Three regional entrepreneurs based in Nome has been awarded a total of $135,800 in Small Business Initiative program grants by the Norton Sound Economic Development Corp.
Officials at NSEDC announced the grants on Oct. 21 to Noxapaga Smokehouse Inn, and Rural Alaska Animal Resources LLC, and St. Lawrence Island Drumbeats. The grants are $50,000, $50,000 and $35,800, respectively.
Noxapaga Smokehouse Inn, owned by Jessica Farley, plans to provide accommodations for visitors, as well as marketing Norton Sound smoked seafood products. The inn will have two suites to rent and a commercial kitchen for smoked seafood production.
Emily Stotts’ Rural Alaska Animal Resources will provide a regional resource center and animal-related products to the Bering Strait region. Plans are for the center to provide spay/neuter surgeries and facilitate programs to provide veterinary care, plus quality pet food and pet care products.
John and Arlene Waghiyi are aiming for St. Lawrence Island Drumbeats to be a retail business, featuring indigenous artwork from local artists.
The three firms have two years to implement their business plans and use the available funds.
To date NSEDC has allocated $1.29 million to its Small Business Initiative program, awarding 52 recipients throughout the Norton Sound region. The program goal is a higher success rate for those businesses receiving the funds.
