Tongass National Forest

Economic Recovery Grant Program

Overview

The Economic Recovery Program provides grants generally ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 for projects that help communities organize and develop community action plans, and projects that will help diversify local economies and develop or enhance forest and natural resource based industries. Eligible projects include the transfer of new technology to assist businesses and communities in economic development and diversification efforts, completion of market or feasibility studies, organizing natural resource based business cooperatives, development of tourism marketing programs to benefit multiple communities, support for community development staff to perform specific activities identified in a community action plan, development of heritage based tourism, natural resource based art and crafts industries, and filling gaps that other programs can not fill.

Introduction: Grants are available on a competitive basis. Although there is no upper or lower limit, most grants awarded are in the $5,000-$30,000 range.

Eligibility: Only communities, organizations and tribes which are certified as eligible under the criteria in Subtitle G of the 1990 Farm Bill will be considered. This includes communities, tribal governments, counties, municipalities, and not-for-profits with an economic development mission in areas dependent on forests and natural resources that meet the following:

• Community must be located within 100 miles of the official boundary of a National Forest.
• Population is 10,000 people or less, or county population is less than 22,550.
• At least 15% of the total primary and secondary labor and proprietor income is derived from wood products and forest-related industries such as recreation and tourism.
• Community is economically disadvantaged as a result of Federal or private sector land management practices.

Eligible Projects: Proposals must be directly linked to an approved community action plan, and address natural resource-based opportunities or enterprises. Eligible projects include development of a community action plan and measures to assess community progress in achieving objectives identified in the plan, support for community development staff to perform specific activities identified in a community action plan, transfer of new technology to assist businesses and communities in economic development and diversification efforts, completion of market or feasibility studies, organizing natural resource based business cooperatives, development of heritage based tourism opportunities, natural resource based art and crafts industries, tourism marketing programs to benefit multiple communities, and filling gaps that other programs can not fill.

Proposal Process: Project proponents should work with local Forest Service Rural Development Coordinators in development of proposal applications. These proposals are due to the Forest Supervisor's Office in Petersburg, Alaska, by May 7, 2004. An evaluation team will review the projects, and communities will be notified of project selections for funding by May 25, 2004. Send proposals to: Tongass National Forest, Attn: George Doyle, P.O. Box 309, Petersburg, Alaska 99833-0309.

Funding: Chapter 2 - National Forest Dependent Rural Communities, Sec. 2376. Action Plan Implementation (c) Limitation, states that "The Federal contribution to the overall implementation of an action plan shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the plan, including administrative and other costs. In calculating the Federal contribution, the Secretary shall take into account the fair market value of equipment, personnel, and services provided by the Forest Service and other Federal agencies. The direct Federal dollars are reimbursement for dollars spent.

For further information, contact the Tongass Rural Community Assistance Coordinators

Rural Community Assistance Coordinators