Press Release - EDA Official Announcement

October 27, 2026

EDA OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES $43.1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN WRANGELL'S ECONOMIC REVIVAL

Coalition, community engagement, and years of planning bring Wrangell closer to a transformational investment in its future

WRANGELL, Alaska - The City and Borough of Wrangell is celebrating a historic milestone following the U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) official announcement of $43.1 million in Disaster Supplemental funding for the Wrangell Industry Transformation Coalition.

The investment will advance Wrangell's Economic Revival: Anchoring the Future, Empowering the Region, a coordinated strategy to strengthen critical infrastructure, support new industry, and create lasting opportunities for Wrangell and Southeast Alaska. The funding represents the largest federal economic development investment in Borough history.

The funding will support three connected projects:

• Deep Water Port Development at Six-Mile ($31,244,148): Prepare the former mill property for maritime industry, freight, and supporting businesses.
• Downtown Waterfront Expansion and City Dock Modifications($10,300,332): Improve marine infrastructure and support a waterfront that serves residents, visitors, and local businesses.
• Reservoir Water Flume Replacement ($1,602,246): Strengthen the reliability of the community's water supply for residents, businesses, and future development.

Together, the projects represent more than $53 million in total projected expenses and are designed to create the infrastructure needed for private investment, economic diversification, and long-term resilience.

A community effort

Reaching this milestone has required hundreds of hours of work by Borough staff and consultants, as well as extensive coordination with engineers, businesses, public agencies, community organizations, and residents. The Wrangell Industry Transformation Coalition brought together more than 50 members to help shape the strategy, identify opportunities and challenges, and connect infrastructure investments with workforce and community needs.

Coalition members participated in meetings, worked with project staff and engineers, explored workforce solutions, and committed to continued engagement with the broader community. Their knowledge and participation helped ensure that the proposed projects reflect both local priorities and the needs of the industries they are designed to support.

The Borough's engagement efforts included two town halls, three coalition meetings, two community presentations, two public engagement surveys, and presentations to students. These discussions provided opportunities to share information, answer questions, and gather input as the projects and funding proposal took shape.

Wrangell's students were part of that conversation from the beginning. Through classroom presentations, they learned about the proposed projects and their potential to shape the community's future. Students also had the opportunity to participate directly by submitting letters in support of the proposal.

"This is an extraordinary moment for Wrangell, and it belongs to the entire community. Our students will be among those who live with the results of the decisions we make today. It was important to us that they had an opportunity to learn about these projects, share their perspectives, and be part of shaping a promising future for Wrangell," said Borough Manager Mason Villarma.

Building on years of work

The EDA announcement is the result of sustained work that began well before the funding application. Earlier planning efforts, technical assistance grants, infrastructure studies, community conversations, advocacy, and relationship-building helped establish the foundation for the proposal.

The Borough extends its sincere appreciation to the staff members who have dedicated countless hours to these efforts over many years. Their work, alongside the contributions of elected officials, consultants, coalition members, and community partners, positioned Wrangell to pursue this opportunity when it became available.

The Borough also thanks Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Representative Nick Begich, along with their staffs, for their continued advocacy and support. Wrangell is grateful to the U.S. Department of Commerce and EDA for recognizing the potential of this community-led strategy.

Opportunities for Wrangell and the region

The Economic Revival strategy was developed in response to the devastating November 2023 landslide, which claimed six lives and exposed vulnerabilities in the community's infrastructure and economy. The coordinated projects are designed to support recovery while creating a more diversified and resilient economy.

The Borough's application projected that construction across the three projects could support approximately 106 full-time equivalent annual jobs over the first three years, with an estimated $20.65 million in wages and $40.69 million in regional economic output. The application's longer-term, mid-range scenario projected approximately 416 new annual jobs across Southeast Alaska in years five through ten, including jobs supported by related economic activity.

A more recent analysis by Rain Coast Data examined the potential impacts of the proposed Wrangell shipyard, a separate private development that could benefit from the public infrastructure at Six-Mile. At full staffing, the analysis estimates that the shipyard could support approximately 500 direct positions and $45 million in annual wages. Including supplier activity and household spending, the analysis estimates approximately 700 jobs supported across Southeast Alaska.

These figures are projections based on different scopes, assumptions, and time periods. The shipyard estimates depend on the proposed development moving forward and achieving and sustaining the modeled level of operations; they should not be added to the earlier portfolio estimates.

"This investment has the potential to open doors for local families, businesses, and future generations. It also reflects a commitment to building a stronger maritime economy for Southeast Alaska. There is more work ahead, but we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped bring Wrangell to this point," Villarma said.

The Borough will continue working with EDA and coalition partners on the award and next steps. Community engagement will remain an important part of the process as project planning and implementation advance.

Read the official EDA announcement: U.S. Department of Commerce Announcement .

For more information, contact:
Office of the Borough Manager
City and Borough of Wrangell
907-874-2381

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