The Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska (SEDS-AK) program provides grant funding for village-specific projects to improve and strengthen the administrative and management capacity of Alaska Native village governments and organizations, which are central to social and economic self-sufficiency in Alaska. The SEDS-AK program responds to the unique governmental structures in Alaska and supports the principle that social and economic development are interrelated and essential for the development of thriving Native communities.
Below is a list of SEDS-AK Grant Recipients:
Recipient: Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission
Project Title: Ahtna Cultural Preservation Capacity-Building Project
Project Description: The Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission (AITRC) will create a Tribal Historic Preservation Office to protect Ahtna cultural sites and resources. Currently, cultural sites and resources have been destroyed on federal and state land by transportation and development projects. The Native Village of Chitina (NVC), one of AITRC’s constituent tribes, is facing immediate impacts due to a trail/road improvement project that is taking place on its traditional lands which bring increased traffic. This project will develop a Tribal Historic Preservation Plan and a Cultural Heritage Plan to establish a Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Project candidates will complete a training program that certifies them to become Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and a cultural geodatabase will be created to catalog key resources. Ultimately, this project will develop capacity to assert Tribal jurisdiction and enhance their intergovernmental relations with federal and state agencies.
- Location: Glennallen, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska — SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 09/30/2021 to 09/29/2025
- FY 2023 Award: $199,302
Recipient: Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal Government
Project Title: Strengthening Food Security through Enhancing Local Growing on St. Paul Island
Project Description: Aleut Community of St. Paul Island's goal is to outfit the community garden with raised bed cold frames to extend their outdoor growing season and effectively supplement their ability to supply fresh, affordable produce, year-round for the community. Community members on St. Paul do not have consistent access to fresh, affordable, year-round produce primarily due to the island's remote location and logistical transportation issues; the need for adequate climate-controlled space in which to reliably grow produce through greenhouse or hydroponic operations; and the lack of agricultural conditions or equipment to sustain an outdoor operation without subsidies. To achieve their project goal, they will install commercial grade cold-frame systems at the Aleut Community Outdoor Garden, locally produce about 200 pounds of marketable crops sold at the Aleut Community Store, train local store staff and residents, including youth in the use of hydroponic and traditional growing practices to produce crops year-round in St. Paul. They will also adapt and implement an agricultural curriculum as part of place-based courses of the Pribilof School District and Bering Sea Campus. With this, the community will have a variety of agriculture approaches for year-round food production.
- Location: St. Paul, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska —SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2022 to 9/30/2025
- FY 2023 Award: $157,208
Recipient: Chugach Regional Resources Commission
Project Title: Asisqat neq’rkat, Healthy Foods for Our Alutiiq People
Project Description: The Asisqat neq’rkat project will work to establish year-around access to organic, locally grown produce in the Chugach region’s Tribal communities. The communities in the region are importing over 95% of their food at high cost, resulting in extreme rates of food insecurity for Native families. By the end of the project, the Chugach Regional Resources Commission will establish year-round hydroponic food production in the tribal villages of Nanwalek, Port Graham, and the Qutekcak. The project’s food production will facilitate inclusion of fresh greens and vine crops in senior meal programs, provide agriculturally based training and employments, and establish an economic development framework to further the economic security of the communities. This project will prioritize access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food for the families of the community and have a positive effect on the food security rates in the territory.
- Location: Anchorage, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska —SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2024 — 9/29/2027
- FY2024 Award: $863,567
Recipient: Galena Village
Project Title: Enaa Neenyo Early Childhood Development Program
Project Description: The Galena Village will develop a sustainable, culturally aligned early childhood program in partnership with the Galena City School District that will serve all children 0-5 and their families in Galena Village. Currently, Galena Village, also known as Louden Village, has no early childhood programs for children under four. The project will develop culturally aligned curriculum in early childhood learning for children 0-5 and well-qualified staff to operate the program. The project will also implement an early childhood learning career track for juniors and seniors at the for high school students. The project will enable parents to work, through receiving post-secondary early childhood certifications or degrees, families to seek economic prosperity, job sites to recruit employees, and children to develop social and academic skills needed for success in school.
- Location: Galena, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska —SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2023 to 9/29/2026
- FY 2023 Award: $298,369
Recipient: Ilisagvik College
Project Title: Napaġiaq: Supporting Workforce, Social, and Youth Development on the North Slope of Alaska at Iḷisaġvik College
Project Description: The Ilisagvik College will remediate the educational effects that Covid-19 had on North Slope community members by providing workforce training and adult education, pre-college exposure to career pathways, and pre-college cultural programming with the intent of increased job placement in the North Slope Borough and increase college matriculation rates for the region. The State of Alaska’s lingering economic recession of 2017-2018, further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has had a negative impact on the North Slope households and job prospects for Alaska Native community members. 27% of Iñupiat households fall below the federal poverty line for Alaska. By instituting an adult education program, they aim to serve 25 adult learners on the North Slope and have 12 adult learners complete their GEDs. By instituting pre-college programs, they aim to serve 72 pre-college students. Thus, resulting in an overall increase in the number of community member served by workforce trainings by 39%. The project will specifically target community members ages 18-30. Ultimately, the project aims to empower economic, social, and youth development that will lead to a “home-grown” workforce and greater Alaska Native college matriculation on the North Slope of Alaska, home to the Iñupiaq people.
- Location: Barrow, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska — SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2022 to 9/29/2025
- FY 2023 Award: $200,000
Recipient: Kawerak, Inc.
Project Title: Kawerak Peer Mentoring Project
Project Description: The Kawerak Peer Mentoring Project will address low rates of higher education retention and graduation of the Kawerak region’s Alaska Native students. Kawerak is the regional non-profit tribal consortia serving 20 Alaska Native tribes in 16 communities in the Bearing Strait region. Currently, the low rates of higher education retention and graduation of tribal members have been affected by financial challenges, being academically unprepared, and the culture shock of moving to an urban lifestyle away from rural tribal villages. The Peer Mentor project will provide in-person mentoring to support first and second year students attending a University of Alaska campus by pairing them with third and fourth-year student mentors. Through Peer Mentors and other supportive services including study sessions and cultural activities to reduce homesickness and loneliness, the Kawerak Peer Mentoring Project will support tribal students, ages 18 to 26, in college and help them succeed.
- Location: Nome, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska — SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2024 — 9/29/2027
- FY2024 Award: $900,000
Recipient: OPT- In Kiana
Project Title: OPT- In Kiana Governance, Sustainability and Marketing and Outreach
Project Description: OPT- In Kiana is a community-based, all-inclusive, youth-founded, and youth-directed group. They will increase the organizational’ s capacity to support Inupiaq Youth Empowerment through Cultural and Leadership Development by integrally involving youth in all aspects of the organization. Currently with a population of 391, Kiana has one of the highest suicide rates in the US with triple the national average. Youth who struggle academically and behaviorally are often overlooked as potential leaders in school. By creating a self-sustaining organization, OPT- In Kiana will increase their capacity, based on a five-year plan and youth will increase their leadership and resilience by conducting outreach to two additional villages in the Northwest Arctic Region. Ultimately, this project aims to have all youth make positive contributions to their community.
- Location: Kiana, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska — SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2022 to 9/29/2025
- FY 2023 Award: $299,981
Recipient: Yakutat Tlingit Tribe
Project Title: Tribal Governance and Economic Development Preparedness Project
Project Description: The Yakutat Tlingit Tribe (YTT) will align tribal operations and programs that enhance and support sustainable self-governance and create meaningful economic opportunity. YTT is in a place that requires strengthening their governance, administrative, and financial foundation for their Tribal Nation. There is a great need to expand their existing programs to create more employment opportunities for their rural community. They will increase the capacity of tribal operations through implementation of updated Administrative Governance Policies and Procedures. YTT will also develop a strategic plan supporting the development of their new YTT Guardians job creation program providing essential economic opportunity to their remote economically challenged community. The project will support the YTT to preserve, maintain, and protect the unique culture, land, and resources of the 800+ Yakutat Tlingit people and achieve their mission to maximize their social, health & well-being while creating economic development benefits to all tribal members.
- Location: Yakutat, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska —SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2023 to 9/29/2025
- FY 2023 Award: $137,682
Recipient: Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association
Project Title: Lower Yukon Youth Agriculture Project
Project Description: The Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association (YDFDA) will increase the availability of fresh and nutrient-dense food for community members through local greenhouse production. Currently, all food is imported from Anchorage, where transport is often delayed by weather and other variables. Consequently, long travel time on produce diminishes food quality as well as increase prices to an unaffordable level. Food insecurity in the Kusilvak Census Area was rated at 28% in 2018 by Feeding America. By building and operationalizing 6 new greenhouses, the project aims to increase local food production by 35%. As commercial fishing in the Yukon River has been closed since the 2020 summer season and will continue to stay closed for the upcoming season, the project will be implemented in the Yukon River community with the aid of the city and the Alakanuk School. Ultimately, the project goal is to increase food security in the YDFDA communities with access to locally grown nutritious food.
- Location: Anchorage, AK
- ANA T/TA Region: Alaska
- Program Area: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska — SEDS-AK
- Project Period: 9/30/2022 to 9/29/2025
- FY 2023 Award: $114,522