Coast Works Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intensive

The Washington Coast Works Business Competition is seeking applications from those with ideas and energy to create or expand a small business that strives towards a triple bottom line: profit, people and place.

Up to 15 finalists will be selected to join the growing Coast Works Alliance, participate in the Coast Works Entrepreneurship Intensive training on sustainable entrepreneurship, receive ongoing one-on-one technical assistance, connect to mentors and present their business case statement at a fast-pitch event for a chance to win up to $10,000.
 
“Coast Works is designed to diversify the local economy through the development of new small businesses and build business leadership in local communities,” says Mike Skinner, Washington Coast Works administrator. “It aims to grow a constituency that supports conservation and sustainable natural resource use and ultimately contribute to a new vision of sustainable community and economic development on the Washington coast.”

Now in its fourth year, so far 45 emerging entrepreneurs have participated in the Coast Works competition with a wide range of triple bottom line business ideas including fish waste infused biochar fertilizer, sustainably foraged bog Labrador tea, paper-crete  landscaping materials, community food-waste digesters, Quileute-caught fresh smoked salmon, off-grid ecological learning centers, local food cooperatives, sustainable farming, bio-diesel powered stump grinding, sustainable tiny homes, and many more.  

The competition shows that businesses can be profitable while caring for the places where they are based and supporting the people who work for them and their communities.
 
The complete calendar of events leading up to the competition is available at www.wacoastworks.org, or contact Mike Skinner at (206) 235-6029.