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“Through our Startup Washington strategy, we recognize the vital role of entrepreneurship and home-grown economic development in long-term prosperity for rural communities and the state as a whole. Supporting expansion of business opportunities in tribal lands is a key priority which emerged from our Tribal-State Economic Development Summit last year, and the Washington Coast Works sustainable small business competition is a great step forward in that action plan.” – Gov. Jay Inslee

“This competition provides entrepreneurs in tribal and rural areas with the chance to turn an idea into a business that will create jobs and economic opportunity. This is an investment in often under-served communities that will pay dividends for years to come on the Olympic Peninsula. I extend my thanks to the Nature Conservancy and its partners for developing the Sustainable Small Business Competition.” – Senator Maria Cantwell

“I applaud the Nature Conservancy and its partners for establishing the Washington Coast Works Sustainable Small Business competition, and am proud to support this initiative to launch innovative entrepreneurial opportunities in our state’s rural and tribal communities,” – Senator Patty Murray

“The Olympic Peninsula is chock-full of budding entrepreneurs looking to improve their communities – the Sustainable Small Enterprise Competition can help provide that extra nudge needed to help them take off. Tribal and rural communities alike will benefit from this terrific opportunity to jump start local employment and catalyze private business innovation in sustainability and conservation. I applaud the Nature Conservancy and the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship for taking the lead on bringing this great support system to folks in our area.” – Rep. Derek Kilmer

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APPLY

To apply to the Coast Works competition, contestants must:

(1)   complete Enterprise for Equity’s registration form;

(2)   attend an Ideation Event or an Enterprise for Equity Information Session; and

(3)   complete Enterprise for Equity’s Business Readiness Workshop.

Once you submit your intake registration form, a member of the Coast Works team will call you to discuss next steps. If you have any questions regarding the registration process, contact Enterprise for Equity by email at [email protected] or by phone at (360) 704-3375.

Contestants will be selected by the Coast Works Competition Committee from individuals who have successfully completed Enterprise for Equity’s Business Readiness Workshop with a feasible business idea that meets the spirit and objectives of the Coast Works initiative (see Judging page on this site).

It is important that there is representation across tribal communities and each of the counties in the region. To ensure diverse representation, the Competition Committee will make an effort to include the top scoring applicant from each of the four tribes in the project region (Quinault, Hoh River, Quileute and Makah). In addition, to ensure geographical representation, the Competition Committee will make an effort to include the two top scoring applicants from each of the three counties in the project region (Grays Harbor County, Jefferson County and Clallam County). Remaining participants, if any, will be determined solely on the basis of their score. Enterprise for Equity will provide support for all program participants whether or not they ultimately compete for or win the Coast Works award, including assistance in obtain loan or other capital from other available funding sources.