More than $760,000 also awarded in infrastructure funding to support communities
NOME—The Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) Board of Directors gathered in Nome for their 2019 Third Quarter meetings, approving several grants to support NSEDC’s member communities.
2019 NSEDC Community Benefit Share set at $200,000 per community
The NSEDC Board of Directors voted in favor of a $200,000 Community Benefit Share (CBS) for each of NSEDC’s 15 member communities. Since 1999, the program has allocated more than $35.7 million in total to member communities, with each community receiving more than $2.38 million over the years to use toward programs and community priorities. As in the past, each municipality will hold public meetings to discuss how the $200,000 CBS will be utilized, allowing for community input.
NSEDC issues an annual Community Benefit Share at its quarterly meeting held in November. From 2013 to 2017, the NSEDC Board distributed shares of $150,000 per community. In the past two years, Siu Alaska Corporation issued a total of $6 million in distributions to NSEDC, allowing the Board to increase the CBS distributions in 2018 and 2019.
“With the success of our for-profit subsidiary, I felt it important to invest the recent dividends into our communities through the Community Benefit Share,” said Sergeant-At-Arms Harvey Sookiayak. “The CBS has become a much relied upon avenue of funding for city governments, schools and other entities to provide the services our residents rely on.”
NSEDC Board approves $470,683 in Water and Sewer Fund projects
The Board approved the first three grants under the newly established Water and Sewer Fund program, which makes $1 million available to each member community for water and sewer infrastructure needs. The grants, listed below, will assist with the rehabilitation of Nome Joint Utility System’s lift station, replacing the facility’s aging pump control system and power supply/transformers and replacement of well components; the renovation of the City of Teller’s Washeteria to install a septic tank and sewer line to help ensure sewage services for the building; and upgrades to the City of Elim’s Water Treatment Plant in which the boilers will be replaced along with leaky plumbing and service pumps, resulting in energy savings and the ability to supply the community with clean, safe drinking water.
Organizations have two years to utilize the grant funds. The Water and Sewer Fund is a five-year program and will sunset in 2024.
| Organization | Project | Award Amount |
| Nome Joint Utility System | River Street Lift Station Rehabilitation | $181,891 |
| City of Teller | Washeteria Renovations | $195,492 |
| City of Elim | Water Treatment Plant Upgrades | $93,300 |
Board approves $293,557 in Large Infrastructure and Community Energy Fund projects
The Board approved three grants under NSEDC’s Large Infrastructure Program (LIP) and one grant under the Community Energy Fund (CEF). Each program separately allocates $1 million to each member community to address the critical needs of community infrastructure and energy systems. Under both programs, organizations that receive funding have two years to utilize their award.
The LIP grants, listed below, will assist the Native Village of Diomede to design a new store, Nome-Beltz High School to build a multi-use outdoor fitness course, and the VFW Post 9569 to renovate their facility. The CEF grant will assist the City of Teller with installing energy efficient LED streetlights.
| Organization | Project | Award Amount |
|
Large Infrastructure Program |
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| Native Village of Diomede | New Store Design | $99,940 |
| Nome Public Schools | Outdoor Fitness Course | $80,000 |
| VFW Post 9569 | Facility Renovation | $91,707 |
|
Community Energy Fund |
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| City of Teller | LED Streetlight Upgrade | $21,910 |
NSEDC Board reorganizes and swears in new and returning Member Representatives
At the Annual Meeting of the Directors, the NSEDC Board elected its executive committee, electing Frank Katchatag as Chairman, Dan Harrelson as the Vice Chairman, and Harvey Sookiayak as Sergeant-At-Arms, while also naming Dean Peterson and Joe Garnie to the NSEDC Executive Committee.
The Board also swore in returning Member Representatives Sara Seetot from Brevig Mission, Frances Ozenna from Little Diomede, Harvey Sookiayak from Shaktoolik, Dan Harrelson from White Mountain, and Frank Katchatag from Unalakleet.
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