With funding awarded from the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) through a competitive RFP, Seamark Holdings LLC (Seamark), an Alaskan management consulting firm founded by Garrett Evridge and Taylor Drew Holshouser, will offer pro bono business planning services and technical assistance to shellfish farmers and mariculture processors across Alaska. AMC is excited to bring Seamark’s seafood industry and financial expertise to Alaska’s shellfish farming and processing sectors. Seamark will assess participating businesses’ needs, finances, and goals to provide customized advising and financial planning support, including assistance with production costs, cash flow management, and loan readiness.

This support will help participating businesses and entrepreneurs better understand their financial operations, strengthen business planning practices, and improve readiness to access capital for business growth and investment. Expanding access to planning resources and improving loan readiness remains a priority for AMC.

Seamark joins a network of organizations providing business development support to Alaska’s mariculture industry under the Mariculture Business Planning Program. Its services will complement existing AMC-funded assistance from GreenWave and Spruce Root, with individual businesses able to select the entity that is most relevant to their needs. Together, these providers expand access to business resources across Alaska’s diverse mariculture sectors.

Background

Southeast Conference (SEC) is the federally designated Economic Development District (EDD) for Southeast Alaska, as well as the state designated Alaska Regional Development Organization. SEC’s mission is to undertake and support activities that promote strong economies, sustainable communities, and a healthy environment in Southeast Alaska.

In September 2022, Southeast Conference was awarded a $49 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) grant to catalyze a viable and sustainable mariculture industry in Alaska, supporting the production of shellfish and seaweed, for the long-term benefit of the state’s economy, environment, and communities.

SEC leads the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) grant coalition, which includes members of Alaska’s mariculture industry, tribal organizations, regulatory agencies, university system, regional EDDs, trade organizations, and others. A Governance Body, composed of AMC coalition leaders and Tribal executives from each of the project regions, guides the grant’s work and equity metrics.

The AMC has complementary grant components designed to break down barriers and develop Alaska’s mariculture industry. The Overarching Narrative explains how the grant components work together to grow the industry in an equitable and responsible manner. The full project period for the Alaska Mariculture Cluster is October 1, 2022 to September 38, 2026, though some projects may be extended up until May 28, 2027.