Denali Commission 2022 Funding Opportunity Announcement Final Project Recommendations

On April 11, 2022, the Denali Commission (Commission) published a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Fiscal Year 2022 Work Plan and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Program Grants. The objective of this opportunity is to aid rural Alaskan communities in developing or improving infrastructure. The Commission sought grant applications for an assortment of projects.

By the application deadline, May 13, 2022, the Commission received 169 applications that passed an initial threshold review requesting a total of $136,821,074. The conclusion of this process is expected to produce almost $30 million in awards via a combination of base appropriations, a share of the State of Alaska’s apportionment of Federal Highways Administration surface transportation block grant funding, and IIJA in accordance with the Commission’s approved workplans.

“Roads, bridges, renewable energy projects, and housing are all basic infrastructure projects that spur economic development and improve living conditions in rural Alaska,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “Today’s announcement adds to the Commission’s legacy of building a better Alaska, and I want to thank the commissioners and staff for a job well done.”

“I’d like to thank Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan, and the late Congressman Young for their efforts to ensure the Commission received funding under the IIJA, as well as our partners in the Biden Administration and those who joined our application review panels.  Thanks are also due to Governor Dunleavy and the Alaska Legislature who were generous enough to provide state Surface Transportation Block Grant funding that the Commission awarded to rural communities that would otherwise have trouble accessing it,” said Federal Co-chair Garrett Boyle. “I’m pleased the Commission continues the legacy created by Ted Stevens of working with local communities to fund infrastructure, workforce, and economic development projects.”

“Today’s announcement is an exciting step forward for Alaska and the Denali Commission. Congratulations to the 63 award recipients. These projects will support local communities, strengthen the economy, and improve the quality of life for Alaskans.” said State Co-chair Tyson Gallagher. “I also want to thank the staff at the Denali Commission for their hard work in making these awards a reality today.”

Recommendations included projects in the following areas; more detail is in the table below:

Energy: Huslia, Bering Strait Region, Bristol Bay Region, Galena, King Cove, Venetie, Shageluk, and Stebbins.

Health and Community Wellness: Homer, Kotzebue, Naknek, Nome, Seldovia, and Takotna.

Village Infrastructure Protection (VIP): Akiak, Aniak, Huslia, Point Lay, Ruby, Seward and Tuluksak.

Sanitation: Crooked Creek, Glenallen, Kotzebue, White Mountain, Wrangell, and Unalaska.

Housing: Arctic Slope, Bethel, Fort Yukon, Hooper Bay, Ketchikan, and Nome.

Broadband: Northway.

Economic Development: Afognak, Angoon, Bristol Bay Region, Cordova, and Skagway.

Energy
1.	Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium	Huslia Biomass Heat System Repairs
2.	Nushagak Electric Association	Nyuakuk Hydroelectric Project FERC ILP Study
3.	Alaska Energy Authority	Venetie Electric Distribution Upgrades
4.	Alaska Village Electric Coop.	Stebbins Wind Power Grid Bridging System
5.	Alaska Village Electric Coop.	Shageluk Powerhouse Switchgear Replacement
6.	Sustainable Energy for Galena Alaska	Woodchipper Replacement for Biomass Heat Loop
7.	Native Village of Chignik Lagoon	Hydroelectric Powerplant Commissioning and Distribution Upgrades
8.	Kawerak	Pilgrim Hot Springs Geothermal Design
9.	City of King Cove	Electrical Connection Evaluation
Health and Community Wellness
1.	Camai Community Health Center	Naknek Health Center Exterior Improvements
2.	Maniilaq Association	Kotzebue Behavioral Health Wellness Center
3.	Nome Community Center	Nome’s Housing First Project
4.	Seldovia Village Tribe	Homer Health Center Expansion
5.	Southcentral Foundation	Takotna Health clinic and Provider Housing
6.	City of Kotzebue	Washeteria and Public Showers
7.	RurAL CAP	Seldovia Can Grow Garden Program
Village Infrastructure Protection (VIP)
1.	Alaska Energy Authority	Ruby Powerhouse Leveling
2.	Alaska Energy Authority	Tuluksak Bulk Fuel Tank Farm Construction
3.	Akiak Native Community	Managed Retreat Planning
4.	City of Aniak	Wastewater Lagoon Repair/Replacement
5.	Huslia Village	Home Relocation
6.	Chugach Regional Resources Commission	Armoring Seawall
7.	Native Village of Kongiganak	Landfill Fencing Infrastructure
8.	Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority	Point Lay Asbestos Abatement for Housing Redevelopment due to Environmental Threats
9.	University of Alaska Fairbanks	Alaska Community Risk & Energy System Assessment
Sanitation
1.	Glenallen Improvement Corporation	Sewer System Compliance, Planning, and Capacity Building
2.	City of White Mountain	Landfill Expansion
3.	City of Kotzebue	Washeteria and Public Showers
4.	TKC Fish Wheel	Crooked Creek Water and Sewer Infrastructure Improvements
5.	City and Borough of Wrangell	Solid Waste Transfer Station Loading Dock Construction
6.	City of Unalaska	Water Main Extension and Upgrade Design
Housing
1.	Bethel Community Services Foundation	Permanent Supportive Housing
2.	Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope	Regional Affordable and Resilient Arctic Housing
3.	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Strategic Housing Market Analysis and Affordable Development Plan
4.	Native Village of Fort Yukon	Elder Housing Project
5.	Village of Solomon	Nome Housing Plot Development
6.	RurAL CAP	Hooper Bay Rehabilitation Program – Technical Assistance for Housing Program
Broadband
1.	Tanana Chiefs conference	Northway Clinic Fiber
2.	Alaska Native Village Corporation Association	Regional Broadband Upgrade Project
Economic Development
1.	Native Village of Afognak	Mal’uk Farms Agricultural Project
2.	Prince William Sound Development District	Cordova Multipurpose Processing Facility Phase II Feasibility
3.	Skagway Development Corporation	Community Development Services Technical Feasibility Plan
4.	Kootznoowoo, Inc.	Angoon arts studio for tourism development
5.	Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association	Regional freezer barge feasibility study
6.	Prince William Sound Science Center	Saltwater pump system integration
Workforce Development
1.	Institute of the North	Arctic Resilient Communities Workshop

Transportation

Utilizing fiscal year 2022 base appropriations and $15 million from the State of Alaska Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) apportionment, the Commission’s Denali Access System Program, through the recommendations of the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), will fund planning, design, engineering, and construction of road and other transportation infrastructure improvements. Transportation project applications were solicited through the Commission’s Funding Opportunity Announcement.

“I’d like to thank the Governor for his confidence in the Denali Commission and the hard work of the TAC and Commission staff evaluating and recommending these great projects across Alaska,” said Garrett Boyle, the Denali Commission’s Federal Co-Chair. “Investing in this infrastructure provides the foundation for a strong economy in areas that need it most.” 

“The strong response to the FOA illustrates the urgent needs of rural Alaska for transportation infrastructure and maintenance and the role that the Denali Commission has in the coordination of Federal, State and Local governments in bringing their collective resources together to fund these needs,” said Charles Pool, TAC member, Ketchikan, Alaska.

“The grant applications the Transportation Advisory Committee reviewed were impressive and demonstrated that Alaska has continued infrastructure needs that need to be addressed.” said Loren Leman, P.E., TAC member. “What is impressive about this process is that most of the projects selected for funding through the Denali Commission had considerable other investment by local entities and other partners.”

Transportation project recommendations included projects in the following locations; a more detailed list of applicants and project names is in the table below: Akutan, Angoon, Atqasuk, Craig, Gulkana, Huslia, Iliamna, Kiana, Konginganak, Larsen Bay, Metlakatla,Newhalen, New Stuyahok, Nondalten, Port Graham, Sitka, Tununak, Utqiagvik, Wainwright, and White Mountain.  

Road and Trail System Projects
1.	Craig Tribal Association	Craig to Klawock Bike Path Design
2.	Gulkana Village Council	Soaring Eagle Transit Garage
3.	Huslia Tribal Council	Huslia Timber Ridge Barge Landing Road
4.	Native Village of Kiana	Community Wide Drainage
5.	Kongiganak Tribal Council	Kongiginak Boardwalk Maintenance & Repair
6.	New Stuyahok Village	Village Roads Drainage Repair
7.	Lake and Peninsula Borough	Iliamna Dock Planning, Nondalton Road and Newhalen River Bridge Feasibility Study
8.	Spruce Island Development Corp.	Anton Larsen Bay Road Extension
9.	North Slope Borough	Road Network for Utqiagvik, Wainwright and Atqasuk
10.	Sitka Trail Works, Inc.	Cruise Ship Port Connector to the Cross Trail Multi-modal Pathway
11.	Native Village of Tununak	Tununak Boardwalk Repair
12.	Kawerak, Inc.	White Mountain Community Streets
Waterfront Projects
1.	City of Akutan	Akutan West Harbor Access Road
2.	City of Angoon	Angoon Harbor Reconstruction
3.	Iliamna Development Corporation	Iliamna Bay Dredging
4.	Metlakatla Indian Community	Annette Bay Small Boat Launch
5.	The Port Graham Corporation	Port Graham Dock Engineering

These recommendations give Commission staff the approval to negotiate Financial Assistance Awards (grants) with recipients. The Project Database houses information on all Commission-funded projects, both in progress and completed.

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