Editing Ester, Alaska (section)

==Economy==
The local saw has it that "Ester is still around because there is a [[McDonald's]] in Fairbanks." This is true both culturally and economically. Many Ester residents are employed in Fairbanks or at the [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]], although there are many small Ester-area businesses and self-employed people. The largest Ester employers are seasonal, with Judie Gumm Designs, and the local mines as the businesses with the most employees. Fairbanks provides a market for Ester products and services and thus helps to keep the small Ester economy alive. Because Fairbanks acts as a draw (due to its larger market and resources) for such things as [[big-box store]]s and [[fast food]] chains, Ester has been able to retain its mining village feel. This is important to Ester's tourist economy, which capitalizes on the status of the gold camp buildings as a [[historic landmark]]. In fall 2007, the owners of the Ester Gold Camp (Malemute, Inc.) announced that they would not reopen the resort in 2008,<ref>[http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9274515p-9189304c.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905213244/http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9274515p-9189304c.html|date=September 5, 2007}}</ref> but do open the camp bar (the Malemute Saloon) for a 30-day period each summer to retain the liquor license. This has had an effect on Ester's summer economy, and resulted in the closure of at least two shops, in anticipation of the dearth of tourists.
[[File:Ester Alaska Post Office.jpg|alt=photograph of the post office in Ester, Alaska.|thumb|The Ester Post Office, on Village Road, is constructed of locally sourced spruce logs.]]
In response to the closure of the Gold Camp, a group of local business owners have formed the EMCE (or Ester Ministry of Community Enterprise), which has been accepted as an ad hoc committee of the Ester Community Association, to support Ester-area businesses and craftspeople. The EMCE occasionally sponsors a local open-air [[farmers' market]], and a Planting Day to beautify the village.