Village Initiative

THIS BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT AND PLANNING, ENGINEERING, FEASIBILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES PROJECT WILL PLAN, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCT LAST MILE WIRELESS DEPLOYMENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN 13 OF THE ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES IN THE CONSORTIUM BY UTILIZING 2.5GHZ LICENSED SPECTRUM. THE COMPLETED WIRELESS PROJECT WILL BE CAPABLE OF DELIVERING SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 25/3 MBPS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO DEPLOY FIBER TO THE PREMISE IN THE CONSORTIUM VILLAGE OF UNALAKLEET, DELIVERING SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 25/3 MBPS

ALASKA VILLAGES INITIATIVE (AVI) LOOKS TO FURTHER THEIR TRIBAL COMMUNITY SERVICES BY DEPLOYING A DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THIS BROADBAND USE AND ADOPTION GRANT. AVI SERVES AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, REPRESENTING MANY VILLAGES ACROSS ALASKA. THIS GRASSROOTS-LEVEL EFFORT, GROUNDED IN THESE COMMUNITIES CAN UPLIFT LIVES, ECONOMIES, AND CULTURES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY WILL COME FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS STEERING INITIATIVES FORWARD. AVI HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DEVELOPING CULTURALLY RELEVANT CURRICULUM AND DELIVERING TO RURAL ALASKA. NOT ONLY WILL THIS DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAM BUILD ON OUR ABILITY TO SERVICE RURAL VILLAGES THROUGH OUR PROPOSED SATELLITE DEPLOYMENT INITIATIVE TO THESE AREAS, THESE KEY AREAS OF FOCUS ARE ALSO ALIGNED WITH EARLY DRAFT PLANS FOR ALASKA STATES DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN FOR RURAL ALASKA. BY PROVIDING TOOLS AND TRAINING IN ESSENTIAL DIGITAL PLATFORMS LIKE MICROSOFT OFFICE, LINKEDIN, AND SOCIAL MEDIA, WE PROMOTE DIGITAL LITERACY. THIS COVERS CRITICAL INTERNET NAVIGATION AND COMPUTER SKILLS FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. THROUGH ECOMMERCE TRAINING, WE EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURS AND ARTISANS TO SELL GOODS ACROSS NEW MARKETS. THIS OPENS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR REMOTE VILLAGES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, WE WILL FACILITATE COMPREHENSIVE REMOTE WORK TRAINING PROGRAMS. REMOTE WORK OPPORTUNITIES ENABLE RESIDENTS TO ACCESS EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. DIGITAL PLATFORMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUSTAIN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE WILL IMPLEMENT FOUNDATIONAL DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMS SO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY YOUTH AND ELDERS, GAIN CORE SKILLS. AS REMOTE VILLAGES FIRST ACCESS THE INTERNET, CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS IS CRUCIAL. AS ALASKA DRIVES TOWARDS DIGITAL INNOVATION, EQUITABLE ACCESS REMAINS BOTH A RIGHT AND A CHALLENGE. OUR SATELLITE INITIATIVE ALIGNS WITH NATIONAL GOALS AROUND INCLUSION. HOWEVER, REAL SUCCESS LIES IN EMPOWERING LOCAL USE AND ADOPTION. WE MUST ENSURE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN LEVERAGE CONNECTIVITY TOOLS FULLY AND SAFELY. WITH OVERSIGHT FOR RESPONSIBLE SPENDING, AVI CAN NOW DELIVER THIS NTIA GRANT'S FULL POTENTIAL. WE WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ON-THE-GROUND TRAINING AND RESOURCES IN SEVERAL ALASKAN VILLAGES. IT IS TIME TO BRIDGE ALASKA'S DIGITAL DIVIDE WITH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS CREATED BY AND FOR THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WOOCH EEN YEI JIDANE ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITY FOREST PROGRAM

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BUILDING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH EDUCATION IN RURAL ALASKAPROVIDES A SCALABLE ONLINE OR IN-PERSON DELIVERY OF CURRICULUM SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED TO MEET THE BUSINESS SIDE OF AGRICULTURAL IN RURAL ALASKA. AVI'S INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES ESTABLISH CLEAR LINKS BETWEEN COURSE CONTENT AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES.THE AVI PROJECT WILL ADDRESS:FOOD SECURITY WHILE CREATING A SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY IN RURAL ALASKA;CREATE HEALTHIER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH FARMING ACTIVITIES;ANDPROVIDE FISCAL AND MANAGERIAL EDUCATION TO PROVIDE A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ECONOMY IN THE VILLAGE.

FROM FOOD DESERTS TO FARMS: CIVIL AGRICULTURE IN ALASKA WILL EXPAND THENUMBER OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED/ VETERAN FARMERS IN RURAL ALASKAVILLAGES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE A LAND-BASED FARMSCHOOL TO ADDRESS OBSTACLES OF BEGINNING FARMERS. THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAMCOMBINES HANDS-ON TRAINING, COUPLED WITH ONLINE COURSES ON SUSTAINABLEFARMING PRACTICES WITH AGRICULTURE-RELATED DIGITAL RESOURCES WITHSPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES, REQUIRED SKILLS, AND ASSOCIATED PROFICIENCY.THE PROGRAM WILL RAISE AWARENESS ON FOOD ISSUES, ASSIST FARMERS INAPPLYING FOR USDAPROGRAMS, AND TEACH MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETING SKILLS.

RENEWABLE ENERGY BIOMASS UTILIZATION PROJECT

HIGH ENERGY COST GRANT

LIVE FROM THE AGALASKA SCHOOL STUDIOS

ALASKAN LANDSCAPES, ECOSYSTEMS, AND HABITATS ARE UNIQUE. THEY JUSTIFY SPECIALIZED MANAGEMENT AND CO-STEWARDSHIP TO PRESERVE THE DISTINCT BIODIVERSITY OF OUR NATIVE FAUNA AND FLORA. THREATS TO THESE LANDS, ESPECIALLY IMPACTS ON WATERWAYS THAT SUPPORT AQUATIC RESOURCES AND WILDFIRES THAT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATE, CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESTORATION EFFORTS. THE LACK OF MARKET CONSISTENCY AND AVAILABILITY OF NATIVE PLANT PRODUCTS LIMITS THE SUCCESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE ACTIVITIES. ALASKA VILLAGE INITIATIVES (AVI) IS REQUESTING A TOTAL FUNDING OF S540,000 OVER THREE YEARS TO ESTABLISH A NATIVE PLANT NURSERY TO FILL THIS NEED. A FULLY FUNDED PROJECT WILL ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES (SUMMARIZED): CONSTRUCT A GREENHOUSE AND MANAGE A NURSERY TO PRODUCE NATIVE PLANTS FOR SALE RESTORE A SECTION OF FIRE-BURNED TRIBAL LAND TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF OUTDOOR SEEDLINGS SUPPLY A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR TRADITIONAL SEED COLLECTION AND STORAGETHE MILLERS REACH REHABILITATION NURSERY PROJECT WILL SUPPLY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES WITH A LOCAL SOURCE FOR ALASKA GROWN TREES, SHRUBS, AND HERBACEOUS MATERIALS. THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTS ENDEAVORS IN ALASKA TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE, FOREST MANAGEMENT, RANGELAND PLANT RESTORATION, IMPROVING WATERSHED HEALTH, AND BETTER CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE LAND. THE MISSION OF AVI ALIGNS WITH THESE GOALS AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PRESERVING AND EXPANDING NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES IS A NECESSITY FOR OURBEAUTIFUL STATE. A BROAD ARRAY OF GOALS, RANGING FROM SHORT TO LONG-TERM, IS ADDRESSED WITH THIS PROPOSAL, BUT AN OUTCOME-BASED EVALUATION WILL ENSURE THE COMPLETION OF THESE PLANS. THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES ARE ACHIEVED THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN OF THIS GRANT AND CAN BE FOUND IN FURTHER DETAIL IN THE FULL PROPOSAL: 200,000 PLANTS PER YEAR GROWN TO DISTRIBUTION MATURITY 3 ACRES OF LAND CLEARED AND IN PRODUCTION 15 NEW SPECIES OF PRIORITY SEED COLLECTED AND STORED PER YEAR IMPROVEMENT OF ON-SITE SOIL HEALTH CUMULATIVE RECORD KEEPING AND SHARING OF INFORMATIONTHE ANNUAL ACTIVITIES OF A NURSERY CAN BE SOMEWHAT CYCLICAL, BUT THE THREE-YEAR LENGTH OF THIS PROJECT ALLOWS FOR THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NURSERY SITE IN ADDITION TO RESEARCH AND PLANNING THAT WILL SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SEED BANK AND ENSURE THE ECONOMIC LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE NURSERY BUSINESS PLAN.ALASKA VILLAGE INITIATIVES HAS A LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF SUCCESSFUL GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT ON THE FORMATION OF SUBSTANTIVE RELATIONSHIPS. KEY PARTNERSHIPS WITH RURAL TRIBES (E.G. AKIACHAK, MEKORYUK, YAKUTAT) THAT FUNNEL PLANT RESOURCES FROM THE NURSERY DIRECTLY INTO CORRESPONDING PROJECTS FOR AQUATIC AND FOREST RESTORATION INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THIS PROPOSALS INITIATIVES.THE SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE IS OFTEN PLACED AT ODDS WITH THE TRADITIONAL ONE. A FULLY FUNDED PROPOSAL CAN OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE PLANT RESTORATION WORK, BUT IT CAN ALSO PROVIDE A SPACE IN WHICH AVI CAN CONTINUE TO BRIDGE GAPS AND CONNECT ALASKANS.

GVI AND OUR PARTNERS BELIEVE THAT WE MUST LOOK BEYOND THE NOTIONS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND PROACTIVELY FOCUS ON BECOMING AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION; NOT DOING SO WILL ONLY CONTINUE THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND MAINTAIN THE EXISTING POWER STRUCTURE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WE WILL BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR A JUST, EQUITABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN BRIDGEPORT. THIS WILL BE DONE THROUGH THE WORK OF GVI, YOUTH AMBASSADORS, CTCORE ORGANIZE NOW!, THE BRIDGEPORT FARMERS MARKET COLLABORATIVE, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED AND EVALUATION PARTNERS. WE WILL INCREASE DEMAND FOR BRIDGEPORT-GROWN AND BRIDGEPORT-MADE FOOD, WHILE CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION.OUR FARMERS MARKETS WILL EVOLVE FROM FOOD ACCESS LOCATIONS TO INCLUSIVE, SAFE SPACES FOR THE COMMUNITY, PRACTICING NON-EXPLOITIVE FOOD COMMERCE AND PROGRAMMING. WE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE CONSUMERS' AWARENESS OF FARMERS MARKETS, RETAIL POP-UPS AND FOOD PANTRIES, ESPECIALLY AMONG BRIDGEPORT'S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ENROLLED IN SNAP. NEW URBAN FARMING BUSINESS AND VALUE-ADDED FOOD BUSINESSES WILL BE DEVELOPED AND TRAININGS WILL BE PROVIDED, INCREASING BRIDGEPORT-GROWN AND BRIDGEPORT-MADE FOOD.GVI'S RESERVOIR COMMUNITY FARM WILL UNDERGO A PROCESS TO BECOME A MODEL OF INCLUSIVE AND NON-EXPLOITIVE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD COMMERCE. WE WILL DOCUMENT OUR PROCESS AND LEARNINGS, CREATING A MODEL THAT OTHER FARMERS MARKETS AND FOOD ORGANIZATIONS IN BRIDGEPORT. CTCORE ORGANIZE NOW! WILL TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES IN ANTI-RACIST, NON-EXPLOITIVE PRACTICES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.A YOUTH FOOD JUSTICE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM, LED BY CTCORE ORGANIZE NOW! WILL BE DEVELOPED TO LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING A VISION FOR A LOCAL, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN FOOD SYSTEM. YOUTH WILL PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY TRAININGS THROUGH THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF CTCORE ORGANIZE NOW! YOUTH WILL LEAD URBAN FARM TOURS AND WORKSHOPS IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD JUSTICE. YOUTH WILL ALSO ASSIST OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING LISTENING SESSIONS TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY'S VISION FOR A LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.WE WILL INCREASE FARMER TRAINING PROGRAMS AND IDENTIFY NEW LAND ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW FARM OPERATIONS LED BY AND SERVING THE BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WILL ASSIST WITH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, VENDING, AND LAND ACCESS TRAINING AND EDUCATION.OUR PROCESSES, LESSONS LEARNED, NON-EXPLOITIVE AND ANTI-RACIST PRACTICES AND MODELS, WILL BE SHARED THROUGHOUT BRIDGEPORT AND WITH OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

ASSURING YEAR-ROUND FOOD SECURITY FOR RURAL ALASKA NATIVES AND VETERANS

INCREASE CAPACITY OF NRCS ALASKA EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ALASKA TRIBES

FORT YUKON REGIONAL ENERGY PLANNING

TO HOST TWO OF THE ALASKA STATEWIDE TRIBAL CONSERVATION SUMMIT IN ANCHORAGE DURING SUMMIT ANCHORAGE, ALASKA.

VILLAGE FOOD SECURITY PLANNING

ALASKA VILLAGE INITIATIVE IS HOSTING A CONFERENCE TITLED PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST 2024 REGIONAL MEETING DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024. IT WILL BE HELD IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA. THIS CONFERENCE WILL DRAW TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE GIVING US WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO OUR CUSTOMER BASE.

RURAL WOOD ENERGY PROGRAM