Bristol Bay Development Fund Congratulates Path to Prosperity Business Competition Awardees
Bristol Bay Development Fund (BBDF), a subsidiary of Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC), is pleased to announce the winners of its Path to Prosperity (P2P) business competition, which seeks to boost economic development and jobs in the Bristol Bay region by supporting emerging businesses and entrepreneurs.
The awardees receive financial support to advance their start-up or growth initiatives such as consulting services for legal, regulatory, or accounting activities, marketing services, or equipment purchases. The awards are paired with business coaching for a minimum of a one-year period following the award.
Businesses are judged based on their feasibility and their contributions to community development with a selection of three winning companies to benefit from a total of $50,000 in financial awards.
The top two winning companies are awarded $20,000 each. The companies selected for this prize level are:
Sugar and Spice Express: A convenience store owned by BBNC shareholder June Cagungun with locations in Chignik Lake and Perryville.
Little Alaskan Fish Co: A boutique fish processor owned by BBNC shareholder Tiffany Bennett and her husband Conor Downey located in Dillingham.
The third winning business plan in this competition receives a $10,000 financial award:
Nick’s Legacy: A traditional net repair business owned by BBNC shareholders Wassillie and Sally Gumlickpuk located in Dillingham.
The three awardees were selected from a group of eleven finalists after completing an intensive multi-day virtual business education workshop series last fall.
The competition is the second cycle sponsored by BBDF, which is open to individuals, innovators, tinkerers, startups, existing for-profit businesses, and tribal enterprises that have or intend to have a significant operating presence in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. BBDF’s P2P competition has provided $100,000 in grants since its inception in 2019.
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April 2024
“We are so proud of this year’s Path to Prosperity awardees,” says Cindy Mittlestadt, BBDF Manager.
“Despite a challenging year and having to conduct our workshops virtually, all the participants put in a fantastic effort. The three winners are meeting early milestones already! One has secured a new building to expand the store footprint, and another has secured a graphic artist to design a company logo. The winning companies offer a genuine care for their communities and their product or service. It will be fun to follow these companies and the prior year’s awardees to measure their successes.“
Created in 2014, BBDF’s goal is to infuse $5 million into the Bristol Bay economy over an eleven-year period, investing in businesses that directly benefit their shareholder community. By deploying both financial and non-financial capital—like knowledge, planning assistance, and connections—BBDF acts as a catalyst for the successful launch of startups and helps existing companies advance to the next level of business maturity.
“The P2P competition and BBDF’s support of Bristol Bay businesses is a direct result of BBNC’s commitment to investing in our shareholders and communities,” says BBNC President and CEO Jason Metrokin. “Congratulations to the three awardees and all of this year’s participants.”
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