SASS: Southeast Alaska Sustainable Strategy
The Southeast Alaska Sustainable Strategy (SASS) program is a program of the US Department of Agriculture initiated to help support a diverse economy, enhance community resilience and conserve natural resources. USD hopes to provide support to Southeast Alaska by investing $25 million federal dollars for short term investments in a sustainable way. This solicitation is to identify investment opportunities – short term and long term. USDA agencies including the US Forest Service, Rural Development and Natural Resource Conservation Service are strategizing to obtain investment ideas, seek out short and long term opportunities and identify administrative barriers that impact federal investments.
The website for information and project suggestions can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r10/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?ci...
Deadline to submit projects or investment ideas in October 18. It is REALLY important that individuals and organizations from Wrangell provide ideas of what you think can help the community and why.
Types of projects can include:
INFRASTRUCTURE: Docks, recrecation sites, health facilities (water/wastewater/medical), technology, renewable energy
NATURAL RESOURCES: Subsistence, Mariculture, Fisheries, watershed restoration, Young growth, agriculture
CAPACITY: Workforce development, youth engagement, business development, Tourism, artisan
TRIBAL INTERESTS: Traditional foods, food security, traditional knowledge, cultural use of trees, workforce development, arts and culture
DRAFT LIST OF PROJECTS COMPILED BY BOROUGH STAFF AND WCA STAFF THAT STILL NEED TO BE DETAILED INCLUDE:
Sidewalks in town.
Daycare facility—new building.
Industrial composter at Community Garden – Investment already started and could be leveraged—reduces waste footprint in Wrangell and saves on shipping
Cultural Revitalization Project
Totems in totem park repairs
Shake Island Pole
Shakes Graves killer Whales
Heritage Graveyard—fence
Memorial gazebo at Institute Property—Petroglyph of different tribes whose children came there
Sharing Our Knowledge Conference – Culture Bearer and Language, Heritage program
Cultural signs with Tlingit names for streets
Thinning areas for subsistence—berry and other subsistence
Special Forest Products – for commercial use
Municipal Water system- Water plant, water main replacement,
Road Connection Pats Road to Spur Road – safety, tourism, recreation
Transportation needs: road upgrades
Alpine trails—more trails to access alpine areas
Improve existing trails – Rainbow Falls/SMB Overlook/North country Trail; Kunk Lake; Mt. Dewey; Salamander Ridge Trail
Anan master Plan –research project—affects carrying capacity and tourism at Anan
New cabin on the road system
Mt. Dewey Extension and link to Petroglyph Beach
MV Chugach Building for Cover, Access and interpretive signage
Waterfront Master Plan –Rock fill to expand area of shipyard, net building and viewing area
Interpretive signs and public walkway
Public restrooms
Pocket park
Assistance with Match for existing project grant application
Fed Highways projects
Federal Grants
Facilities
Food security— WCA smokehouse and community garden and subsistence locations
Support Kelp and Oyster farm development
Americorps housing—any housing for summer workers
Barge Ramp replacement—economic necessity - where all goods and supplies come through
Wayfinding interpretive signage throughout Borough
Pats Lake Recreation Master Plan
Wrangell Infrastructure Projects- sewer plant improvements and forced main upgrades for economic growth
Repurpose old Hospital
Pool renovations
If you have questions on how to submit projects, please call Carol at 874-2381 or email ecodev@wrangell.com
