Frequntly Asked Questions

WABA primarily serves entrepreneurs, startups, small and medium enterprises, nonprofits, and sector partners across the Western Arctic. Whether you are launching your first venture, scaling up operations, or working within a community-based organization, WABA provides the tools, networks, and support to help you succeed.

Our mission is to support entrepreneurs, foster innovation, grow the economy, and amplify the voice of the business community. We believe that strong local businesses create stronger communities, and our work ensures that the unique needs of the Western Arctic are represented in policy, programs, and investment decisions.

Our vision is of a thriving Western Arctic economy where people can start, grow, and scale businesses locally; where collaboration—not competition over limited resources—creates new prosperity that benefits everyone.

We help businesses by offering advisory support, training programs, shared services, startup cohorts, and innovation pilots designed for the realities of operating in the Western Arctic. Beyond programs, WABA also advocates for modernized policies, streamlined permitting, reduced red tape, and better service delivery, so businesses can focus on growth rather than barriers.

Our work is guided by clear values: collaboration over competition, lowering barriers to access, expanding overall economic value, filling service gaps, and staying accountable through evidence-based results. These principles ensure that our support is inclusive, transparent, and focused on creating lasting prosperity across the region.

Our programs are designed to address the most common challenges businesses face. They include startup sprints, advisory sessions, back-office support, procurement readiness training, talent development pathways, and innovation testbeds for testing new products and services. Each program is built to shorten the path from idea to operating revenue and to prepare businesses for real market opportunities.

WABA provides constructive, solutions-oriented advocacy that reflects the lived reality of operating in the Western Arctic. We work to improve outdated policies, reduce costs of doing business, align government programs with business timelines, and ensure SMEs have a seat at the decision-making table. Our goal is to help businesses thrive by clearing systemic barriers.

WABA offers three ways to engage with our community:

As a Member, you gain visibility through directory listings, along with opportunity digests, community updates, and research snapshots to keep you informed.

Stepping up as a Partner adds access to practical self-serve tools such as opportunity dashboards, optional group purchasing, and a shared resource library that makes day-to-day operations easier.

For organizations looking for deeper involvement, our Sponsor level includes curated introductions, greater visibility across our channels, and participation in workforce or innovation initiatives.

Each tier is designed to match your level of engagement, providing real value no matter where you are on your business journey.

Getting involved with WABA is simple. You can join as a free Member, upgrade to Partner for more tools, sponsor programs to support regional capacity, or participate in advisory hours, cohorts, and pilots. We also encourage businesses to provide feedback, contribute to advocacy agendas, and collaborate on initiatives that benefit the broader community.

WABA has helped launch and expand new businesses, create jobs, shorten permitting and revenue timelines, and reduce operating costs through shared services and group purchasing. Our innovation pilots have translated into ongoing operations, and our advocacy has strengthened the business voice in policy and procurement. Most importantly, member feedback shows that WABA has become a trusted ally in building a resilient and thriving regional economy.