3 AAC 195.040 - Eligible communities

(a) Subject to the availability of appropriations, and subject to 3 AAC 195.070 - 3 AAC 195.110, the department will award on a non-competitive basis mini-grants of no less than $10,000 per community and no more than $50,000 per community, to be negotiated with each community listed in (c) of this section, for hazard impact assessments to identify the nature of climate change-related impacts, including erosion, flooding, storm surge, thawing permafrost, and wildfires, if that community has not yet undergone a hazard impact assessment, and to recommend actions in response to the identified impacts.

(b) From the balance of available appropriations after allocation and distribution of money under (a) of this section, and subject to 3 AAC 195.050 - 3 AAC 195.110, the department will award on a non-competitive basis grants of no more than $150,000 per community, to be negotiated with each community listed in (c) of this section, for planning services based on the recommendation of a hazard impact assessment that the community had previously undergone or for which the department awarded a mini-grant under (a) of this section.

(c) Each of the following communities that are imminently threatened by the effects of climate change are eligible for a non-competitive grant described in (a) or (b) of this section:

(1) Kivalina;

(2) Koyukuk;

(3) Newtok;

(4) Shaktoolik;

(5) Shishmaref;

(6) Unalakleet.

(d) From the balance of available appropriations after allocation and distribution of money under (a) and (b) of this section, and subject to 3 AAC 195.070 - 3 AAC 195.110, the department will award on a competitive basis mini-grants of no less than $10,000 per community and no more than $50,000 per community, to be negotiated with each community, for hazard impact assessments to identify the nature of climate change-related impacts in communities where those impacts, including erosion, flooding, storm surge, thawing permafrost, and wildfires, could result in one or more of the following hazards, and to recommend actions in response to the identified impacts:

(1) risk to life or safety during storm or flood events;

(2) loss of critical infrastructure;

(3) threats to public health;

(4) loss of 10 percent or more of residential dwellings.

(e) From the balance of available appropriations after allocation and distribution of money under (a), (b), and (d) of this section, and subject to 3 AAC 195.070 - 3 AAC 195.110, the department will award, on a competitive basis, grants of no more than $150,000 per community, to be negotiated with each community, for planning services based on the recommendation of a hazard impact assessment for which the department awarded a mini-grant under (d) of this section.

(f) An incorporated non-profit entity with articles of incorporation and a certificate of incorporation in good standing under AS 10.20, or a federal or state government agency, may administer a grant on behalf of a community, with the authorization of that community's governing body.

(g) To be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, an unincorporated community must have a village council or incorporated nonprofit entity that will agree to receive and spend the grant money for the applicable purpose specified in this chapter. If an unincorporated community has more than one of the organizations described in this subsection, and each is eligible to receive a grant, the department will determine which organization is to receive the grant money. In making this determination, the department will consider factors relevant to achieving the purpose of the grant, including

(1) the administrative capability of each village council or incorporated nonprofit entity, including past performance on any previous grant awards;

(2) for each incorporated nonprofit entity, that the entity has articles of incorporation and a certificate of incorporation in good standing under AS 10.20;

(3) the ability of each village council or incorporated nonprofit entity to manage its debt and other finances, including whether amounts due to the United States Internal Revenue Service are timely paid;

(4) the degree to which each village council or incorporated nonprofit entity is representative of the community; and

(5) the purpose for which each village council or incorporated nonprofit entity intends to spend the grant money.

Notes

3 AAC 195.040

Eff. 6/30/2008, Register 187; am 11/23/2008, Register 188

For recommendations concerning the identification of communities as imminently threatened by the effects of climate change, see the Office of the Governor, Governor's Subcabinet on Climate Change, Immediate Action Workgroup's Recommendations Report to the Governor's Subcabinet on Climate Change, dated April 17, 2008. The report may be reviewed at the Anchorage office of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Community and Regional Affairs, and is also available on the Internet at www.climatechange.alaska.gov.

Authority:AS 44.33.020