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Denali Commission Monthly Update
Quarterly Meeting - April 28, 2005 - Kodiak, Alaska
A motion was approved by the Commissioners to refer the Procurement
Policy to the Infrastructure Subcommittee for further review.
The draft Match Policy was not approved.
All approved Resolutions can be viewed on the website at www.denali.gov.
The minutes from this meeting will be available soon.
Domestic Violence Facilities
The Denali Commission, through its partnership with the Alaska Council
on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) has been working to
identify unmet facility needs across the state since December 2004. This
includes renovation, equipment, replacement, new construction or in some
cases facility planning/design. Domestic violence programs that have not
yet indicated to the CDVSA their capital needs are encouraged to contact
the CDVSA office immediately. The CDVSA has been requesting feedback
about these needs since December 2004, and the remaining known projects
as of May 2005 will become the final list for this funding opportunity.
The emphasis is on bringing existing facilities up to standard and
improving long range facility maintenance. However, all proposals will
be considered and are encouraged to inquire. A strategy for construction
funding is expected to be adopted at the Commission's July Quarterly
Meeting.
In FY04, the Denali Commission funded five (5) new construction projects
located in Fairbanks, Palmer, New Stuyahok, Dillingham and Anchorage
(Cook Inlet Tribal Council). In addition, eleven (11) repair, renovation
or equipment grants were made across Alaska.
In FY05, the Denali Commission received an earmark to allocate up to $5M
to meet remaining unmet needs. There currently are ten (10) new
construction projects in consideration for potential planning/design
awards pending feasibility analysis. Funding not allocated to domestic
violence facilities will be reallocated to the Commission's primary care
program.
Please submit capital needs to the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault, 907-465-4356 to determine next steps.
For more information about the Denali Commission's Domestic Violence
Facility program, contact Denali Daniels at 907-271-1189 or ddaniels@denali.gov.
Economic Development
Alaska Growth Capital: Alaska Growth Capital recently announced the
addition of Jeff Batton to its executive team, serving as Vice President
of Client Services. Batton will be responsible for establishing and
growing the company's consulting practice to provide clients with
services related to finance, strategic planning and marketing. He will
also take a lead role in various strategic growth initiatives for the
company as it continues in its efforts to grow its business and
strengthen Alaska's economy. Batton brings extensive financial, business
development and strategic marketing skills to this role and has managed
a wide range of responsibilities during his twelve-year career.
Alaska Growth Capital serves enterprises and entrepreneurs that
typically do not have access to bank financing through debt financings,
business consulting and venture capital funding. For more information,
visit www.alaskagrowth.com or contact David Hoffman, at 907.339.6760 or
email to dhoffman@alaskagrowth.com.
Initiative for Accelerated Infrastructure Development (IAID): Contracts
are now in place for two new mapping projects to start during the 2005
field season. North Pacific Rim Housing Authority and Aleutian/Pribilof
Islands Association will begin IAID mapping projects this summer.
The Bering Strait Community Profile Mapping Project, serving 15
villages, is starting to receive early drafts of the new maps. Early
drafts of maps for four villages were available for a regional land
managers meeting held in Nome during April, and were very helpful in
discussions of land issues in those communities.
The IAID (community profile mapping) program targets communities with a
population under 1,500 that are not within a borough with mapping
capability.
For more information, please visit www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/grt/iaid/iaidhome.htm
or contact Ruth St. Amour at 907.269.452or email to ruth_st.amour@commercestate.ak.us.
Kiln-Drying Facility Grants: The Forest Service is accepting
applications for cost-share grants for kiln-drying facilities in Alaska.
Individual applicants selected under this offer are eligible for a part
of the $640,000 allocated for this program in Alaska.
The grant program allows Alaskan businesses to produce much-needed,
value-added forest products from Alaska timber. Businesses capable of
developing and operating kiln-drying facilities are eligible to apply
for the cost-share grants. Businesses can request financial assistance
for purchasing or constructing new dry kilns, planers and lumber storage
facilities.
Grant packets can be downloaded from the Juneau Economic Development
Council website at http://www.jedc.org/wood/index.htm. The applications
are due by May 27, 2005.
The number of projects the Forest Service will fund depends on the
financial need of the applicants seeking funding. The applicants will be
notified in July 2005 and project implementation could begin as early as
August 2005.
For more information, contact Kay Fermann, Program Manager, Forest
Products Conservation and Recycling, State & Private Forestry, Alaska
Region, Forest Service, at 907.743.9467 or email to kfermann@fs.fed.us.
Elder Housing
The Denali Commission approved funding recommendations for the following
projects ANTHC and AHFC are project managers for the two approved
categories of elder supportive housing. The Project Manager will be in
contact with applicants regarding next steps.
Licensed Care & short-term medical housing projects / Project Manager -
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
1. Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (Bethel)
2. Southeast Alaska Regional Health Corporation (Sitka)
3. Norton Sound Health Corporation (Nome)
Independent Living projects / Project Manager - Alaska Housing Finance
Corporation
1. Tlingit & Haida Regional Housing Authority (Kasaan and Klawock)
2. Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Development Corporation (Anaktuvuk Pass,
Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, and Wainwright)
3. City of Valdez (Valdez)
The Commission also approved a request to co-sponsor a statewide Elder
Housing Needs Assessment with the Alaska DHSS and ANTHC. The Strategy
will provide guidance to agencies that provide resources to elder
supportive housing projects.
For other questions related to the Elder Supportive Housing program or
statewide elder housing needs strategy please contact Michelle Anderson,
Denali Commission Program Manager at 907.271.1542 or email to manderson@denali.gov.
Energy
We are happy to announce that the Commission has received the funding it
has been awaiting: $15 million from USDA-Rural Utilities Service. This
money, which can only be used in communities with extremely high energy
costs, will be applied to the priority list of energy projects approved
by the Commissioners in January.
Rural Alaska Fuel Services (RAFS) is a young non-profit organization
created in part with funding from the Denali Commission in 2003. It was
established to assist rural communities to manage and operate bulk fuel
tank farms. RAFS also administers the Bulk Fuel Bridge Loan Program.
This program was created last fall to provide low interest funding for
rural communities which were not eligible for other funding to buy fuel
for the winter of 2004-2005. It was funded jointly by the Denali
Commission and the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED). RAFS is responsible for customer contact
and loan collection, and for helping rural communities build a strong
credit history through their participation in the Bulk Fuel Bridge Loan
Program.
One community that has benefited from the Bulk Fuel Bridge Loan Program
is Tuntutuliak. When the power plant operator and acting manager, Gabe
Olick, started his new job last October, he discovered that fuel had not
been ordered for the winter, and the last barges had already left
Seattle. "The bookkeeper, the bookkeeper assistant, and I were all new,"
Gabe recounts. "We were starting from scratch. PCE paperwork hadn't been
filled out for several years, so we didn't have any financial help from
the PCE program." Gabe turned to the Bulk Fuel Bridge Loan Program,
which enabled the community to fly in fuel for the Tuntutuliak Community
Services Association power plant, which generates electricity for the
whole community. "If not for them, there would be no power in the
village," Gabe said. This coming winter, if Tuntutuliak continues to
meet the terms of their loan, they will have begun to establish the
credit history to enable them to qualify for direct loans. They will be
able to order fuel for barge delivery, reducing fuel costs next year for
the electric utility customers and for the community as a whole.
The Rural Energy Action Council was created by Governor Frank H.
Murkowski in February to look for ways to lower the cost of energy in
rural Alaska. The council, co-chaired by Nels Anderson, Jr., and DCCED
Commissioner Edgar Blatchford, worked very hard and collaborated with
many different organizations to develop an effective report in just a
few weeks. The Action Council's final recommendations are now available
on the Alaska Energy Authority website at: http://www.aidea.org/aea.htm.
Finance
The Federal Office is responsible for financial management of all
Commission resources and the daily functionality of the office and
operations. The Administrator led an initiative to customize the
financial management system, Microsoft Great Plains, to account for all
Commission funds and make payments to vendors. The system was
implemented in October 2003. At this year's Microsoft Business Solution
Conference held in March, the Denali Commission was showcased as an
in-depth case study of a federal agency making innovative in-roads to
effective and efficient financial management.
The Administrator and Deputy Administrator will be stepping in as the
co-Treasurers for the Alaska Federal Executive Association (a
professional organization of federal employees in this state). They have
already made a positive change in efficiency by arranging for FEA to be
able to accept credit card payments from members through the Plastic
Card Network, a US Treasury collection system.
The Administrator will be traveling to Washington DC in April for
courtesy calls with key partners. Meetings include Governor Murkowski's
DC office, Senator Stevens' staff, US Treasury and the Acting
Administrator of USDA - Rural Development.
The Final Audit Report for Fiscal Year 2004 has been issued by the
Inspector General. The entire audit will be posted on the Denali
Commission website.
Health Care
The Health Facilities Program received $40 million in FY05 federal
appropriations in the following general areas: Residential Psychiatric
Treatment Facilities; Domestic Violence; Elder Supportive
Housing/Assisted Living; and Primary Care.
Commissioners approved obligation of all remaining primary care funds at
the April 28, 2005 Quarterly Meeting in Kodiak.
Please refer to the Elder Housing and Domestic Violence monthly update
sections for further details regarding application process, current
funding status, and contact information.
The Commission has, for the first time with the Primary Care Program,
reached the point where there are more sustainable projects than
available funds. As a result, applicants who anticipate project
development and funding in FY05 should aggressively submit application
materials and complete necessary conceptual planning components.
Interested applicants should apply for funding using our Primary Care
RFP available on the Commission's website, www.denali.gov, Health
Facilities Program section, Program documents page. In general, for
projects greater then $100,000 a Site Plan Checklist and a Business Plan
must be approved prior to commitment of Commission design and
construction funding.
Health Program Contact Information:
Denali Commission
Tessa Rinner or Denali Daniels at 907.271.1414
Alaska Primary Care Association
Marilyn Walsh Kasmar at 907.929.2722
Alaska Native Health Board
Trudy Anderson at 907.562.6006
Department of Health and Social Services, Office of
the Commissioner
Dr. Richard Mandsager (Chair, Health Steering Committee)
Patricia Carr at 907.465.8618
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Don Kashevaroff at 907.729.1915
Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
Rod Betit at 907.586.1790
Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health
Bill Hogan at 907.465.3370
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA)
Jeff Jessee at 907.269.7960
Multiuse Facilities
The Multi-Use Facility Program is designed to encourage consolidation of
compatible essential community services, eliminating duplication of
services and increasing the efficiency with which services are
delivered. In the past two fiscal years, this program has spent $8.4
million on 14 multi-use facilities. Alaska Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development manages the program.
An initial 2005 request for proposals (FRP) was sent out in early
February 2005, with a reply due of March 18, 2005. Due to Congressional
direction, only the following communities were eligible to apply: all
communities within the Bering Straits Region, Dillingham, Moose Pass,
Sterling, Funny River, Eklutna, Anchor Point and Girdwood. Six
communities replied by the due date. We anticipate funding up to three
of these applications.
Priority for funding under this RFP went to uses associated with life,
health and safety. Four types of funding were available through this
Program: (1) Conceptual Planning (2) Design (3) Construction (4) Repair
and Renovation. No match was required for (1) Conceptual Planning and
(2) Design projects, but communities providing cash match were rewarded
in the evaluation process. A local match was required for (3)
Construction and (4) Repair and Renovation projects. Economically
distressed communities must provide a minimum 10% local match and
non-distressed communities must provide a minimum 25% local match
(distressed community listing is provided on the Commission's web page:
www.denali.gov, in "Resource Center". The match may include land donated
or the calculated cash value of the lease of the land for the facility
but may not include equipment and furnishings, in-kind services, labor
or material.
After funding the successful projects from the first round, we have
funds available for a second RFP, which will be virtually the same as
the first, but open to all communities. It will be posted on the State
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development website.
For current information, please visit (http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/multi_use.htm)
or call Athena Logan, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development 907.269.4540.
Solid Waste
The US Department of Agriculture - Rural Development has allocated to
the Denali Commission $1,500,000 for Federal Fiscal Year 2005 "to
address deficiencies in solid waste disposal sites which threaten to
impact rural drinking water supplies."
At the April 28, 2005 Quarterly Meeting, the Commissioners adopted
Resolution Number 05-12 endorsing the Solid Waste Program guidelines.
The FY05 Request for Proposals was released April 1, 2005 and has a
submission deadline (delivered to Denali offices) of May 13, 2005. See
www.denali.gov for details.
If you have any questions about the Denali Commission's Solid Waste
Program please contact: Cindy Roberts at 907.271.3018 or email to
croberts@denali.gov.
Teacher Housing
The Denali Commission approved funding for the following teacher housing
projects that are either in the high needs or moderate teacher housing
needs category.
Northwest Arctic Borough (Ambler and Kiana)
Pribilof School District (St. Paul)
Kenai Peninsula Borough (Tyonek)
AHFC will soon issue a RFP for the next round of teacher housing
projects. The balance of Commission teacher housing funds will be
combined with AHFC teacher housing resources to support projects
selected from the RFP process.
For questions related to approved teacher housing projects or the
upcoming AHFC teacher housing solicitation please contact James Wiedle
at AHFC: 907.330.8235 or email to jwiedle@ahfc.state.ak.us.
For all other teacher housing questions please contact Michelle
Anderson, Denali Commission Program Manager at 907.271.1542 or email to
manderson@denali.gov.
Training
The Denali Commission received a $7million appropriation for the U.S.
Department of Labor to support its Fiscal Year 2005 (FY05) Training
Program. The Commission approved the FY05 training budget at the April
28, 2005 Quarterly Meeting. The FY05 budget includes the following
projects and programs:
$1,250,000 Alaska Works Partnership - Registered apprenticeship training
on public infrastructure projects and expanding apprenticeship
opportunities for rural Alaskans
$210,000 Associated General Contractors - NCCER Core Curriculum
expansion and Skill Assessment on public infrastructure projects
$1,350,000 University of Alaska - Enhance and expand allied health
training programs for entry into Denali Commission funded health
facilities
$300,000 First Alaskans Institute - Alaska Native leadership initiative
which includes internships, fellowships and identifying and tracking
Alaska Native workforce
$1,000,000 Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development -
Regional Non-profit Request for Proposals
$1,636,800 Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Denali
Training Fund (construction operations and maintenance training on
Denali Commission Projects)
$600,000 Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Youth
Initiative Request for Proposals
The Denali Training Fund continues to accept applications for funding of
construction, operations and maintenance of Denali Commission funded
infrastructure. Applications are received on an on-going basis with
quarterly deadlines for review. The next deadline for applications is
June 15, 2005.
For more information or to apply: download an application from
www.denali.gov under Training Program or contact: Gerry McDonagh, Grants
Administrator State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce
Development, Division of Business Partnerships at 907.269.4551 or email
to gerry_mcdonagh@labor.state.ak.us.
Any questions about the Denali Commission's Training Program please
contact: Krag Johnsen, Chief of Staff at 907.271.1413 or email to
kjohnsen@denali.gov.
Washeterias
Federal Fiscal Year 2005 Public Law 108-447 (HR 4818) Energy and Water
Section 306(g) recommended that up to $5 million be provided to improve
basic infrastructure and community facilities, specifically "for
community showers and washeterias in villages with homes with no running
water." ($4,710,575 is available for allocation.)
At the April 28, 2005 Quarterly Meeting, the Commission approved
Resolution Number 05-11 establishing the FFY05 identification procedure
which outlines close collaboration with our major partners Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation Village Safe Water Program (ADEC/VSW). Both
partners have project prioritization programs (Sanitation Deficiency
System or "SDS" for Indian Health Service/ANTHC and the Capital
Improvement Program or "CIP" for VSW) that will be used to identify
washeteria projects.* The key objective is to take advantage of greater
efficiencies through co-mobilization opportunities while containing
costs and maximizing engineering oversight. Additional details will be
released as they are approved.
*Denali awards are required to comply with sustainability and investment
policies.
For information regarding the SDS process, contact Roger Marcil at ANTHC
907.729.3747 or email to rmarcil@anthc.org.
Greg Magee, Program Director for VSW, can answer questions regarding the
CIP. 907/269-7613 or email to greg_magee@dec.state.ak.us
If you have any questions about the Denali Commission's Washeteria
Program please contact: Cindy Roberts at 907.271.3018 or email to
croberts@denali.gov.
Denali Commission
510 "L" Street Suite 410, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
communications@denali.gov
907-271-1414
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