EVALUATION FRAMEWORK
Number and types of investments undertaken in the region:
FOOD SECURITY:
The Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute received grant funding from the Administration for Native Americans Social and Economic Development Strategies to establish year-round access to organic, locally-grown lettuces and greens for six tribes within the Kodiak Archipelago. This project demonstrates a network of Alaskan Native-owned farms that operate year-round to address the region’s need for fresh, locally-grown food. Total funding: $372,353
The Kodiak Food Cooperative received a USDA Local Foods Promotion Program grant to connect local producers with Kodiak’s consumers by expanding operations and establishing an online food hub for producers to connect directly with consumers. The funding also supports the processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage of local and regional food products marketed locally and regionally. Furthermore, it assists producers with developing and implementing food safety plans and achieving food safety certifications. Total funding: $292,940
ENERGY:
Energy Infrastructure: The City of Ouzinkie is the recipient of an approximated $1.3M USDA High Energy Cost grant to replace the aging and failing hydroelectric turbine. The hydroelectric turbine replacement is Phase 3 of a 3-phase project to fully replace the entire hydroelectric systems, which includes a new spillway/dam and penstock. Projections indicate the community should be able to generate a good portion of the needed electricity from their hydroelectric resource for many years to come. Stabilizing and reducing the cost of electricity is a primary objective for the community. Construction for this project is expected to conclude in the Summer of 2024.
Additional quantity and type of investment in the Energy Economic Cluster will be determined based on each village community’s implementation of identified priorities.
Number of jobs retained in the region:
Job retention in the Kodiak Region, specifically in the village communities, is primarily related to the food security economic cluster. There were seven jobs retained through the continuation of the Administration for Native Americans Social and Economic Development Strategies grant to create a self-sustaining agricultural business owned by the tribes in four village communities and two within the city of Kodiak
Number of jobs created after implementation of CEDS:
Jobs created directly with the success of three CEDS goals: 4 FTEs and 30 seasonal fishing jobs.
- Internet Connectivity: 1 FTE for central planning organization as well as project planning and implementation
- Fisheries: 10 seasonal fishing jobs in three communities
- Food Security: 3 FTE between village farms and the Kodiak Food Cooperative
- Additional: As Goals and Objectives are formalized in future CEDS updates, more jobs created will be documented.
Amount of private sector investment, after implementation of the CEDS, and changes in the economic environment of the region:
Food Security
The Kodiak Food Cooperative has achieved 620 members at an investment of $150 each, for a total to date of $93,000.
Fisheries/Maritime
Private sector will be required by the fishing industry to support full utilization of fishing quota in Ouzinkie, Old Harbor, and Port Lions should the quota acquisition objective be completed. The goal of retaining fisheries shares locally, anchored to a community, will improve the local economic conditions of the region.
Energy
Goals to reduce the cost of electricity for village residents will improve economic conditions of individual consumers and could encourage private investment in entrepreneurial ventures that would otherwise be cost prohibitive with high cost electricity.
