NSEDC - Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation
05/21/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/21/2026 18:30
NSEDC Announces Over $1.1 Million in Grant Funding for Member Communities
Awards include new Outside Entity Funding, extensions of existing grants and emergency funds
At the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation's (NSEDC) first quarter meeting held on May 5&6, the Board of Directors approved a number of community grants through its Outside Entity Fund (OEF) Grant Program.
Each year, the NSEDC Board of Directors allocates funds to be divided equally among each of NSEDC's 15 member communities to be potentially utilized by municipalities, tribes, schools, and nonprofit entities throughout the region. For 2026, each community was allocated $60,000. Qualified organizations may develop and submit an application for a grant to address needs in their communities, which is then reviewed by a Community Review Committee in each community, comprised of the local NSEDC board member and other community residents. The committee develops funding recommendations for the NSEDC Board to consider at their first quarter meeting. An important component of the OEF program is that any grant funds that are not utilized in a given year roll forward to subsequent years, allowing for the pool of available funds to grow.
In total, the NSEDC Board approved $918,179 in new grants through its OEF program for 2026, along with extending previously-approved grants totaling $219,404.
New grants approved in 2026 include:
| Community | Entity | Program or Project |
Award Amount |
| Brevig Mission | Brevig Mission School | Healthy Hearts, Hands & Habits | $73,987 |
| Elim | Covenant Church | Covenant Bible Camp Youth Scholarships | $37,125 |
| Gambell | Water & Sewer Utility | Excavator Purchase | $60,000 |
| Golovin | Chinik Eskimo Community | Skidsteer and Attachments Purchase | $213,235 |
| Chinik Eskimo Community | Search & Rescue Program | $178,130 | |
| Koyuk | Covenant Church | Covenant Bible Camp Youth Scholarships | $23,625 |
| Nome | Nome Kennel Club | Trail Staking and Nome-Golovin Sled Dog Race Support | $10,000 |
| Tigaraha Pet Resources | Spay/Neuter Assistance Program | $2,858 | |
| Northstar Swim Team | Swim Team Support | $20,000 | |
| Nome Community Center | Boys and Girls Club Operations | $20,000 | |
| Covenant Church | Checkpoint Youth Center Revitalization Project | $7,141 | |
| Savoonga | BSSD Hogarth Kingeekuk Sr. Memorial School | Savoonga Athletics | $50,000 |
| Shaktoolik | Covenant Church | Covenant Bible Camp Youth Scholarships | $7,125 |
| Stebbins | Anna House Youth Center, Inc. | Phase 1: Obtain Building and Equipment | $60,000 |
| Unalakleet | Native Village of Unalakleet | Boiler and Maintenance Repair | $60,000 |
| Wales | Kingikmiut School | Hydration Stations | $10,217 |
| Kingikmiut School | Student Transportation | $21,149 | |
| White Mountain | Native Village of White Mountain | Elders Lunch Program | $50,087 |
| Covenant Church | Covenant Bible Camp Youth Scholarships | $13,500 |
Additionally, the NSEDC Board approved grant extensions of previously approved projects in Golovin, Elim, and Shaktoolik to allow time for project completion.
Distinct from the OEF grant awards was the approval of an Emergency Water & Sewer Fund application from the City of Shaktoolik to address a critical failure in its water and sewer infrastructure caused by a widespread freeze up. Through the Water & Sewer Fund, each of NSEDC's 15 member communities have been allocated $1 million to address water and sewer infrastructure needs, a portion of which can be accessed quickly for emergency purposes. The City of Shaktoolik was awarded up to $255,567 to restore water and sewer utilities to the community.
NSEDC - Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation published this content on May 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 22, 2026 at 00:30 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]