Alaska Native Village Corporation Association

DESCRIPTION:THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF EPA'S CONTAMINATED ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST ALASKA TRIBAL ENTITIES WITH ADDRESSING CONTAMINATION ON LANDS CONVEYED PURSUANT TO THE ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT. THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE TRIBAL APPLICANTS TO CHARACTERIZE, ASSESS, AND CONDUCT PLANNING AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THESE LANDS AND CARRY OUT CLEANUP ACTIVITIES. THE ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATION ASSOCIATION, INC. WILL PROVIDE A PIVOTAL COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ROLE SUPPORTING ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATIONS IN ADDRESSING CONTAMINATED LANDS CLEAN UP. ACTIVITIES:ANVCA WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATIONS AND TRIBAL ENTITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED FUNDING FOR CONTAMINATED LAND CLEANUP IN SHARING INFORMATION AT EVENTS AND ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN ADDRESSING CONTAMINATED ANCSA LANDS ASSISTANCE. ANVCA WILL ALSO COLLABORATE WITH ANCSA CONTAMINATED LANDS WORKING GROUP, FACILITATE COMMUNICATION WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCY LEADERSHIP, AND CONDUCT OUTREACH TO ANVCA MEMBERSHIP TO REFINE AND DEVELOP THE CONTAMINATED ANCSA LANDS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:FUNDING WILL PROVIDE INCREASED CAPACITY AMONG ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATIONS TO ADDRESS CONTAMINATED SITES RESULTING IN IDENTIFICATION OF NEW SITES, IMPROVED EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF ANCSA CONTAMINATED LANDS AND RESOURCES, INCREASED CAPACITY AND KNOWLEDGE FOR PARTICIPATION IN CONTAMINATED SITES ASSESSMENT AND CLEANUP EFFORTS, IDENTIFICATION AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS ROADBLOCKS TO SITE CLEANUP AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS, AS WELL AS COORDINATION WITH EPA AND THE ANCSA CONTAMINATED LANDS WORKING GROUP. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF APPLICANTS AND NUMBER OF SITES REMEDIATED. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES ARE ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATIONS AND SHAREHOLDERS, TRIBES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

DESCRIPTION:THE ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATION ASSOCIATION (ANVCA) WILL ASSIST EPA TO ACHIEVE ITS ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT (ANCSA) OBJECTIVES THROUGH THE WORK CONDUCTED UNDER THIS PROJECT. IN 2023 ANVCA WAS LISTED TO RECEIVE A CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED APPROPRIATION THROUGH FOR $250,000 TO SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING AND FACILITATING COMMUNICATIONS. THE ALLOCATION OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED FUNDS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING WITHIN ANVCA IS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS REENERGIZING THE ORGANIZATION AFTER A CHALLENGING PERIOD DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE RESIGNATION OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. ANVCA WILL LEVERAGE IT'S MEMBERSHIP AND NETWORK TO BRING TOGETHER STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALASKA TRIBAL LEADERSHIP. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO HELP ANVCA STABILIZE IT'S WORKFORCE BY CONDUCTING SUCCESSION PLANNING. ADDITIONALLY, ANVCA IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ITS MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS WHEN THEY CONDUCT PROCUREMENT FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IN THE EVENT OF SUCCESSFUL AWARD OF AN EPA ANCSA LANDS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT GRANT.ACTIVITIES:ANVCA HOLDS AN ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON CRITICAL ISSUES FACING VILLAGE CORPORATIONS AND IS ATTENDED BY ITS LARGE MEMBERSHIP AND NON-MEMBERS. THE 2024 SYMPOSIUM FOCUSED ON CONTAMINATED LANDS, PARTICULARLY ANCSA CONVEYED LANDS. ANVCA WILL ATTEND ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCES LIKE ALASKA TRIBAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MEET WITH LAWMAKERS IN ALASKA AND WASHINGTON D.C TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATIONS AND TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE PROGRAM; ANVCA WILL HAVE A BOOTH AT THE ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES ANNUAL CONVENTION. ANVCA WILL PARTICIPATE IN THREE TO FIVE COMMUNITY HUB AND ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS ON CONTAMINATED LANDS PROGRAM ALONGSIDE FEDERAL, STATE, AND NON-PROFIT STAKEHOLDERS AT HUB COMMUNITIES IN REGIONAL PARTS OF THE STATE TO ENGAGE WITH NATIVE COMMUNITIES ON THEIR PRIORITY CONTAMINATED SITES. ANVCA WILL PARTICIPATE AND ATTEND MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES WITH THE ANCSA CONTAMINATED LANDS WORKING GROUP. ANVCA WILL OCCASIONALLY HOST 'FISHNET' LUNCHES ON KEY SUBJECTS EFFECTING ALASKA NATIVE CORPORATIONS (ANCS). ONE FISHNET LUNCH WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE CONTAMINATED LANDS TOPIC. HISTORICALLY WHEN ALASKA RECEIVES LARGE AMOUNTS OF GOVERNMENTAL FUNDING FOR TRIBES AND VILLAGE CORPORATIONS, THERE ARE ENTITIES THAT TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND DO NOT PERFORM THE WORK NOR MEET THE ULTIMATE NEEDS OF THE VILLAGE. OFTEN MISALLOCATING FUNDS AND RESOURCES FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT. ANVCA ACTS AS A FIREWALL TO PREVENT THOSE PREDATORY BUSINESSES, BY ITS VAST NETWORK OF PROVEN BUSINESSES WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY WORKED WITHIN THE ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES. THE ANVCA WILL ALSO SERVE AS A WATCHDOG FOR PREDATORY PRACTICES. ANVCA WILL MAINTAIN A LIST OF QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO BUSINESS IN ALASKA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN-UP. THIS LIST WILL BE PROVIDED TO VILLAGE CORPORATIONS WHEN SEEKING CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. RESEARCH ON FIRMS NOT KNOWN WITHIN THE ALASKA MARKET PLACE REVIEW THEIR PROJECTS AND REFERENCES. ANVCA WILL CONDUCT SUCCESSION PLANNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION. ANVCA WILL WORK TO HIRE STAFF WITH TO FILL PERMANENT ROLES.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE BI-WEEKLY MEETING PARTICIPATION, HOLDING ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM GATHERING STAKEHOLDERS IN TRIBAL AND VILLAGE CORPORATIONS TO DISCUSS COMMON ISSUES, PARTICIPATING IN THE ANCSA CONTAMINATED LANDS WORKING GROUP, FACILITATE AND DOCUMENT COMMUNICATION TO SUPPORT THOSE VILLAGE CORPORATIONS THAT REQUEST SUPPORT OF THE DRAFTING OF A STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTAMINATED LAND CLEANUP PLAN, FACILITATE COMMUNICATION WITH FEDERAL AND STATE DELEGATION LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE THE GROWTH OF THE CONTAMINATED LANDS PROGRAM, A SEMI-ANNUAL AND FINAL ANNUAL REPORT DOCUMENTING TASKS ACCOMPLISHED. OTHER DELIVERABLES INCLUDE CONDUCTING WATCHDOG CONSULTATIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL EPA ANCSA LANDS AS

BROADBAND UPGRADE PROJECT