The Denali Commission was chartered with delivering the services of the federal government in the most cost-effective manner possible by reducing administrative and overhead costs.  Our focus through government coordination is to promote connectivity amongst state, federal and private agencies with the intent of reducing duplication of services and streamlining efforts for the betterment of rural communities.

Current Activities Government Coordination:

The Planning Workgroup, part of the Denali Commission's MOU workgroup program for governmental coordination, meets monthly to discuss issues related to community and regional planning, and seek ways to support good planning at the local level.  The group represents a variety of state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and communities. Interested parties are welcome to join the discussion.

Meetings are posted monthly on our website planning page under Programs/Government Coordination/Planning. For more information, or to request the toll-free call-in number to participate by teleconference, please contact Ruth St. Amour at 269-4527 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Sharon Lind at 271-5217 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Watch our website for updates on our Workgroups in the coming weeks.

The Pre-Development program is offered through a partnership with the Denali Commission, the Rasmuson Foundation, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and the Foraker Group. Through this unique collaborative effort, partner agencies can offer technical assistance to nonprofits or communities seeking capital project funding. Organizations are invited to participate through a selection process initiated by one of the program funders. Proper planning helps ensure long-term affordability and sustainability, of great concern to the Denali Commission and the partners in this project. More details can be found on the Foraker Groups website: http://www.forakergroup.org/index.cfm?section=Shared-Services&page=Pre-Development

Clinic Repair / Renovation Letter of Interest

The Denali Commission Primary Care Clinic Repair and Renovation Funding Initiative Letter of Interest (LOI) Information Document and Response Form were due June 23, 2008. The intent of this LOI solicitation is to assist the Denali Commission in determining need and readiness to repair and/or renovate existing primary care clinics in Alaska.

The Commission received eleven (11) submissions which are currently under review. Those that meet minimum eligibility requirements will be invited to submit a full proposal.

For more information, please contact Ms. Kathy Berzanske at 907-271-5232 or Ms. Albertha Nay at 907-271-1459.  LOI materials are posted on the Commission's home page: www.denali.gov

PROGAM BACKGROUND AND PROCESS

Clinic Conceptual Planning: All clinic projects that could eventually be eligible for Denali Commission construction funding may participate in the conceptual planning phase. Technical Assistance (TA) advisors are assigned to each project to assist in the business plan development process and to complete the site plan checklist.  In some cases the Denali Commission may consider small funding requests to assist communities in addressing the business plan or site plan requirements. To begin the conceptual planning process or to request a TA or planning funds, contact the Denali Commission Health Facilities Program Manager.

Please be sure that your technical assistance advisor (TA) has reviewed the final business plan prior to submission. Business plans that have not been reviewed by the TA will not be forwarded to the review committee.

Clinic Design: Eligibility for design requires an approved business plan and site plan checklist and a feasible strategy for design completion and acquiring cost share match.

Clinic Construction: Eligibility for construction funding requires an approved business plan, approved site plan checklist, a final design (100% stamped drawings), a final budget (based on final design estimates), documentation of cost share match to fully fund the project and the ability to proceed to construction in a timely manner.

Other Than Primary Care: The Denali Commission recognizes the primary care program as its priority focus area, however there is a need to also support a full continuum of health and social service facilities on a statewide basis. The Other Than Primary Care program on an annual basis identifies program focus areas outside the clinic program as part of a statewide continuum. The selected FY07 program areas were EMS equipment/Code Blue, Primary Care in Hospitals (managed by the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, ASHNHA) and Behavioral Health (Bring The Kids Home).

General Program Information: Interested applicants should contact the Health Facilities Program Manager, Denali Daniels at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for specific information on applying for funding or engaging in the Denali Commission proce

June was a busy month of getting Denali Commission road and waterfront development projects underway. It also included fieldwork to analyze potential future projects, including an innovative effort by the military to use an expeditionary road standard on a road between Chignik Lagoon and Chignik Lake. The military, after initial field reviews has agreed to come to the Chignik Lagoon-Chignik Lake area next summer to perform a route survey and determination of practical application of their standards to this much needed road. This is a training program opportunity for the military, and a chance for Denali Commission to promote its efforts to find cost-effective road construction opportunities in rural Alaska.

Currently, Chignik Lake has to bring fuel up a river to the community in small quantities and Chignik Lagoon has a marginal runway that is frequently closed due to weather. By building a road between the two communities, Chignik Lake could receive fuel by barge at the Lagoon, for transfer by truck to the community and Chignik Lagoon would have access to the much better runway at Chignik Lake. Long-term, there are plans for a new larger runway mid point between the two Chigniks.

The use of expeditionary road standards, or pioneer road standards is a recent attempt by Denali Commission and its engineering agency partners to look at vehicle fleet-appropriate road widths and design speeds. The vehicle fleet in most rural communities is ATV's, light trucks and an occasional single or dual axle fuel truck. By building low-speed, low-volume roads to meet a slower, lighter vehicle fleet, there is a strong potential to significantly reduce per mile road construction costs.

A key to making these roads practical has turned out to be the BIA Tribal Shares funding program. These funds, assigned to communities based on a road miles and population formula are key because they allow tribal governments to conduct road repairs and maintenance. Absent an organization to sign a maintenance agreement, federal funds cannot be used on a project. Tribal Shares allows tribal governments to sign those agreements. In the case of the Chigniks Road, the Lake and Peninsula Borough, who participated in the fieldwork, is also discussing what role their government can play in making a project happen. That role could be ownership of the road and/or contributions toward design and/or construction.

This is one of several innovative road projects effort currently underway at Denali Commission. The other most significant innovation is an effort to develop ATV roads where appropriate. This effort has been led in western Alaska by the National Park Service, who is promoting ATV road construction to subsistence use areas. It is quickly being picked up by communities around the state as a practical alternative to full standard roads, and again goes to the idea that vehicle-fleet appropriate transportation infrastructure can be affordable and pracitcal.

The ATV roads can be made from commercial products generally known as geo-blocks, from gravel or other techniques using in place materials. The benefits to communities are numerous, including the fact that these types of low speed, light duty roads cost in the range of 20-30% of the cost of a full standard road.

Benefits include, improved driver safety, much less wear and tear on vehicles, and importantly, reduction in habitat damage, some of which is valuable bird nesting and rearing areas. There is an emerging construction equipment fleet based on ATV vehicles, including excavators, belly and end dumps and graders that are designed for just this type of road system. The technology and engineering had its genesis in large recreational trail construction, but it has easily and rapidly shifted to ATV uses.

Denali Commission has partnered with FHWA's Western Federal Lands Highway Division to look at routes in Hooper Bay, Chefornak and other sites this summer to determine if there are practical projects in these locations.  Alaska Village Electric Cooperative is currently constructing a Denali Commission funded ATV road to access its new wind tower project in Hooper Bay.

In July, Denali Commission and Western Federal Lands Highway Division staff will participate in a field review with National Park Service staff and community leaders in Hooper Bay to examine the access road and another ATV road project that the route Denali Commission has selected to join in on as one of its initial ATV road projects.

Also in July, Denali Commission staff and FHWA Alaska Division staff will begin work with a number of local road project sponsors to get their projects underway. Projects in Nenana, Gakona and Nondalton are three of those projects.  In addition, both Western Federal Lands Highway Division and the Corps of Engineers will be conducting construction inspections for Denali Commission projects.  Inspections will be conducted in Galena, Nome, and Thorne Bay as well as other communities throughout the state.

Waterfront development projects generally do not need the same oversight we are seeing as essential to success in the roads program. Port and harbor projects Denali Commission has selected to participate in are generally being constructed by communities with substantial experience in contract management. The majority of the ports and harbor projects Denali Commission has selected are contributions under $1,000,000 to projects that cost several million dollars.

In addition, the engineering firms managing projects for these communities are well aware of the Denali Commission project development requirements. Yakutat, Galena, Seward, the Bristol Bay port at Naknek and harbor improvements in small communities like Haines and Wrangell are examples of the construction projects currently underway.

Barge landings, a much needed transportation improvement in rural Alaska are currently being evaluated by the Corps of Engineers under agreement with the Denali Commission. The project stage of interviews with barge operators, communities and construction companies about barge landing needs in each community is complete and a draft priority list for a first round of design and construction is on target of a final report this fall. In addition, several agencies and governments are developing barge landing designs under agreement with Denali Commission including Alaska Energy Authority in Kwethluk, and the Lake and Peninsula Borough for the Iliamna Lake communities. The combined engineering products will provide the base for barge landing improvements that will likely range from deadmen anchors in a river bank to hold barges in place, to full sheet pile structures where appropriate. These facilities will enhance fuel deliveries, improve work safety and significantly reduce nearshore habitat impacts from current barge operation practices.

July will also be a time for updating project nomination forms, criteria, procedures and process in anticipation of the Fiscal Year 2009 Project Nomination Process that begins in August. This annual window for submitting road and waterfront development project nominations has become more refined each year as the Transportation Advisory Committee has refined its priorities for project selection, which takes place during a project selection meeting in Anchorage in mid-December each year.

Keep an eye on the Denali Commission website, www.denali.gov for information about the Project Nomination Process. The forms and packages will be available from a link on the home page for the duration of the open period, August 1 through October 1.

Finally, Denali Commission is involved in ongoing efforts by Alaska's tribal governments, FHWA, BIA, DOT&PF, and other agencies to find ways to streamline joint ventures in rural Alaska project funding and development. One current task is to set up a Tribal Transportation Summit in October to try to bring tribes and agencies together for training in project development and for discussion on how to leverage funds to accelerate road project developments in rural Alaska. This effort is led by a group of tribal entities and Denali Commission has found good value in working on these project delivery tasks.

If you read the rest of the Denali Commission e-newsletter, you have already heard about the great success of our first Alternative-Renewable Energy request for proposals with Alaska Energy Authority (AEA).  The Commission funding was enough for 11 preconstruction projects across the State and four construction projects, running the gamut of resources: wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal.   The State of Alaska funding will be applied to additional projects on the railbelt or within the Four Dam Power Pool areas.   For a complete list of projects and a map, check here.  We are excited that some construction activities may actually be able to take place this year!

It is hard to keep up with all the energy planning and activities happening around the State this summer.   Many regions have already drafted their own borough- or area-wide energy plans, while work continues at AEA to draft a State-wide plan.   Coordination between these groups will be critical in creating cohesive plans.   In the meantime, AEA and the Commission are beginning work on a second RFP for alternative energy projects later this fall or summer.  The State committed $50 million for alternative-renewable projects this state fiscal year, and the procedures and planning for that work effort have begun.

It remains a volatile and exciting year in the energy business. Don't forget to save the date for the next Rural Energy Conference, planned for September 16th through 18th in Girdwood this year.

ANCSA CEOs Quarterly Meeting at Doyon LTD

The ANCSA CEOs group had their most recent quarterly meeting in Fairbanks on June 18th.   George Cannelos and I had the opportunity to update the group on the activities here at the Denali Commission.

George mentioned a statement that Matthew Nicolai of Calista once said to him.   In essence the work that the Denali Commission does in building infrastructure allows us to focus on creating economic opportunities for the residents within our regions.

We had a great meeting with the CEOs and would like to sit down with each region in the near future to determine what their priorities are to determine how we can recalibrate and align our efforts at enhancing rural Alaska.

Advisory Committee Meeting

Advisory Committee Members met on June 10th, 2008 at the offices of Bristol Bay Native Corporation.

The committee reviewed the current Denali Commission policies and provided comment on how these policies apply to the Economic Development program.   The comments are being forwarded to the Denali Commission Commissioner 's for review.

Letters of Interest update

The original 68 LOIs were previously reduced to 17 projects that fit within the criteria set by the committee review process.   The 17 projects were then asked to supply more information at the level of a Request for Proposal.   16 of the project proposals met the deadline for submitting more information.   They will receive a final review at out next meeting set for July 8th in Nome, Alaska.

Unfortunately, the Denali Commission is only able to fund the Teacher Housing Program for $1 million in FY08, compared to $5 million in previous years. This difficult decision to cut the Teacher Housing Program, was due to a reduction in federal base funding, was made at the quarterly meeting in Juneau on February 28, 2008.

That being said however, the Teacher, Health Professional, and Public Safety Grant Program process will begin this summer again with our partner, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). If you would like more information about the upcoming grant program, please contact James Wiedle at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call him at 907-330-8325.

If you have any additional questions. I can be reached at 271-5232 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Clinic Repair / Renovation Letter of Interest - The Denali Commission Primary Care Clinic Repair and Renovation Funding Initiative Letter of Interest (LOI) Information Document and Response Form were due on June 23, 2008. The intent of this LOI solicitation was to assist the Denali Commission in determining need and readiness to repair and/or renovate existing primary care clinics in Alaska.

The Commission received eleven (11) submissions. Six (6) of the eleven (11) met the minimum eligibility requirements and have been invited to submit full proposals.

For more information, please contact Ms. Kathy Berzanske at 907-271-5232 or Ms. Albertha Nay at 907-271-1459.  LOI materials are posted on the Commission's home page: www.denali.gov

PROGAM BACKGROUND AND PROCESS

Clinic Conceptual Planning: All clinic projects that could eventually be eligible for Denali Commission construction funding may participate in the conceptual planning phase. Technical Assistance (TA) advisors are assigned to each project to assist in the business plan development process and to complete the site plan checklist.  In some cases the Denali Commission may consider small funding requests to assist communities in addressing the business plan or site plan requirements. To begin the conceptual planning process or to request a TA or planning funds, contact the Denali Commission Health Facilities Program Manager.

Please be sure that your technical assistance advisor (TA) has reviewed the final business plan prior to submission. Business plans that have not been reviewed by the TA will not be forwarded to the review committee.

Clinic Design: Eligibility for design requires an approved business plan and site plan checklist and a feasible strategy for design completion and acquiring cost share match.

Clinic Construction: Eligibility for construction funding requires an approved business plan, approved site plan checklist, a final design (100% stamped drawings), a final budget (based on final design estimates), documentation of cost share match to fully fund the project and the ability to proceed to construction in a timely manner.

Other Than Primary Care: The Denali Commission recognizes the primary care program as its priority focus area, however there is a need to also support a full continuum of health and social service facilities on a statewide basis. The Other Than Primary Care program on an annual basis identifies program focus areas outside the clinic program as part of a statewide continuum. The selected FY07 program areas were EMS equipment/Code Blue, Primary Care in Hospitals (managed by the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, ASHNHA) and Behavioral Health (Bring The Kids Home).

General Program Information: Interested applicants should contact the Health Facilities Program Manager, Denali Daniels at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for specific information on applying for funding or engaging in the Denali Commission process

Northwest Arctic Borough held a very informative Energy Summit in Kotzebue July 29th “ 31st. Commission staff attended the summit that brought together several residents from communities surrounding Kotzebue with organizations and individuals that provide services and have expertise for presentations and break-out sessions. The theme was the current and future cost of energy. Discussion focused on alternative energy sources such as wind and hydroelectric power to reduce fuel usage in the future. There was also a strong emphasis on simple, every day energy efficiency upgrades and conservation that can be done now for immediate results without funds from the weatherization program just getting under way.

A concept broached at the summit was a regional energy authority to manage resources and projects in the northwest region. On a similar note, regional energy plans have been discussed lately as a step toward finding solutions to survive the high cost of energy. The Commission has long believed regional management and infrastructure can be more cost effective and sustainable in many of our programs.   As we mentioned last month, coordination between these groups will be critical in creating cohesive plans. We would be interested in receiving information regarding both new and existing plans from other regions, for discussion and review internally and with our Energy Advisory Committee.

During the past year, the Energy Advisory Committee has met several times in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The next planned meeting is the second week of September in Kotzebue, with site visits in Kotzebue and surrounding communities. An agenda will be posted on our web site by late August.

There are some exciting events coming up in August and September. The Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) is holding their fourth annual Alaska Renewable Energy Fair August 9th at Delaney Park in Anchorage. Chena Hot Springs 3rd annual Renewable Energy Fair will be held August 23rd at Chena Hot Springs Resort just north of Fairbanks. Both fairs are free and will have speakers, vendor booths, and activities for kids. The next Statewide Rural Energy Conference is in Girdwood September 16th through 18th this year.  It will provide great opportunities for people from around the state to share ideas and lessons learned about efforts to improve access and reduce the cost of energy.