slashed right and left, it really would be a benefit to have one before you start worrying about the telly or internet.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by HighlandLady

I think the most important thing you should have on your mind is having a job before you arrive. With the economy such as it is and jobs being slashed right and left, it really would be a benefit to have one before you start worrying about the telly or internet.

Pretty good advise, HighlandLady

[cblackwell]

yes definitely have a job BEFORE you get here! Delta Junction, Alaska ~ The Delta News Web is a good place for you to get more info. phone, cable and internet providers are ACS and GCI. A lot of people get satellites cause theres much not else to do but watch tv when its -40. as far as i know dial up is the only internet available to the majority of people in delta. theres one grocery store (the IGA) and a couple gas stations.

[mal_flisk]

Delta is a very small community with a very small job base to go with it. The possibility of getting a job on the base at Ft Greely is dependent on a lot of factors including job skills. Check and see what the security company is that runs the gate at Greely and see if you can get on there, but don't head up without a FIRM job offer in hand.

[Chasing Bear]

Hi Rob. You might check the US military job sites for jobs available at Fort Greely. To be honest with you, as I live in Delta and have for eight years, good luck finding a place to rent. Delta is over crowded right now from all the GMD work that is happening at Greely. This summer looks to be another big construction year for Greely. Most all of the bunkhouses and temporary housing have been reserved for this summers work force. My family and I moved to Delta before the missile defense started up. It was still suffering from the first time that Greely closed down. Jobs were sparse. I worked several different jobs at the same time. I was a cook at night, I done carpentry work during the day when the work was available and welding also. I also done a lot of home remodel on my own. There were times we hunted illegally to eat. There is one local grocery, IGA located in the center of town. The turnover rate there is low. Usually when locals have a job that is steady they keep it. There are no what you call fast food joints. The only fast food in town is a locally owned drive in burger stand than only operates from May until Sept. Rent is also expensive in Delta. My nephew worked for Boeing for a while, he was up from Birmingham. The cheapest rent he could find for a single person was 600 a month. Rental is in high demand in Delta. Considering who we have in office now and knowing that he is not a supporter of the GMD program, Delta could go the way it did in the Clinton era when Greely was shut down, bust. Right now we are all living well on our own little bubble economy, times are good in Delta but we don't expect it to last. If our newly elected decided to stop all new GMD development then all of the construction people would leave and there would only be a hand full of GMD personel left to maintain. You need skills to make it here. I have pulled every skill I have out of the hat to keep working which includes, welding, carpentry, heavy equipment operator, plumbing, farming and at times cooking. I have done a lot of things on the side of my own invention as well like building log furniture. We just went through two weeks of -50 and -60 cold. It was too cold for me to get out to get raw materials to build furnture. During the cold you have to keep your vehicles plugged in which ups the power bill. Having a power bill of $400 a month in the winter is not uncommon plus heating oil to heat with. You can save alot by heating with wood but it takes minumum of 6 cords of seasoned wood in a smaller house to make through the winter.. If you plan to move here and live just modern as the rest of the country, is it very doable but it cost alot more here. Your heating bill could run $1000 a month easily, fire wood currently is 180 a cord from Delta Lumber. Finding places close to cut fire wood is getting harder and harder. It is a 98 miles to Fairbanks. There is also a lot of Russan immigrants here who soak up the welfare system thus stealing is common place here. Probably your best bet if you wanted to live in Delta for a long time would be to find a job on the North Slope. They will fly you from Fairbanks to Prudhoe and back for your off time. If your lucky you can land a job with a two week on two week off schedule. You could be looking there now for a job. They will commute you there from Seattle. I met people up there from Montana and as far away as Louisianna that they fly in. Do search for North Slope companys and start sending them applications and resimes. I am not trying to discourage you from Delta Just trying to be honest. To move up here and make it through the first year takes money. Very few people who move up here on whim without lots of planning and monotary backing make it. Oh and yes we have DSL, sattelite tv, and dial up. I am working of a wireless card out in the bush. We live remote, and off the grid. There are two gas staions in Delta. Check the Delta news web and the Delta Chamber of commerce for businesses in Delta. The only places for singles in Delta that I would know of would be one of the Local Bars. I would stay away from the Buffalo Lodge bar for sure. I will try to answer any other questions you have. Hope this helps.

[Glitch]

Also check with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Fairbanks. A lot of people who work at Pump Station #9 live in Delta Junction.

City of Delta Junction ~ Home Page
Delta Junction Chamber of Commerce
Delta Junction, Alaska ~ The Delta News Web

As of the 2000 census, there were 840 people, 312 households, and 208 families residing in Delta Junction.

There are three hotels/motels in or near Delta Junction:

• Alaska 7 Motel;
• Bald Eagle Ranch Bed & Breakfast; and
• Kelly's Alaska Country Inn.

Expect bitter cold in the winters, and hot summer. Delta Junction is also one of the best locations in Alaska for hunting duck and geese.

[mal_flisk]

Alyeska doesn't hire much. But the support people work for Doyon, I think in the cafeteria and in security.