NSEDC Board of Directors approves
nearly $1 million in grant funding

Outside Entity Funding program directs resources to local priorities

NOME—Funding a range of projects from new safety equipment for whalers in Savoonga to the renovation of the teen center in Shaktoolik, the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved nearly $1 million in Outside Entity Funding and fisheries-related grants during its quarterly meeting held in Nome Jan. 31.

NSEDC has provided grants to regional entities since the mid-1990s and has formally operated its Outside Entity Funding (OEF) program for nearly a decade, providing grant funds to municipal governments, federally recognized tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and local, state and federal agencies located in NSEDC member communities.

This year, the NSEDC Board of Directors approved $647,342 toward projects requested by 17 entities in its member communities. An additional $100,000 was divided between two regional projects and $213,126 was approved for two fisheries-related projects. A full list of funded projects can be found below.

Among the projects approved at the community level were rescue and safety gear for search teams and whaling groups. Funds were also allotted for environmental and infrastructure projects. The wide variety of projects and items that receive grants displays an important aspect of the OEF program—it is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

“NSEDC’s Outside Entity Funding program works very well at addressing our member communities’ unique needs,” said NSEDC Board Chairman Dan Harrelson. “When the proposals come from the people and entities who are on the ground in our communities, we can be certain the funding will be directed toward something that will make a real difference.”

At the regional level, NSEDC’s Board approved two funding proposals. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department received $75,000 from NSEDC to acquire firefighting equipment that will be stored in flight-ready packs. This equipment will be used to fight fires in the region’s communities outside of Nome. The department notes that it should be able to respond to fires within the region within two hours if weather and flights permit.

The remaining $25,000 of NSEDC’s OEF regional funds will be directed toward an elder assistance project based in Unalakleet. The assistance program will use the funds to hire coordinators who will work to ensure elders are receiving the support and assistance necessary to allow them to spend their advanced years in their home communities.

How the OEF program works
The OEF program underwent structural changes in recent years, directing that 90 percent of the available funds be evenly distributed among NSEDC’s 15 member communities. The remaining 10 percent of OEF funds are reserved for projects that have a region-wide impact. Over the past few years, the Board of Directors has annually allocated $1 million to the program, which makes available $60,000 for each community and $100,000 for projects that are regional in scope.

For each member community, a committee made up of the community’s representative to the NSEDC Board of Directors and at least two additional residents review OEF applications and make recommendations to the full NSEDC Board. At its Jan. 31 meeting, the Board approved all the recommendations from these Community-Based Review Committees. If the approved proposals do not commit a community’s full amount of available funding for the year, the remaining balance is carried forward for future use.

While there is no prohibition on fisheries-related projects receiving OEF funds, such proposals are generally considered and—if approved—funded through NSEDC’s internal budgeting process.

NSEDC generally starts accepting OEF applications in July with a closing date of mid-October. For more information on the OEF program, contact Sterling Gologergen in NSEDC’s Nome office at 443-2477 (in Nome), 888-650-2477 (toll free in AK), or sterling@nsedc.com.

2012 NSEDC Outside Entity Funding
Entity	Project Title	Funding
Native Village of Elim	Forest Trail/Firebreak	$7,247
City of Elim	Search and Rescue Boat Purchase	$27,000
City of Gambell	Landfill Upgrade	$53,250
Chinik Eskimo Community	Golovin Cultural Celebration	$38,916
City of Koyuk	Channel Marker/Buoy Phase II - Boating Safety Courses	$14,869
City of Koyuk	Search and Rescue Boat and Snowmachine	$40,999
City of Nome - Police Dept.	Community Services Officer Program	$25,000
KNOM Radio Mission, Inc.	KNOM Radio Renovation	$60,000
Savoonga Whaling Captains Association	Broaden Safety Equipment	$60,000
City of Shaktoolik	Teen Center Renovation	$65,000
City of Shaktoolik	Heavy Equipment Shop	$60,367
Mary's Igloo Traditional Council	Mary's Igloo Community Development Center	$50,000
Native Village of Unalakleet	Grant Administration and Accounting Personnel	$49,526
Native Village of Wales	Search and Rescue Equipment Purchase	$26,851
Native Village of Wales	Wales Whaling Captains Association Equipment	$4,480
Native Village of Wales	2012 Kingikmiut Dance Festival	$54,087
Native Village of White Mountain	Golovin Bay Watershed Database Creation	$9,750
Regional grants
Native Village of Unalakleet	Sub-Regional Elder Services: Village Coordinators	$25,000
Nome Volunteer Fire Department	Rural Fire Protection	$75,000
Fisheries-related grants
City of Nome	Nome Harbor Floats Anchor System	$193,126
Native Village of Elim	Tubutulik River Salmon Fisheries Protection Project	$20,000
Total		$960,468

# # #

Call for Nominations: Salmon users

The ADF&G-recognized Regional Aquaculture Association representing Norton Sound/Bering Strait salmon users is seeking nominations for seats representing the following categories: 1) Commercial salmon permit holders; 2) Sport fishermen; 3) Subsistence users.

Necessary qualifications: To represent any one of the three categories on the RAA, a nominee must maintain a permanent domicile and mailing address, and be eligible to receive an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, in one of the following communities: Brevig Mission, Diomede, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, Koyuk, Nome, St. Michael, Savoonga, Shaktoolik, Stebbins, Teller, Unalakleet, Wales or White Mountain. To represent regional commercial salmon permit holders, a nominee must hold a valid Norton Sound/Port Clarence salmon permit (S04Z). To represent regional sport fishermen, a nominee must be eligible to sport fish for salmon and hold a license number. To represent regional subsistence fishermen, a nominee must be eligible to subsistence fish for salmon.

How to nominate: Petitions are available by clicking on each of the following links:

Permits are also available from NSEDC offices in Nome and Unalakleet, or from NSEDC community liaisons. Nomination petitions need to have 10 signatures from residents who also meet the requirements for the seat being sought by the nominee (i.e. a petitioner seeking to represent commercial permit holders needs to have signatures from 10 fellow permit holders).

Where to send petitions: Completed petitions must be received by RAA Director Charlie Lean by 5 p.m. on February 29, 2012. Petitions should be sent to Mr. Lean at the following address:

Charlie Lean, RAA Director
PO Box 358
Nome, AK 99762
Fax: (907) 443-2478
Phone: (888) 650-2477

How representatives are selected: The members of the RAA board will vote on nominations for the sport and subsistence salmon users' seats. Commercial permit holders will vote for their nominee. The top vote-getters will be seated with the runners-up named as alternates.

About RAAs: Regional Aquaculture Associations (RAAs) are intended to bring salmon fishery stakeholders to a common regional forum to discuss issues regarding salmon enhancement and human needs. One of the RAA's main responsibilities is to choose representatives to the Regional Planning Team, the body that writes the Comprehensive Salmon Plans and advises the commissioner of Fish and Game on salmon hatcheries and local needs.

The ADF&G-recognized RAA representing the Norton Sound/Bering Strait region is currently contacting all seat-holders to nominate and elect representatives to the RAA. These representatives, in addition to the salmon users mentioned above, are: Island District (Gambell and Savoonga); Bering Strait District (Diomede, Wales, Brevig Mission, Teller); Nome District (City of Nome, King Island Native Community, Nome Eskimo Community, Solomon IRA, Council IRA); Northeast Norton Sound District (White Mountain, Golovin, Elim, Koyuk); Eastern Norton Sound District (Shaktoolik and Unalakleet); Southern Norton Sound District (St. Michael, Stebbins); Kawerak; NSEDC; and processors with shoreside offices in the region (NSEDC).

# # #

NSEDC Energy Subsidy Information

Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors recently approved a one-time energy subsidy of $500 per household, to be applied to the electric utility bill, for residents in its 15 member communities. The following details how residents can sign up for the subsidy:

Who can receive the subsidy?

• Must be a Norton Sound resident in one of NSEDC’s member communities: Brevig Mission, Diomede, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, Koyuk, Nome, Savoonga, Shaktoolik, St. Michael, Stebbins, Teller, Unalakleet, Wales, White Mountain
• Must have an electric utility account
• For residents whose homes do not have an electric account with the local utility, please contact Paul Ivanoff III at 800-385-3190 or pivanoff(at)nsedc.com
• Subsidy will be applied only to the primary residence
• Only one subsidy will be applied per household or apartment
• For renters whose electric utility bill is included in monthly rent, NSEDC will have a Landlord/Tenant Agreement for the renter and landlord to sign, specifying that the subsidy amount will be credited toward the rent

How do I sign up to receive the subsidy?

• Residents of Nome who did not sign up duiring the registration drive Feb. 2-4, need to register in person at the Nome Joint Utilities Service office in the Old Federal Building during business hours from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm by Feb. 17. Residents must bring an electric utility bill and a form of identification.

• Residents of Unalakleet who did not sign up duiring the registration drive Jan. 26-27, need to register at NSEDC’s Unalakleet office above the Post Office during normal business hours Feb. 6-17.

• Residents of NSEDC member communities besides Nome and Unalakleet who did not sign up duiring the registration drive Jan. 26-27, need to register with their Community Outreach Liaison by Feb. 17. A list of NSEDC’s Community Liaisons is posted below:

Brevig Mission: Darla Tocktoo	Koyuk: Ruby Nassuk	Stebbins: Atha Foxie
Diomede: Andrew Milligrock	Nome: NSEDC staff	Teller: Wilma Ongtowasruk
Elim: Emily Murray	Savoonga: Charlotte Kava	Unalakleet: NSEDC staff
Gambell: Tyler Campbell Sr.	Shaktoolik: Reuben Paniptchuk	Wales: Joanne Keyes
Golovin: Sherri Lewis	St. Michael: Charlene Austin	White Mountain: Davis Lincoln

Please direct questions regarding the energy subsidy to NSEDC Community Benefits Director Paul Ivanoff III at 800-385-3190 or pivanoff(at)nsedc.com.

# # #