Sixteen finalists, all emerging entrepreneurs from coastal communities in Pacific, Wahkiakum, Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Clallam Counties, have qualified to participate in an intensive triple bottom line small business training as part of the 2018 Washington Coast Works Sustainable Small Business Competition.

The Coast Works Entrepreneurship Intensive, to be held at the Olympic Natural Resource Center in Forks, Washington on Nov. 15-18, will include workshops on entrepreneurship, business development and sustainability. Key Bank is sponsoring the Intensive.

Following the Intensive, finalists will have access to one-on-one technical assistance from experienced business advisors to develop and refine their business concepts and become eligible to compete for up to $10,000 in startup financing.

Participating businesses include an outdoor event producer, a gleaned apple cider business, a CSA farm, several foraged food and non-tree forest product businesses, a gleaned food and tea business, a farmer’s garden market, a natural burial business, sustainable Native caught smoked salmon business, a native eco-guide service and a sustainable forest management consulting business — all “triple-bottom-line” businesses designed to profitably generate significant social and environmental benefits.

“The Intensive is a full-immersion learning experience introducing participants to the fundamentals of sustainable business,” said Mike Skinner, Coast Works Administrator. “The real work begins after the Intensive as participants work with our team of business advisors to make the case for their business ideas.”

Participants will present their business case to a panel of independent judges at the Coast Works Fast Pitch and Award Ceremony to be held at the Olympic Theatre Arts Center in Sequim on March 28.

“The competition gave me a new lease on life — something that I want to do for my community,” said Jean Ramos, a prior Coast Works winner. “I want to build our community.” Ramos has successfully launched SovereigNDNTea, a Queets business selling Native medicinal tea made from sustainably foraged Bog Labrador.

The complete calendar of events leading up to the competition is available at www.wacoastworks.org, or contact Skinner at 206-235-6029.