From our recent participation in the Southeast Conference annual meeting to the prestigious recognition from the International Economic Development Council, and an opportunity for you to play a pivotal role in empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Spruce Root, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and supporting rural communities, is thrilled to announce that the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has selected the Path to Prosperity (P2P) suite of services as a 2023 Excellence in Economic Development Award Winner.  IEDC is a non-profit membership organization for economic developers all over the world with more than 4,300 members.

It's an exciting time at Spruce Root, and we have some fantastic updates and opportunities to share with you. From welcoming a new member, Shaelene Grace Moler, to our team to the launch of the Native Craft Artist Readiness Program, there's a lot to dive into.

September is right around the corner and it has us feeling nostalgic for an amazing summer season. Going for hikes, hanging out on the beach or going for boat rides were a crucial part of our experiences. Summer is a time for culture camps, Alaskan youth stewards field seasons, etc. We hope you had a great summer.

The Spruce Root team enjoys many outdoor summer activities including hiking, boating and subsistence gathering. We also have been busy partnering with Chilkoot Indian Association to provide Business Basics Online for CIA and Haines-based Alaska Arts Confluence artists. In addition, the City and Borough of Yakutat Planning Commission encourages Yakutat residents to take a community planning survey to inform the direction of the community for the next 10 years.

A new pet supply store in Sitka features high-quality treats and toys for cats and dogs. For the owner, starting a business in her hometown didn’t seem possible at first. But through training and support coaching from Spruce Root, pet owners have a new place to buy treats for their pets.

The fiddleheads have popped up, the devil's club tips are unfurling and we even saw some posts that some morel mushrooms made an appearance in Southeast Alaska. We are excited for the return of summer and all the outdoor activities it provides, but we're also excited to offer services and resources and a bunch of opportunities to Southeast Alaska communities.

Spruce Root Inc. now offers our Path to Prosperity Business Basics course in an online, self-paced format. The three- to four-hour online course, which is similar to our previous in-person and virtual workshops, will take you through the fundamental strategic questions that an entrepreneur needs to answer before starting or expanding a small business. 

We're excited to announce the hiring of Marina Anderson as SSP's Program Director and Shannon Stevens as SSP's Deputy Director!

Herring eggs, cruise ships and even some spring cleaning often mark the shift in seasons. Here at Spruce Root, we're looking forward to all the things that spring will bring.