Southeast Alaska businesses win $40,000 to launch and expand

Spruce Root announces the winners of the 2024 Path to Prosperity competition

Dzantik'i Heeni (Juneau, Alaska) ~ Two Southeast Alaska businesses – Sitkana and Ravens Nest Regalia – have been selected as the winners of the 2024 Path to Prosperity Competition. Each winner will be awarded $20,000 to grow their businesses. To commemorate their achievements, each will receive an award as part of the formal winners' announcement at the 2025 Southeast Conference Mid-Session Summit on Tuesday, February 11th, at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall in Juneau.

"Every year, we are astounded by the brilliant and compassionate finalists that join us at our training in Juneau," Competition Administrator Izzy Haywood said. "These two winners care deeply about building healthier, stronger and more sustainable communities, making them truly deserving of these awards"

Raven's Nest Regalia and Arts, Petersburg, owned by Dzijúksuk Debra O’Gara, creates Northwest Coast and Tlingit art that can be worn as regalia or displayed in your homes. Dzijúksuk specializes in Ravenstail, Chilkat and cedar bark weavings and regalia; dancing button robes and vests; and is available for small classes in weaving, sewing and beading various regalia items.

Sitkana, Juneau, owned by Lance McMullan, is a manufacturing company producing hydrokinetic energy devices that act like underwater wind turbines; they create electricity when they spin in the flowing water. These devices will help the people of Southeast Alaska transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy.

“These two winners demonstrate the exciting business innovations happening in Southeast Alaska,” Spruce Root Executive Director Alana (ah-LAY-nah) Peterson said. “One is envisioning how to apply the traditional practice of weaving to generate revenue for today’s economy and the other through the creation of renewable energy in our smaller communities.”

Independent judges selected two winners from a cohort of 12 participants who attended Path to Prosperity’s Business Competition Intensive.

Over three full days of workshops, the 12 entrepreneurs learned about triple-bottom-line principles, worked with mentors and received one-on-one consulting to develop their business models and plans.

Finally, participants spent the next two months working with Spruce Root business coaches to complete their business plans and pitch videos for final submission. The winners were selected based on the feasibility, social impact and environmental sustainability of their businesses.

This program is supported by Disney Cruise Line; The Edgerton Foundation; Sealaska; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Opportunity Finance Network; Sustainable Southeast Partnership; Elgee Rehfeld; Kensington Mine; Southeast Conference; gener8tor; The Jorgenson House; and AK Litho. Without these significant contributions, this program would not be possible.

For 12 years, more than 458 businesses and start-ups in 23 Southeast Alaska communities applied to the Path to Prosperity Competition. The program trained 168 entrepreneurs and awarded 26 winners a total of $760,000 to build their local businesses.

All participants are trained in the “triple-bottom-line” approach to building a business, which teaches how to measure success across indicators that track profitability, as well as, the environmental and social impacts of their business. Previous competition winners include Skyaana Coffee Co. (Klawock), Barnacle Foods (Juneau), Foundroot (Haines), Coastal Heating and Repair (Yakutat), Icy Straits Lumber (Hoonah) and many more.

Spruce Root provides local entrepreneurs with access to business development and financial resources in the form of loan capital, business coaching, workshops and competitions. Together, these programs support new and existing businesses in Southeast Alaska and empower business owners through increased self-sufficiency.

Applications for the 2025 Path to Prosperity Business Competition will open in the spring, and will be open to any business based in Southeast Alaska. To learn more about Path to Prosperity or Spruce Root’s other services, visit our website at www.spruceroot.org or email grow@spruceroot.org.

For media availability and interview requests, please contact Spruce Root Communications Specialist Tripp J Crouse for more information by calling 907 306 6475 or emailing tripp@spruceroot.org.