An innovative program led by the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, designed to promote locally driven economic growth through new businesses, is ready for summer with options ranging from charter boats and wildlife viewing to kayak rentals and shuttle bus service.
The Hawai’i/Alaska Regenerative Impact Studio Exchange (RISE) marked the latest phase of the initiative in Cordova on May 13 with an event at the Cordova Center celebrating the new businesses – all of which want to showcase Alaska Native culture, said Cathy Renfeldt, executive director of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce.
“It was a good turnout; I was happy with it,” Renfeldt said.
The RISE program aims to support long-term business development by connecting Prince William Sound and Maui, Hawai’i to build industries that honor both cultures.
“There was a similar program in Hawai’i and the people who did this had already been successful in Hawai’i,” Renfeldt said. “I have been working with organizers of the Hawai’i program for two years. We are hoping to take the (Alaska) cohorts to Hawai’i next year.”
Program participants included basically seven cohort members and five mentors. The cohorts devised business plans to achieve the RISE program’s goals – include walking tours, skiff and kayak rentals, charter boats, wildlife viewing, shuttle buses and cultural heritage programming.
A featured speaker during the program, which included weekly sessions via Zoom or in-person from March through April, was Tlingit artist and filmmaker Mary Goddard, who knows a lot about community-based or regenerative tourism.
“Whatever we do for tourism has to first aid, benefit the community,” Renfeldt said. “We want a net positive out of this whole thing. We want to make sure we do enough good through this effort that we provide enough benefits and positive impacts… It is a tall order and involves a lot of forethought.”
