Klawock Cooperative Association Receives a Big Grant from the Department of Health and Human Services

Klawock, AK, October 10, 2018 - The Klawock Cooperative Association (KCA) recently received funding from Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Native Americans, Social and Economic Development Strategies (ANA-SEDS). The funding will support planning to complete a comprehensive “Community Development Action Plan” that is collaboratively developed by key community partner organizations and youth. The planning will include practical steps for addressing prioritized community needs and for building on identified community strengths.

The goal of the project is to develop a Comprehensive Action Plan through a process of community engagement. KCA began seeking partners by hosting a meeting in July 2016. Key community stakeholders include SEARHC, City of Klawock, Klawock City School District, Klawock Heenya, Prince of Wales Vocational and Technical Education Board of Directors, Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood, and Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority. The 2016 meeting resulted in stakeholders encouraging KCA to apply for ANA community development funds.

The community of Klawock will acquire current and relevant data, including youth input, compiled in a “Community Needs Assessment Summary” that identifies unmet needs and opportunities for the community. Base-line data will be collected in the key areas of housing, behavioral and physical health, education and vocational training, land use, economic stability and development, Tlingit language and cultural programs, youth-related issues, and drug and alcohol abuse. To support this work KCA has secured $166,347 in funding with $133,027 from ANA and $33,320 in contributions from project partners. Project partners will begin working with KCA in planning efforts within the next year.

Planning will result in increased self-sufficiency and well-being of community members by creating and implementing a comprehensive and coordinated Community Development Action Plan that addresses prioritized community needs.

“The commitment to long term solutions for leadership, planning, and development is a challenge for small communities. The infusion of resources by ANA-SEDS will enable our community to provide tools for stakeholders to engage in a grassroots process to develop an action plan,” said Lawrence Armour, KCA Tribal Administrator.

With the increased need for safe housing and economic stability, Klawock will have the resources for solutions. “At KCA we recognize the importance of input by our entire community and key stakeholders to create opportunities for tribal members. By our community working together we will identify our highest priorities to establish our plan of action for the future. The resulting Action Plan will provide direction in developing programs to address the priority issues and establish a vibrant Tribal community that attracts and retains Tribal citizens,” said Armour.

ANA promotes social and economic self-sufficiency in communities through SEDS grants. These competitive financial assistance grants support locally determined projects designed to reduce or eliminate community problems and achieve community goals.

This approach to promoting self-sufficiency encourages communities to shift away from programs that result in dependency on services and move toward projects that increase community and individual productivity through community development. SEDS grants fund social and economic development projects in on- and off-reservation native communities and provide federal support for self-determination and self-governance among Native American people.

Contacts:

Lawrence Armour, Klawock Cooperative Association Tribal Administrator 907-755-2265

Joanne Wiita Gamble, Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority 907-780-3130