Spruce Root is offering a Virtual Business Basics for Mariculture Workshop Series, an online series presented by Quentin Fong of Alaska Sea Grant. By the end of the workshop, participants will understand the structure of business planning, be familiar with tools that facilitate business and marketing, feasibility analysis, and gain insights into strategic business decision making, all geared towards kelp and oyster farmers. This workshop is open to any Alaskan resident at any stage of their mariculture business. Registration closes on October 30th. You’ll receive an email the morning of November 2nd with the Zoom link.

This workshop series will be hosted on Zoom at the following dates and times (AKST):

• November 2nd 5:30-7:30pm – Setting the Stage: Mariculture industry overview, profit triangle, business planning
• November 5th 5:30-7:30pm – Tools of the Trade: SWOT Analysis, Business Model Canvas. Break-Even Analysis, Financial Statements
• November 9th 5:30-7:30pm – Marketing Planning: Definition, process, and tools
• November 12th 5:30-7:30pm – Accounting for Mariculture (Presented by Tyler Emerson, CPA with Elgee Rehfeld)
• November 16th 5:30-7:30pm – Putting it All Together: Kelp financial planning spreadsheet, oyster financial planning spreadsheet (Presented by Noah Boldt, Aquaculture Economist with NOAA Fisheries), business planning reprise

Registration is $25. If this fee is in any way a barrier to your participation, please email Andrew at andrew@spruceroot.org to request a waiver before filling out the application.

Spruce Root is a subaward recipient of the AMC’s Revolving Loan Fund grant component. It is using grant funding to increase access to capital, stimulate private investment into the industry, and financing industry channels that spur job growth. Their offered services will further the business acumen of the state and help mariculture professionals grow their operations in seaweed farming, shellfish farming, and processing.

About the AMC Marketing Program

Funded through the AMC’s Market Development grant component, the Alaska Mariculture Alliance (AMA) and Southeast Conference (SEC) have launched a robust marketing program to increase awareness, demand, and long-term market opportunities for Alaska’s growing mariculture industry. The AMC Marketing Program is being advanced by Tastemaker Comms in partnership with Rising Tide Communications – two experienced firms with extensive backgrounds in seafood marketing, brand development, and campaign execution.

About the Alaska Mariculture Cluster

In September 2022, Southeast Conference was awarded a $49 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to stimulate private investment and grow Alaska’s mariculture industry to $100 million in sales in 10 years.  The Alaska Mariculture Cluster grant involves a large coalition of state agencies, Tribes, non-profits, and others working together over a five year period ending May 2027.