Denali Commission Grant Applications

As described in the January 2022 Policy Session, staff continues to work a multi-prong approach to easing housing issues. In addition to regulatory approaches as described above, staff is also pursuing development of roads in existing subdivisions and the creation of a potential new subdivision.

In furtherance of road development, the Public Works Director has submitted a Denali Commission transportation grant application for $1,250,000, or half the total project cost. The project would consist of completing the design, currently standing at 65% by Stragier Engineering from 1984; acquisition of all environmental permitting; bid preparation; bidding assistance; road construction, including clearing and grubbing, overburden excavation and stockpile or removal, solid rock excavation, drainage structure installation, imported roadway base rock and D-1 subgrade and finished surfacing, embankment rock sloping, and guardrails throughout; and construction administration and inspection throughout. The total project cost is $2,538,419. The Denali grant, if awarded, would require a 50% match. Matching costs for the $1,250,000 project cost are proposed to be drawn from a U.S. Department of Transportation Rural Surface Transportation Planning Grant and other sources.

Staff submitted a second application under the housing program for $100,000 for a Strategic Housing Market Analysis and Affordable Development Project. The project will use and expand on the data from the Comprehensive Housing Assessment Project (CHAP) to more specifically identify affordable housing needs; identify partnerships and funding sources; and create an implementation plan to develop a subdivision consisting of single-family starter homes, duplexes, townhomes, and other higher density units.