Funding Opportunity: AK Sustainable Salmon Fund CFP

Funding Opportunity: AK Sustainable Salmon Fund CFP

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
    The Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund has issued a Call For Proposals with a deadline of August 28th, 2013   AKSSF staff is offering a webinar on July 30th (9:00 – 11:00 a.m.) to help applicants understand AKSSF proposal development and the project selection processes.   To join this webinar please contact Terry Tavel - theresa.tavel@alaska.gov; 907-465-6117   The categories for High Priority Objective project funding in the Southeast Alaska region are:   Goal 1: Habitat – Projects proposed under this goal must contribute to the conservation of salmon or steelhead habitat. Goal 2: Stock Assessment – Projects proposed under this goal must contribute to management of salmon or steelhead populations utilized for subsistence.   See below or follow the buttons for more detailed information on this CFP and SE High Priority Objective project funding: [button…
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Path to Prosperity: Sustainable Business Development Competition

Path to Prosperity: Sustainable Business Development Competition

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
    The Nature Conservancy has partnered up with Haa Aani Community Development Fund to create the Path to Prosperity (P2P) business development competition.The competition is designed to promote the development of sustainable businesses and aims to launch growth companies that will increase local employment, have a positive social and economic impact on their communities, promote sustainable use of local resources, and increase entrepreneurial know-how and business leadership in Southeast Alaska. Two winning entrepreneurs will receive an award of up to $40,000 in seed funding for consulting/technical assistance to develop their business concept, along with support in finding investor funding. Business ideas will be judged primarily on the basis of their feasibility and their positive social impact. P2P is open to individuals, for-profit businesses or tribal entities. Business ideas may include a new business or…
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Save the Date: WESPAK Training September 23-25, Juneau

Save the Date: WESPAK Training September 23-25, Juneau

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
[caption id="attachment_739" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Chiska Derr, Catherine Pohl, and Richard Chapell discuss a tidal wetland in Haines; WESPAK training September 2012[/caption] This is an early “heads-up” announcement about the free WESPAK wetland methodology three day training workshop with Dr. Paul Adamus, September 23-25, 2013 in Juneau. Location and times to be announced.   The workshop has a maximum of 25 participants. Participants will be chosen to promote a maximum diversity of agency, organization, and consultation participation, and therefore may not be able to accommodate all applicants. We are not accepting class registration at this time.   More information should become available in the next three weeks. Questions or comments please contact: Teri Camery, Senior Planner City and Borough of Juneau Community Development Department (907) 586-0755 phone; (907) 586-3365 fax  
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Yakutat Salmon Paleontology Project

Yakutat Salmon Paleontology Project

Community Watershed Stewardship
    The City and Borough of Yakutat is working on a paleontology project to get a glimpse at historic salmon runs of the past on the Situk River.   In partnership with the University of Idaho, University of Alaska, and the Army Corps of Engineers, the project will combine paleontology and genetics work to gain a better understanding of what sockeye runs on the Situk River looked like years ago.   The Nunatak and Hubbard glaciers are part of one of the largest ice fields on earth and are melting rapidly, which is causing the glaciers to surge.  Flooding of the Situk River occurred in the nineteenth century and it is likely that a flooding event will occur again, which may severely impact many of the species on which…
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Sitka Conservation Society: Second Growth Structures in the Tongass NF

Sitka Conservation Society: Second Growth Structures in the Tongass NF

Community Watershed Stewardship
  Video and narrative courtesy of Sitka Conservation Society  Second Growth Structures in the Tongass National Forest from Sitka Conservation Society on Vimeo.   On July 3rd, 2013, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced a commitment to conserving the remaining old growth temperate rainforests on the Tongass National Forest. He stated that this will be accomplished by transitioning timber harvest out of old growth harvest towards using 2nd growth forest resources. This announcement comes on the heels of announcements by President Obama regarding the need to take action on climate change and to conserve, restore, and protect forest resources as a carbon bank to mitigate climate change. The Sitka Conservation Society applauds this announcement and feels that the time is past due for conserving what remains of our globally rare temperate rainforest old…
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Kake Oyster Farm Apprenticeship Program

Kake Oyster Farm Apprenticeship Program

Community Watershed Stewardship
Kake Oyster Farm Apprenticeship Program   Shellfish farming has proven to be a viable, sustainable business opportunity for many communities in Southeast Alaska. Rodger Painter, President of the Alaska Shellfish Growers Association, has been in the regional shellfish farming industry for years and has teamed up with the Organized Village of Kake to bring an oyster farm management apprenticeship program to the community of Kake.   [caption id="attachment_1279" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Rocky Pass Oysters. Photo from Pearl of Alaska[/caption]   The program, funded through a grant with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, creates business opportunities for local entrepreneurs looking to go into the shellfish farming industry.   Over the course of the three year program (which follows the three year cycle to produce mature oysters), a group of four…
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Wrangell Community Workshop – Forest Stewardship Contracting and Resource Mapping

Wrangell Community Workshop – Forest Stewardship Contracting and Resource Mapping

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
Community Workshop - Forest Stewardship Contracting and Resource Mapping Wrangell, AK July 10th 2013, 1-4 PM and 6-8 PM Nolan Center Classroom Are you interested in Wrangell’s natural resources and forest assets? Do you want to participate in conservation work and resource enhancement projects? Come and participate in forest management planning. Understand how timber receipts are retained through community collaboration, and stewardship contracts can provide opportunity for economic development.  Widespread, diverse community input is the key to a viable timber industry and healthy forests. Results from the values mapping survey will be presented.   This is an open community event. Meeting agenda to follow. If you have questions about this event, please contact: Erik Wortman Wrangell Community Catalyst Southeast Alaska Conservation Council Mobile: (907) 305-0341 Main: (907) 586-6942 erik@seacc.org  
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Oyster Farming, Alternative Energy, & Cultural Heritage: The TBL Team Visits Kake

Oyster Farming, Alternative Energy, & Cultural Heritage: The TBL Team Visits Kake

Uncategorized
  Earlier this June the TBL team (Bob Christensen, Mike Skinner, and I) spent a few days visiting the community of Kake and speaking with many of the warm, friendly people that call that beautiful place home. Written by: Angie Eldred, SAWC Communications Coordinator [caption id="attachment_1336" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Tidal flats in Kake[/caption] We embarked on this trip with the purpose of getting to know the community a bit better; striving to get a snapshot Kake’s capacity for sustainable development through residents’ perceptions of the community’s opportunities, challenges, needs, and available resources.   Our stay in this small coastal community was filled with warm sunshine and warm people, always willing to graciously spend a few minutes with us and share their story. We met with Gary Williams, Executive Director of the…
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Cultural Revitalization and Economic Development in Wrangell

Cultural Revitalization and Economic Development in Wrangell

Community Watershed Stewardship
  Wrangell Cooperative Association (WCA), the federally recognized tribe for Wrangell is undertaking a cultural revitalization and economic development project to strengthen the community’s cultural identity and create opportunities for local economic growth.   A small island town with economic roots in the fishing and logging industries, Wrangell is nestled in the heart of the Inside Passage at the mouth of the mighty Stikine River. Wrangell’s cultural heritage is rooted in the traditions of the Stikine Tlingit and Haida tribes, a cultural connection that the Wrangell Cooperative Association has been working to revitalize and reestablish in the close-knit community of 2,300 residents.     [caption id="attachment_1270" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Construction of the Cultural Center in Downtown Wrangell, June 2013[/caption]   WCA is currently constructing a 40’x 90’ cultural center.  This center…
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