April 2009 |
![]() |
![]() |
Program Manager Karen Johnson: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Program Assistant Adison Smith: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ø FY09 Funding News The Denali Commission is receiving about 30% less funding this year and a 50% reduction in some of the main Denali Commission programs, such as training, health and energy. The funding for the Training Program for FY09 is $3.3 million which is half of previous year’s appropriations. The Training Program will continue to fund training projects that support other Denali Commission investments such as road, energy, and health projects. At our March quarterly meeting in Juneau, Commissioners approved a draft FY09 Work Plan. The Work Plan is posted on our website for public comment through May 3, 2009. The next Denali Commission quarterly meeting will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska on June 4 & 5, 2009 at which time the Commissioners will be reviewing public comments and will take additional public comments. Ø Advisory Meeting Our next Training Advisory Committee will meet on August 27, 2009 at the Denali Commission offices in Anchorage. Ø Funding Opportunities and Process Then Denali Training Program is administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) who provide quarterly request for grant applications (RGA) for the Denali Training Fund and Youth Initiatives on behalf of the Denali Commission. To apply go to the www.state.ak.us , find quick links in the lower left corner and click on public notices on-line. Keywords for searching are: Denali Training Fund. Additionally, all Denali Commission funding opportunities will be linked to the Denali Commission web page. Ø Current Funding Opportunity The Denali Youth Initiatives RGA seeks training projects that will prepare youth ages 16 to 24 for career paths that lead to employment in Alaska’s high demand, high wage occupations. Interested parties are encouraged to complete an application and budget for each program of interest. The RGA, applications and budget forms are electronic and can be downloaded from this website. http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/0fbaac2ac9267ecd89256785006ad908/0d5481bf17f215d089257591006352fd?OpenDocument
Ø Story’s of Success
The Alaska Rural Utility Cooperative (ARUC): It is common for Alaskan communities to experience major water system freeze-ups due to very cold temperatures and high heating fuel costs. Some Alaska Communities lost water service to most residents for weeks or months. The scope of ARUC was to create a regional utility cooperative by bundling local utilities with a successful parent organization to minimize administrative overhead, reduce unit-operating costs and improve stability of local utility services. The outcome was that all the ARUC communities did not experience any major freeze-ups. This is a testament to the ARUC principal that preventative maintenance and prior planning will make water/sewer systems more efficient, dependable and sustainable. Key factors of success are operator training and retention, an adequate inventory of spare parts, adequate revenue to purchase fuel in bulk and professional management all play an important role in the operational success of ARUC water/sewer systems. Chugach School District prepares Alaska’s youth for the world of work with a focus on high growth and priority industries. Students receive work-readiness training, instruction in math and literacy and drug and alcohol awareness as well as NCCER and culinary arts certification. The Denali Commission’s Youth Initiative funding has supported this project for several years. For more information visit the Anchorage Daily News at: http://www.adn.com/education/story/706441.html |