NextCycle Washington launched in 2022 to advance the local circular economy by connecting circularity-minded entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community-based organizations to technical support, financial resources, and capacity-building opportunities.
Cascadia has been involved with NextCycle as a program convener and primary consultant to members of NextCycle seeking to scale up their businesses. Now, one year later, the first cohort has completed the program and over 50 organizations have gained support from the Circular Accelerator and Seed Grant programs.
The program’s first year culminated in a Pitch Showcase event—coordinated and run by Cascadia staff—where 14 teams presented their work focused on waste and recycling, advancing circular economies, and other sustainability topics. Participating teams included: GeerGarage, Just Right Bite, South King Tool Library, Okapi Reusables, Community Gearbox, Redesign Collective, Refugee Artisan Initiative, Glacier, Restaurant 2 Garden, Book Hill Group, Birch Biosciences, Glass Packaging Institute/Beverage Industry Glass Recycling, Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association, and Ravel.
Cascadia is excited to continue to support the Seed Grant teams as they move forward implementing their projects and programs.
Read a full recap of the event on NextCycle's website.