Wrangell businesses in the running for $25,000 start-up prize

Two businesses based in Wrangell and one looking to be based here are among a dozen Southeast finalists for a pair of $25,000 cash prizes.

Path to Prosperity, a competition for small businesses and start-ups in Southeast, announced 12 finalists, two of which have a chance to win $25,000 to help grow their business and “assist Southeast Alaska entrepreneurs in contributing to a sustainable and regenerative tourism industry in the region that is community-led and locally owned,” according to a statement issued by Spruce Root, the Juneau-based organization running the competition.

Scoot AK, Rooney’s Roost, Fathoms Alaska and nine other finalists will enter round two of the competition, where they will participate in a “boot camp” to work with mentors to develop their business plans.

This year’s competition focused on tourism-related businesses.

Scoot AK, owned by Aaron Angerman, rents electric scooters for use around Wrangell. Fathoms Alaska, which is owned by five former Crossings guides, works with Alaska Native youth in an outdoors program similar to Crossings, which SEARHC closed down in Wrangell and moved to Sitka this past winter.

Fathoms Alaska is currently based in Juneau, but hopes to establish itself in Wrangell.

Rooney’s Roost, which hasn’t operated since the owner retired, was entered by Caitlin Cardinell, who is looking to purchase and run the bed and breakfast.

“I have been talking with Becky (Rooney, the owner) about wanting to own her house for at least five years now,” Cardinell said. “I am looking for investors. I have a sound business plan. My financial projections work out. The place will make money.”

She said her job as administrator for the Stikine River Jet Boat Association has the potential to earn more income, but the pandemic restricted that ability for the past couple of years. In order to proceed in the competition past the boot camp, Cardinell would need to own Rooney’s Roost.

“This is the sticky part for me. If I can’t buy the house, what’s the point of me staying in the competition?” she said. “Of course, I can pivot and make it apply to any type of bed and breakfast.”

But the location and size of Rooney’s Roost are ideal, Cardinell said, especially when it comes to tourism and meeting a housing need. In the summer months, she would focus on nightly rentals. In the shoulder and off-seasons, she would focus on long-term rentals for people such as traveling nurses. “Housing is tight in Wrangell right now.”

Cardinell is open to investors and has no intention of dropping out of the competition. “I’m competitive by nature.”

The 12 finalists were chosen out of 23 applications from seven different Southeast communities. This is the 10th year the competition has been held. A total of $610,000 has been awarded to 19 businesses.

Spruce Root was founded in 2012 with seed money from Sealaska Corp. and The Nature Conservancy.

“Sustaining healthy communities in the 21st century means translating Indigenous knowledge, community resilience collaborative adaptability into sustainable jobs and innovative economic opportunities,” Alana Peterson, executive director of Spruce Root, said in a statement.