about the Competition
The Path to Prosperity Business Competition is an annual business development competition for businesses with a positive economic, environmental, and community impact on Southeast Alaska. Businesses are judged based on their feasibility and their contributions to community development. The competition includes an intensive in-person training which takes place in Juneau in mid-September and that awards $40,000 annually to two winning businesses.
Businesses must be located and operate primarily in Southeast Alaska and owners must be residents of Southeast Alaska. We especially encourage participation from entrepreneurs who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color and/or those outside of Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan.
Program awards can be used for consulting, technical assistance, and long-term capital expenditures.
Key Dates
APRIL 30, 2024:
applications are closed — thank you to all who applied!
June 30, 2024:
Round 1 Applications close by 11:59 p.m.
August 2024:
Finalists announced
September 12-14, 2024:
In-person Business Intensive
January 2025:
Winners announced
Competition History
In the past 11 years of the competition, we are extremely proud that more than 378 businesses and start-ups in 23 Southeast Alaska communities applied to the Path to Prosperity Competition. The program trained 157 finalists and awarded 24 winners a total of $720,000 to build their local businesses.
In 2023, we shifted the format of the competition to include a 9-week online course "Business & Balance" instead of the 3-day in-person training. In 2024, we will be bringing back the 3-day in-person training for the finalists of the competition.
Who should apply?
This year’s competition cycle is open to businesses based in Southeast Alaska that intend to have a positive social, ecological and economic impact on their communities. Entries can be for a new business startup, diversification of an existing business, or extension of a current business activity. Please reach out to us if you have additional questions about eligibility.
Businesses must be located and operate primarily in Southeast Alaska and owners must be residents of Southeast Alaska. We especially encourage participation from entrepreneurs of color and those outside of Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan.
For the complete 2024 competition rules, click here.
““Path to Prosperity is a results-driven competition – It is the best-in-class business development program in Alaska.” ”
Finalists, mentors and program supporters gather in Juneau during the 2022 Path to Prosperity boot camp. (Photo by Connor Meyer)
This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law.