Spruce Root is more than a lender — it’s a partner in building a resilient and thriving Southeast Alaska.  As a Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we provide financing, business coaching and financial wellness programs tailored to the unique needs of our region.  Our mission is to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses that sustain local economies and uplift our communities. We do this through small business coaching, workforce development and career skills support, and financial programs to meet the unique needs of our region. 

Spring is a great reminder to take care of yourself, whether that’s through growing your business through workshops or lending, developing your career skills or increasing financial wellness understanding.  In this edition of the Spruce Root newsletter, learn more about our Resilience Circles program for Indigenous entrepreneurs, how to make personal finances less complicated and how young people are discovering climate-resilient jobs. 

Seeking an opportunity to scale Native business and well-being in Alaska, Spruce Root and Jump/Scale launched Alaska Native Resilience Circles, a year-long cohort based program to support Indigenous entrepreneurs. 

Spruce Root staff recently traveled to the community of Angoon to participate in a two-day career fair at Angoon High School.  Held alongside the second annual Kookesh Basketball Invitational, the event provided an opportunity to connect with students, community members, and local partners in meaningful ways.

The cornerstone of Fishability Alaska will be a custom-built 37-foot landing craft, which is currently being built at Homestead Skiffs, a local boat-building shop. The vessel features innovations explicitly designed for accessibility, including a fold-down bow for beach landings, double-wide doors that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requirements, and flush deck-to-cabin transitions to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility devices.