U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) Alaska State Director Jim Nordlund, today announced USDA-RD is funding a total of $78,750 for three planning projects that will be used to prepare environmental assessments for water and wastewater projects in Kasaan, Teller, and Port Graham. Each grant recipient is receiving $26,250 each.
The funding is provided on behalf of these communities to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium through USDA-RD Alaska’s Rural Alaska Village Grant Program (RAVG).
"These funding opportunities are a testament to our Agency’s continuing commitment to rural Alaskan communities in bolstering their ability to provide their residents safe, reliable sanitation services by establishing viable planning documents," Nordlund said.
For example, in Kasaan, among other things, the existing ocean waste water disposal pipe is perforated in several places due to corrosion and a joint near the shoreline has separated, which is resulting in discharging wastewater on the beach. The grant will prepare an environmental assessment, which is a necessary planning document required for submitting a construction application.
The other two communities receiving RAVG funding are:
- The community of Port Graham will use the funding to upgrade their water and waste water infrastructure systems.
- In Teller, their existing water treatment plant needs to be brought into compliance with current regulatory standards, which requires upgrading in order to receive a new discharge permit.
For more information on these Alaska projects and how interested entities may apply for funding, please contact Tasha Deardorff at: (907) 271-2424, Ext. 118, or tasha.deardorff@ak.usda.gov.
Since 2009, USDA-Rural Development has invested more than $2 billion in 226 rural Alaskan communities. These investments in housing, community facilities, business, energy, water and sewer, telecom and electric have helped to grow rural Alaska’s economy and enhance the quality of life for its residents.