Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation has greenlit more than $1.1 million in grant funding. The non-profit corporation serves as the region’s Community Development Quota manager, and regularly doles out grants and runs financial aid programs for its 15 member communities.
The grants were approved during NSEDC’s first-quarter board meeting in early May. According to a press release from the organization, the board approved $918,179 in new grants through its Outside Entity Fund (OEF) grant program and extended previously approved grants totaling $219,404.
The OEF is an annual grant program that allocates money equally among NSEDC’s member communities. For 2026, each community received an allocation of $60,000, up from $50,000 the year before. Municipalities, tribes, schools and nonprofit organizations may apply for grants to address community needs.
Applications are reviewed by a committee in each community. Those committees include the local NSEDC board member and other community residents, who then make funding recommendations to the NSEDC Board of Directors.
Unused OEF funds can roll forward to future years, allowing communities to build larger funding pools for later projects.
In Nome, five organizations received funding. The Nome Kennel Club was awarded $10,000 for trail staking and support for the Nome-Golovin Sled Dog Race. Tigaraha Pet Resources received $2,858 for its spay and neuter assistance program. Northstar Swim Team was awarded $20,000 for swim team support, and Nome Community Center received $20,000 for Boys and Girls Club operations. Covenant Church received $7,141 for the Checkpoint Youth Center revitalization project.
Other funded projects include $73,987 for Brevig Mission School’s Healthy Hearts, Hands & Habits program and $60,000 for Gambell’s Water and Sewer Utility to purchase an excavator.
In Golovin, Chinik Eskimo Community received two awards: $213,235 for a skid steer and attachments purchase and $178,130 for its search and rescue program. The two grants represent the largest new awards announced through the 2026 OEF program.
Several grants support youth programs and athletics. Covenant Church received funding for Covenant Bible Camp youth scholarships in Elim, Koyuk, Shaktoolik and White Mountain. Bering Strait School District’s Hogarth Kingeekuk Sr. Memorial School in Savoonga received $50,000 for Savoonga athletics.
In Stebbins, Anna House Youth Center Inc. was awarded $60,000 for the first phase of a project to obtain a building and equipment. The Native Village of Unalakleet received $60,000 for boiler and maintenance repairs.
In Wales, Kingikmiut School received two grants: $10,217 for hydration stations and $21,149 for student transportation. The Native Village of White Mountain received $50,087 for an elders lunch program.
NSEDC also approved extensions for previously funded projects in Golovin, Elim and Shaktoolik to allow more time for completion.
Separate from the OEF awards, NSEDC approved an emergency water and sewer funding application from the City of Shaktoolik. The city was awarded up to $255,567 to restore water and sewer utilities after a widespread freeze-up caused a critical failure in the community’s infrastructure.
Through NSEDC’s Water and Sewer Fund, each of the organization’s 15 member communities has been allocated $1 million for water and sewer infrastructure needs. A portion of those funds can be accessed quickly for emergencies.
