Growth acceleration award paves way for green initiatives
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Spruce Root is making significant strides in sustainability and economic development! We’re thrilled to announce that Spruce Root has won Stage Two of the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, positioning us to lead strategic development in our region. Additionally, the Coalition for Green Capital has chosen Spruce Root as its first network investment, underscoring our shared commitment to green growth initiatives.
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(Photo by Lee House)
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Spruce Root wins Stage Two of the U.S. SBA’s 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
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In September, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Spruce Root is a Stage Two winner of the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC).
Spruce Root will receive a $150,000 cash prize for its approach to nurturing a collaborative national innovation ecosystem to advance small business research and development from the idea stage to the market.
“This Growth Accelerator Fund Competition prize will build on Spruce Root’s work over the last decade to build strong partnerships and expand access to opportunities and capital for underserved entrepreneurs,” Spruce Root Executive Director Alana Peterson said. “Spruce Root will grow our network of mentors to provide STEM- and Indigenous-based training and capital to doing business in Southeast Alaska.”
Spruce Root was previously awarded $50,000 as a Stage One winner.
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Photo by Lee House
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Coalition for Green Capital announces first network investment in Spruce Root
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Washington, D.C. — The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) announced its first network investment. The Coalition will commit a line of credit to Spruce Root, a certified Native community development financial institution (CDFI) based in Southeast Alaska, to advance the deployment of clean energy and lower energy costs throughout Tribal communities.
The Coalition also called for communities to accelerate their net zero plans. Successful proposals will demonstrate how they can implement their plans for a faster, cheaper and more inclusive manner with Spruce Root’s support.
“We’re excited to launch this new phase of the American Green Bank Consortium to deliver on the promise of establishing at least one self-sufficient green bank in every state,” CGC Chief Network Officer Stephen Brown said. “Our National Clean Investment Fund award now offers us the tools we need to eliminate green financing deserts and ensure that every community has access to the resources needed to impactfully reduce emissions while facilitating economic development.”
Spruce Root is the first to sign a new network partner agreement and join the consortium. This marks the first step in building the Coalition’s national network of self-sustaining green lenders in every state and meeting its commitment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“This historic partnership will empower our region to break barriers to access clean energy, particularly in Indigenous communities,” said Spruce Root CDFI Director Michael Ching. “Alaskans currently bear the second-highest electricity costs in the nation. For too long, clean energy solutions remained out of reach for many. Today, that changes. With this funding and technical assistance, we can provide low-interest support to make clean energy a viable reality. Spruce Root is honored to be an Alaskan ambassador for renewable energy solutions.”
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What does your financial future look like?
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Join our 2-day virtual Financial Wellness workshop on December 12-13 and gain the knowledge and tools to build a brighter financial future!
Learn strategies to pay off debt, manage money wisely and even improve your credit score!
PLUS: Complete the workshop and get $500 to secure a credit builder card, with guidance from Tongass Federal Credit Union. Use it to make regular purchases and payments, boost your credit score, and open the door to future credit options!
This workshop is open to all Southeast Alaska residents and Sealaska shareholders anywhere, especially those in rural areas.
Registration closes 11:59 p.m. AKST, December 2 — don’t miss out!
Register today at spruceroot.org/financialwellness
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Home Planet Fund visits our communities
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In early September, the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) hosted a team from the Home Planet Fund in several Southeast communities. Launched in 2024, the Home Planet Fund is a philanthropic initiative that supports environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and community-driven solutions, investing in projects that protect natural ecosystems and foster renewable energy development; they donated $1 million to the Seacoast Trust earlier this year.
The Seacoast Trust, managed by the Sustainable Southeast Partnership's backbone organization Spruce Root, focuses on building sustainable economies and resilient ecosystems in Southeast Alaska by supporting community-led initiatives that promote environmental stewardship, food security, youth leadership, and the preservation of indigenous cultural practices.
While in Southeast Alaska, Home Planet Fund visited the communities of Kake, Hoonah, Juneau, and Prince of Wales Island. In Kake, their first stop, the focus was on food sovereignty efforts and the successes of the Alaska Youth Stewards program. Featuring SSP's Regional Communications Catalyst, Shaelene Grace Moler, "Reviving Native Food Sovereignty" marks the first in a series of stories to showcase the region’s efforts in sustainability and youth empowerment.
Photos by Julie Ellison, Story by Dahr Jamail.
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Sealaska Heritage President Rosita Worl speaks during the grand opening of the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus in June 2022 during Celebration, a biennial dance-and-culture festival. President Joe Biden awarded Rosita and nine others with a 2023 National Humanities Medal during a ceremony on Oct. 21, 2024. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse)
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Congratulations to Rosita Worl on the recognition of her work
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President Joe Biden awarded Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl with a 2023 National Humanities Medal at the White House.
The award, from the National Endowment for the Humanities, honors an individual or organization whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the human experience, broadened citizen engagement with history and literature or helped preserve and expand Americans' access to cultural resources.
She was one of 10 recipients of the 2023 award, including LeVar Burton, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Aaron Sorkin and more.
Rosita, whose Tlingit names are Yeidiklasókw and Ḵaaháni, is Tlingit of the Shangukeidí (Thunderbird) clan from the Kawdliyaayi Hít (House Lowered from the Sun) in Klukwan.
She has served as the president of Sealaska Heritage Institute since 1998.
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(Photo courtesy Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska)
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Tlingit & Haida seeks public comment on Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
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The Public Review Draft of the Southeast Alaska Tribal Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is now open!
The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is updating the 2018 Southeast Alaska Tribal Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The Tribal CEDS is meant to engage Tribes and Tribal members in Southeast Alaska to develop a strategy to support Tribal economic health and rural economies.
This plan will focus specifically on Tribal issues, connections, and the future of Southeast Alaska communities.
The Tribal CEDS will:
- Identify opportunities and challenges to economic development in Southeast Tribal communities.
- Develop strategies to overcome those challenges and capture those opportunities.
- Develop a regional network of support.
- Serve as a roadmap to roll out new programs that will support economic development, job creation, and community collaboration for the Tribal citizens of Southeast Alaska.
Comments are due November 15.
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Upcoming small business grants & opportunities
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Thank you to all our partners, supporters, donors and communities for continuing to share in our vision for the region!
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Spruce Root is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Our services for small businesses include coaching, training and lending for startup enterprises, working capital, business expansion, leasehold improvements and other business capital needs. We are a driver of a regenerative economy across Southeast Alaska so communities can forge futures grounded in this uniquely Indigenous place.
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