We've been hard at work in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, but did you know we're also very active on the Olympic Peninsula as well? For the past four years, we have worked to design and implement the Coast Works business competition. Washington Coast Works is now in its third year, 45 participants, 6 new businesses financed) and are now leading the development of the Coast Works Alliance.

Since the beginning, we have helped develop the theory of change and business plan for The Nature Conservancy’s Emerald Edge initiative, highlighting the role of small-scale, grassroots “eco-preneurship” as a conservation strategy in coastal rural and indigenous communities in Washington, British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. In Southeast Alaska, we led the design of the Path to Prosperity business competition (now in its fifth year, 60 participants, 15 new businesses financed) and contributed to the development of the Southeast Sustainable Partnership. This work led to the Washington Coast Works business competition in our own Washington State.

On November 9th, the top businesses will meet in Sequim to pitch and win prizes to help their sustainable businesses launch and grow. You're invited to join us. If you'd like to read more about Coast Works, visit our special initiative web site at www.coastworks.org, or check it out on Facebook. Mentors, sponsors, and of course businesses are always welcomed.