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USDA High Energy Cost Grant Program — Responses Due September 8, 2010
August 2010 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) High Energy Cost Grant Program provides financial assistance for the improvement of energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities serving eligible rural communities with home energy costs that are over 275% of the national average.
USDA is now accepting new applications for $15.5 million in competitive grants under the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2010. Grants ranging from $75,000 to $5 million will be awarded to businesses, nonprofit entities, states, local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes. These grants will be used for on-grid and off-grid renewable energy projects serving eligible communities. USDA will award approximately 20 grants with the $15.5 million provided through this notice of funding availability. Read More
Southwest Alaska Broadband Strategy Underway
August 2010- The Southwest Alaska Broadband Consortium recently held its first meeting which 
included stakeholders from across the region as well as representatives from cable providers. The group will be working together in the coming weeks to create a broadband strategy for Southwest Alaska. Input from around the Southwest region will be very important in ensuring that the strategy offers a comprehensive plan of action to effectively use the increased broadband capabilities that will be available soon. With the development of a cohesive strategic plan, Southwest Alaska will be prepared to benefit from the potential economic surge through this expanded technology for years to come. In addition, this plan will be shared with policymakers, agencies, funders, and other developers as we look for solutions to advancing our regional and state economy.
We're asking members to please take five minutes to fill out this survey on internet use at your organization to help us with this effort. The survey can be found here.
If you are interested in joining the consortium, please contact SWAMC at 907-562-7380 or vista@swamc.org. Read More
Steller Sea Lion Draft BiOp Released, Comments Due August 27
After several months of delay, the National Marine Fisheries Service released its draft biological opinion on the health of the Steller sea lion population in western Alaska on August 2. Numerous recommendations are found in the 800-page document, including closure of the Atka mackerel and Pacific cod fisheries in the western Aleutians and fishery closures near sea lion rookeries and areas where the mammals rest in the central Aleutians. Under the draft, the current Bering Sea pollock fishery will not be altered. One of NOAA's goals is to ensure the sea lions have adequate food supplies in areas of concern, although a definitive cause for population decline has not been identified at this point.
A lot of anticipation had built up before the release of the draft BiOp, and there promises to be a lot of discussion and feedback regarding the recommendations of the NMFS scientists. The NPFMC is holding a special meeting to review the recommendations next week in Anchorage. NOAA Fisheries is accepting public comment on the draft document through 5 p.m. ADT on August 27. Comments can be emailed to fmpbiop@noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries intends to complete the final Biological Opinion and to implement the direct final rule measures before the start of the 2011 fishery in January. Read More
NOAA to Hold Regional Meeting to Improve Fishing Community Profiles
July 2010 - NOAA Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is inviting coastal Alaskans to attend their regional meetings to be held during summer 2010 and provide information on how to enrich their Community Profiles for the North Pacific Fisheries -Alaska publication (originally published in 2005). These one-day meetings will focus on engaging Alaskan fishing community leaders and the public to provide meaningful information on how to revise the community profiles so that they are better representative of communities. Two meetings will be held in the SWAMC region: Unalaska/Dutch Harbor on August 25 and Kodiak on September 27.
Read More
Obama Administration Releases Final Oceans Policy Report
July 2010 - A little over a year ago, President Obama issued a memorandum to form the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The Task Force was charged with developing a recommendation for a national policy that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes. It was also tasked with recommending a framework for improved stewardship, and effective coastal and marine spatial planning. On July 19th the Task Force released its final recommendations, which include a National Oceans Policy and the creation of a National Ocean Council (NOC) to "strengthen ocean governance and coordination." Read More
AEA Seeks Applicants for Round IV of the Renewable Energy Fund
July 2010-The Alaska Energy Authority will be accepting applications for Round IV of the Renewable Energy Fund from July 21st through September 15th, 2010. AEA is seeking to recommend projects based on applications that clearly demonstrate a public benefit from the proposed project. From Round IV applications received, AEA will make project recommendations to the Legislature for FY2012 funding. Thus far, 129 projects have been recommended with a total of $150 million in funds approved. For more information or to apply, visit www.akenergyauthority.org. Read More
Bristol Bay Non-Profits Awarded Pebble Fund Grants
May 2010 - Seventeen groups, schools, villages and tribal councils in the Bristol Bay region have been awarded grants totaling $842,947 from the Pebble Fund. This fund was created by the Pebble Partnership, the group seeking to develop the Pebble Mine in Southwest Alaska. The fund is administered by the Alaska Community Foundation, and the awards were part of the 2010 grant cycle. There is still $2.6 M remaining in Fund awards to be distributed to projects over the next three years. To see a list of grant recipients for 2010, click here. According to a Pebble Partnership press release, project awards are meant to support sustainable communities and promote vision and growth in the region.
Alaska DOT&PF Releases 2012-2015 STIP Schedule
April 2010 - The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has made its 
schedule for the 2012-2015 Statewide Transportation Improvements Program (STIP) public. The STIP criteria are currently open for public review, and close on June 7. Communitites can submit their 'Needs List' throughout this summer, and the top picks (those that scored well) are forwarded on to Program Development in the winter. You can see the full schedule here. This is the first time DOT has released a STIP schedule so far in advance. According to the Department this early notice, along with a new 2-year project nomination interval, is intended to help communities, tribes, and planners stay informed throughout the process.