As Soldotna celebrates Progress Days this weekend, we thought we’d take a few minutes to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that has helped the central Kenai Peninsula grow.

Case in point: the handful of vendors who have found their niche providing food and services to the throngs of dipnetters on Kenai’s north and south beaches. Perhaps it was inevitable that, with the salmon-frenzied crowds growing every year, some enterprising merchants would find a way to make a few bucks.

But how many of us have thought about a great idea for a business — but never been willing to take the risk and put in the blood, sweat, toil and tears to make it happen?

It’s not as easy as some of the area’s successful business owners make it look. Indeed, many of them have stories about the challenges of getting their ventures off the ground, of long days working to make their vision reality, and long nights worrying about what might happen if things didn’t work out.

The willingness to take a risk has been a defining characteristic of the central Kenai Peninsula, and small businesses have been the backbone of the community. Not only do small businesses fuel the economy, small business owners and their employees are frequently engaged in organizations and activities make the central peninsula thrive. They can be found supporting non-profit and charitable organizations, serving on local boards and in local elected office, coaching youth sports teams, volunteering at community events, and donating their time and talent in numerous other ways.

We’re glad to see entrepreneurism is still alive and well on the Kenai Peninsula. Owning a business is as challenging as it is rewarding, but hard work and a can-do attitude have driven progress in our community for decades and, we hope, for decades to come.