A health clinic renovation project in Kivalina is getting a financial boost.

According to a press release, the Rasmuson Foundation is contributing $150 thousand to the Northwest Arctic Borough’s Maniilaq Association for a $1 million upgrade.

Kivalina’s current clinic was built in 2006 out of two repurposed Conex containers. The expansion will add a trauma room, exam room, and the community’s first dental clinic.

The Northwest Arctic village, of about 500 people, is threatened by climate-related erosion. If the community is forced to relocate to a site on higher ground, the expanded clinic will be able to move with it.

Maniilaq Association dental program manager Augustas Kirkland says the expansion will make a big difference, especially for kids suffering from toothaches and decay.

The Rasmuson Foundation is also contributing $5 million to the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program. ANSEP supports students from middle school through college with a variety of camps and educational programs. The grant will contribute to ANSEP’s efforts to start a residential Acceleration Academy high school in Anchorage.

Image at top: An aerial view of Kivalina, Alaska. File photo via Flickr user Shore Zone, shared via Creative Commons 2.0. Image has been modified from its original version (only to correct exposure and color).