The Community Outreach Liaison Program was established in the summer of 2000 to enhance communication between NSEDC and its member communities. NSEDC has a designated Community Outreach Liaison position in thirteen of NSEDC's fifteen member communities, with the EET office in Unalakleet and the Norton Sound Seafood Center in Nome as resources for two of the fifteen member communities. NSEDC also hired a Community Outreach Coordinator in the central office at Anchorage to manage the program.

The Community Outreach Liaison positions (Liaison) are part-time and contractual, with instructions to convey information about NSEDC, the availability of specific programs for the benefit of community residents, and to recruit individuals for the Education, Employment and Training Program (EET). The Liaisons also attend community meetings such as City Council, IRA, or village corporation meetings, for the purpose of gathering information about issues in the community and providing information to the community about programs offered by NSEDC.

The Liaisons prepare written activity reports to the Community Outreach Coordinator on a monthly basis describing the outreach activities and reporting the information learned, and providing special verbal or written reports to the Community Outreach Coordinator for projects sponsored by NSEDC and publications such as the NSEDC newsletter, annual report, website and other informative material.

The Liaisons are also instrumental in setting up the Community Outreach Meetings conducted by NSEDC staff in preparation for each new Community Development Plan (CDP). NSEDC visits each member community to disseminate information on the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program and the NSEDC programs and services available to member communities. The Community Outreach Meetings also enable each community to provide feedback describing their community priorities and concerns.

The Community Outreach Program was further expanded in the 2001-2002 CDP to include funding for drug and alcohol abuse prevention. This aspect of the program provides staff support and funding to qualified organizations serving the region for the purpose of approved drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs and projects. 

This aspect of the program provides staff support and funding to qualified organizations serving the region for the purpose of approved drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs/projects.

In 2002, NSEDC supported the "2002 Youth Fishing Project," which promoted community wide spring clean-up in each of NSEDC's member communities. NSEDC provided a fishing rod and reel as an incentive to each child who participated in the spring clean-up and it included a regional Humpy Derby sponsored by Nome Outfitters. Bering Air in Nome also supported this project by delivering the fishing rods and reels to each community. The outreach message not only promoted pride in their community, but "Feed a child a fish, he is fed for a day, teach a child to fish, he is fed for a lifetime."

Liaison Contact Information

Please contact NSEDC for more information.

Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation
420 L Street, Suite 310, Anchorage, AK 99501, Phone 1-907-274-2248, Fax 1-907-274-2249