New Program Manager for the Health Facilities Program -  Ms. Nancy Merriman became the new Health Facilities Program Manager, as Ms. Denali Daniels moved into the Energy Program Manager position.

Ms. Nancy Merriman grew up in California. After attaining a Masters degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley, she moved to Kodiak. Merriman served three years as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program Coordinator for the Kodiak area. A management opportunity with the largest WIC Program in Alaska brought her to Anchorage, where she enjoyed working with parents and children for another three years. Ms. Merriman then spent three years on broader community health programs and emergency preparation and planning at the Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services.

Since joining the Denali Commission in 2002, Ms. Merriman has assisted with the development and implementation of: a new financial management system, a new procurement system, and a new online grants management system. 

In January 2009, Ms. Merriman became the Commission’s Health Facilities Program Manager.

Ms. Merriman holds an undergraduate degree in nutrition from the University of California Davis, a Masters of Public Health from UC Berkeley, and a Masters of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.

Clinic Repair / Renovation Letter of Interest - The Denali Commission Primary Care Clinic Repair and Renovation (R&R) 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.  To this date one has submitted a full proposal and will be funded.

The Denali Commission will now accept R&R Applications at any time throughout the year.

For more information, please contact Ms. Kathy Berzanske at 907-271-5232 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   LOI materials are posted on the Commission's home page:  www.denali.gov

PROGAM BACKGROUND AND PROCESS

Primary Care Clinics  The following three stages of project development are used to manage planning, design and construction for the clinic program:

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 Senior Program Manager, Ms. Nancy Merriman 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.