07/14/2026
Huge thank you to the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development for this shout-out; to Spruce Root for their support; to Homestead Skiffs for building this amazing vessel; to Lighthouse Excursions, Baranof Fishing, and Ketchikan's Finest Fishing Charters for being such supportive allies; to Grant EchoHawk for guiding me through so much of the financial process; and to my wife, family, friends, and supporters who made this dream a reality. Now please excuse me...I'm off to take some folks fishing!
Ketchikan's ocean has always been for everyone. Jack Finnegan is making sure that's actually true.
Fishability Alaska is Ketchikan's first (and only) charter boat operation built with accessibility at its core. Private, fully-customizable fishing trips and wildlife expeditions on a custom vessel with wheelchair access, adaptive fishing gear, and a captain certified through both Autism Double-Checked and the IBCCES.
Jack arrived in Ketchikan in 2013 and spent years as an ocean guide while also building nearly a decade of experience working with people with disabilities. When the pandemic brought cruise ships to a halt in 2020, he saw an opening: what if he combined both skill sets to bring the ocean to people who'd never had real access to it?
Funding was the biggest hurdle. A win at Spruce Root's Path to Prosperity competition in 2021 gave him critical early momentum, and his primary loan came through Spruce Root as well. When he needed to restructure that loan, Spruce Root coordinated with DCCED's Division of Investments to make it work. The team walked him through processes that were new and sometimes daunting for a first-time business owner.
That support gave Fishability Alaska room to grow steadily instead of scrambling. Jack is now not quite halfway through his first full season, gathering client feedback, and already planning for next year: up to five tour offerings (from two this year), plus a few refinements to the vessel itself.
His advice for fellow Alaska entrepreneurs? Don't overlook CDFIs like Spruce Root or the programs through the Division of Investments. They're staffed by Alaskans who genuinely want to see you succeed. And don't be afraid to ask for help. Jack built Fishability Alaska, but he didn't do it alone.
