Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy

JUNEAU, Alaska, March 31, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced 25 projects totaling nearly $9 million of investments that are to be funded through the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS). Work continues with southeast Alaska partners on additional projects to meet the strategy’s initial $25 million commitment.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is permanently chartering a regional OneUSDA team to continue this collaborative approach to achieving social, economic, ecological, and cultural sustainability in Southeast Alaska. 

Leaders from USDA’s Natural Resources and Environment, Rural Development, and Natural Resources Conservation Service are visiting southeast Alaska this week and meeting with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, regional and local partners, including recipients of the initial funding. This visit reinforces USDA’s commitment to locally driven collaborative work towards shared outcomes in southeast Alaska communities.

“Listening to the importance of the sustainability strategy to local communities, learning about southeast Alaska culture, and meeting Tribal members and partners is an honor for me,” said Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Dr. Homer Wilkes. “I am pleased to have been able to highlight some of the first projects to receive funding, and I will be watching as the rest of the investments move forward in a demonstration of the difference we can make as a collaborative team working toward a common goal.” 

The projects announced today have been allocated in the categories below:

• Tribal and Indigenous Interests – total commitment of $12.5 million, which includes about $2.3 million for the six projects announced today.

• Community Capacity – total commitment of $3.125 million, which includes about $1.7 million for five projects announced today.

• Infrastructure – total commitment of $3.125 million, which includes about $1.5 million for five projects announced today.

• Natural Resources – total commitment of $6.25 million, which includes about $3 million for nine projects announced today.

The OneUSDA team is continuing to work with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, and other partners to distribute all funds in 2022. 

“These investments speak to the opportunities for partnership—this isn’t the first time USDA has invested in southeast Alaska, and it won’t be the last,” Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small said. “The people who live and work here have inspiring visions for the future, and USDA will continue to support them with investments that promote long-term economic sustainability and honor their values, communities and cultures.” 

“For years Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) has worked with private landowners in southeast Alaska to enhance the health and vigor of private forestlands and improve fish and wildlife habitat,” said NRCS Alaska State Conservationist Alan D. McBee. “This exciting new partnership will allow us to bring even more conservation benefits to southeast communities that address food security and local agricultural production.”

The Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy is USDA’s approach to support economic, cultural, and natural resources sustainability in the region. Southeast Alaska’s culture, people, and economy are interwoven with the Tongass National Forest. The strategy prioritizes USDA resources and capacity to better serve the broader economy of Southeast Alaska. We look to be part of an inclusive, responsive approach that complements existing efforts toward practical, common-sense solutions. Our initial Economic Investment effort will commit up to $25 million in federal funding based on local priorities for short-term, project-based investments.

The Alaska-based, USDA intra-agency team is co-led by Rural Development, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Forest Service. This team is locally based and will continue to consult with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations and to engage with partners and municipal governments to continue to identify priorities and practical opportunities for investments of financial and technical assistance.

USDA is focused on maximizing its collective resources to provide the highest level of support and service to Southeast Alaska. Overall outcomes anticipated include stronger relationships with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, and municipal governments; inclusive, diverse engagements that represent the people, communities, and cultures of Southeast Alaska; an understanding of administrative barriers that continue to impact funding distribution and may include changes to policies, laws, and regulations; and be able to use input gained from engagements to determine short- and long-term investments for the region.

In addition to the Economic Investment component, the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy also involves ending large-scale, old-growth timber harvest and focusing resources to support forest restoration, recreation, climate resilience, and sustainable young-growth management. It also includes a proposal to restore the 2001 Roadless Rule protections on the Tongass and to engage in meaningful consultations with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations.

The commitment identifies short investments that reflect diverse investment opportunities and needs in the Southeast Region. The initial $25 million investment will be divided into four broad categories:

•  Tribal and Indigenous Interests - $12.5 million (50%)
  • Art and Culture
  • Food Security and Sovereignty
  • Shared Stewardship
  • Traditional Technical Knowledge and Cultural Use of Forest Products
  • Workforce Development Projects

• Natural Resources - $6.25 million (25%)
  • Agriculture
  • Mariculture
  • Restoration
  • Young Growth Forest Management

• Infrastructure - $3.125 million (12.5%)
  • Recreation Sites
  • Renewable energy
  • Waste management projects

• Community Capacity - $3.125 million (12.5%)
  • Tourism and Business Development
  • Tribal and Community Youth Engagement
  • Community Workforce Development

USDA’s initial commitment of $25 million to support investment efforts is a positive, near-term commitment in the region’s long-term potential to support a diverse economy, conserve natural resources, and improve community resiliency.

The OneUSDA team employed a four-step assessment process to inform its recommendation for the initial investment of $25 million. The Team first used coarse filters to assess investment readiness, and then used an expanded review team to conduct a qualitative assessment. Each idea or proposal was read by multiple reviewers. This qualitative assessment included review of the following elements:

• Inclusion of a strong set of partners.
• Representation of a priority economic sector.
• Addresses critical community capacity needs and/or increases capacity.
• Meets USDA commitment to ecological, economic, and cultural sustainability.
• Addresses historic and/or structural decisions that previously contributed to inequitable access to USDA programs.

The depth of interest, and diversity of communities and partners that submitted investment ideas, indicates that USDA is well-positioned to support economic, cultural, and ecological resiliency in Southeast Alaska for the long-term. Federal funding from recent and proposed legislation, like the Great America Outdoors Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, and other agency appropriations, can likely fund many of the investment ideas that were not quite ready for short-term support.

The USDA intra-agency team continues to engage with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, municipal governments, local partners and communities, and the public to support economic development planning and implementation efforts. USDA plans to leverage its resources to support these efforts including programs to strengthen small businesses, broadband, renewable energy production, local foods and agriculture production, water and sewer infrastructure, healthcare, housing, outdoor tourism, silviculture support and others as appropriate. Our long-term strategy will include establishing an interagency lead for the Sustainability Strategy, establishing a team charter for the Alaska-based OneUSDA team, and empowering shared leadership within the region by aligning programs with locally developed strategies such as the Blueprint for Southeast Alaska, the Visitor Products Cluster Working Group, the 2025 Economic Development Plan, and the All Landowners Working Group, among others.

A USDA intra-agency team consulted with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations, and engaged with municipal governments, local partners and communities, and the public to support an integrated approach to economic development planning and implementation. USDA will leverage its resources to support these efforts including programs to strengthen small businesses, broadband, renewable energy production, local foods and agriculture production, water and sewer infrastructure, healthcare, housing, outdoor tourism, silviculture support and others as appropriate.

The intra-agency team collected diverse public input to inform opportunities for priority investments and in reducing administrative barriers that support a diverse economy, enhance community resilience, and conserve natural resources. The team used a two-pronged approach to gather public input. It conducted targeted engagement with key partners and provided opportunities for citizens and organizations to participate in shaping the economic investment component of the strategy.

The intra-agency team reached out to schedule tribal consultations and sessions to engage and inform participants about the strategy and engage in discussions about opportunities for economic investments. Discussions also focused on identifying administrative barriers to federal funding. Meanwhile, broad public engagement, in the form of a 30-day public outreach period, was held in mid-September through mid-October with several of platforms offered for additional engagement. This included virtual Open Houses, an online feedback tool, an information-filled website, and a dedicated email address for submitting input, letters, and/or existing plans or specific investment proposals.