Project to build on two years' worth of collaborative efforts amongst some of Bristol Bay's small processors and "mom and pop" direct marketers.
More info foundhere, and here.
Press Release:
Contact: Adelheid Herrmann, SAVEC, (907) 246-4600, e-mail: adelheid@savec.org
Fisheries Business Cooperative Efforts Underway in Bristol Bay
The Southwest Alaska Vocational and Education Center (SAVEC) has contracted with Izetta Chambers to examine the benefits of a Fisheries Business Cooperative for the Bristol Bay area’s small ‘mom and pop’ seafood processors. Due to the high cost of doing business in rural Alaska, as well as the slim profit margins on seafood products, a fisheries business cooperative would enable Bristol Bay fish business entrepreneurs the ability to compete more effectively with the larger, well-established and well-financed businesses in the region. A fisheries cooperative comprised of members of the direct marketing fishing community, as well as small fisheries businesses would provide a mechanism for augmenting the efforts of small businesses, direct market fishermen, seafood marketers, and logistic providers meeting the needs of these ambitious entrepreneurs.
The proposed project has some momentum from the previous two years’ worth of communications and collaborative efforts amongst some of the prospective cooperative members. There is some movement amongst the Direct Marketing fishing community to self-organize, and a cooperative has been mentioned specifically. Izetta has already conducted and facilitated several meetings of interested individuals while serving as a faculty member with the University of Alaska’s Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program. She has also discussed this very concept of forming a fisheries business cooperative with several key players in the small business community in the Bristol Bay region over the past several years.
Examining the potential for and formation of a Fisheries Business Cooperative idea was part of a Rural Jobs Accelerator grant that the Bristol Bay Native Association (BBNA) received from the US Department of Agriculture and the US Economic Development Administration. BBNA then passed a majority of the funds to SAVEC and with the remaining funds offered SAVEC technical assistance and grant management services. The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of local people employed in the fishing, seafood processing and maritime trades career clusters through economic, workforce and small business development. SAVEC offered many classes geared toward the fishing, seafood processing and maritime industry sectors and has some exciting classes coming up this semester. Collaborative efforts with other Bristol Bay entities allowed for a successful round of classes. The grant ends in September of 2015 and SAVEC will continue to offer classes and pursue additional funding for the fisheries program.
If you are interested in processing your own fish, selling and marketing them now is the time to get involved. There are many benefits to working as a group such as purchasing supplies together, examining potential markets and learning from and helping each other. For more information on this effort please call SAVEC at (907) 246-4600 and ask for Anishia Elbie, Project Coordinator, for the Rural Jobs Accelerator Grant. E-mail contact for Anishia: anishia@savec.org.
Izetta’s contact information is:
E-mail: izetta.chambers@gmail.com
Phone: (520) 488-9814
