Port Partners entails a ten-week academic course, personalized mentorship and coaching, and an interactive pitch competition that culminates in a $20,000 grant awarded to one standout participant to help make their business dream a reality.
Details were unveiled at The Seward Chamber of Commerce Small Business Appreciation Event during Alaska Entrepreneurship Week. Key partners included the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC), the state-run trade school in Seward; the University of Alaska; the Seward Small Business Development Center; and the City of Seward.
Royal Caribbean says the program is dedicated to serving destinations the company visits around the world, collaboratively partnering with on-the-ground stakeholders to invest in economic development, community impact, and environmental protection. This inaugural Port Partners effort is an effort aimed at uplifting future entrepreneurs in Seward.
“Port Partners reflects our deep dedication and gratitude to the people of Seward and other coastal communities, where small business innovation lies at the heart of economic development,” says Preston Carnahan, vice president of destination development for the West Coast region of Royal Caribbean Group. “Port Partners is more than just a business accelerator—it’s an opportunity to make people’s dreams a reality. This program is only possible with the time and effort generously given by AVTEC, City of Seward, the University of Alaska system, Seward Chamber of Commerce, and additional partners.”
