A “business venture forum,” sponsored by the Haines Chamber of Commerce Monday, is aimed at strengthening the business plans of local entrepreneurs. It starts noon at the public library.

The forum will shed light on new business ventures and bring together business start-ups and existing business owners with service providers from banking, insurance, legal services, financial advisors and management, said Chamber president Barbara Mulford.

The Haines forum was inspired by the “Paths to Prosperity” competition open to Southeast entrepreneurs by a collaboration between the Haa Aani Community Development Fund and The Nature Conservancy.

“P2P” contestants participating in the forum from Haines included Carrie Kinison, owner of Klehini Carnovore, and the four Haines entrepreneurs who were among the 12 semi-finalists for the SE Alaska contest, including Tamsen Cassidy of Klehini Feed and Seed; Scott Hansen, Chilkoot Indian Enterprises Wood Pellet Production; Debra Schnabel, Glacial Ground Rocknobs; and Carol Tuynman of Seven Echoes Homestead Sustainability Center.

Alana Peterson, a representative of the Paths to Prosperity program, also will attend the forum.

For information on the semi-finalists, go to: http://p2web.org/feature-entrepreneurs.

In other news, Shori Heaton has been hired as the organization’s new office manager.

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