The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved an ordinance at their last regular meeting on Dec. 2, accepting and appropriating state funding received for projects to be completed under the 2025/2026 Community Assistance Program.

Each year, the Alaska State Legislature provides funding to municipalities and unincorporated communities through the state Community Assistance Program. Ordinance 2025-19-19 accepts $426,303 on the behalf of 27 unincorporated communities within the borough.

The funds will be distributed evenly among the communities, to nonprofit or tribal organizations that have agreed to be the fiduciary. According to a Nov. 6 memo from borough Grants Administrator and Community Liaison Heather Geer to the KPB Assembly, 24 of the 27 eligible communities have completed the requirements to receive their funding allocation. Geer will continue to work with Nanwalek, Razdolna and Ridgeway to identify eligible entities and public projects to receive their respective community’s funding allocation by June 30, 2026.

Each eligible community is slated to receive approximately $15,479. When Geer and borough Special Projects and Constituent Relations coordinator Dana Cannava conducted meetings throughout the borough earlier this fall to discuss communities’ funding and project priorities, they said that communities could choose public projects to receive all or a portion of the available funding, or divide the funding evenly across their selected projects.

Anchor Point chose a number of local nonprofit organizations to receive funding for public projects, including the Anchor Kings Wrestling Club, the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce, the Anchor Point Food Pantry, the Anchor Point Public Library, the Anchor Point Senior Center, the VFW Post 10221 and Snomads. Each organization is slated to receive approximately $2,211.

Bear Creek allocated $5,979 to the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services for response equipment; $3,000 to the Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers for trail repair and maintenance; and $6,500 to the Seward Nordic Ski Club for ski trails maintenance.

Cohoe allocated their full allotment to MUSKEG Wellness for home building workshops with natural supplies. Cooper Landing chose the Cooper Landing Community Club to receive the full award for supporting local community programs and operating costs. Crown Point allocated their full award to the Moose Pass Volunteer Fire Department for general operations.

Diamond Ridge elected to equally fund projects a number of local organizations, including the Homer Cycling Club, Homer Trails Alliance, Kachemak Emergency Services Member Association, Kachemak Nordic Ski Club, Kachemak Ski Club and Snomads. Each organization will receive approximately $2,579 for their selected projects.

Fox River also selected the Homer Cycling Club, Kachemak Nordic Ski Club and Snomads to receive about $5,159 each for projects, namely maintenance and repairs. Fritz Creek also allocated funding to the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club, as well as the Kachemak Emergency Services Member Association and McNeil Canyon Elementary School Community Council, Inc., for trail maintenance and repairs, response equipment and McNeil Canyon trails enhancement, respectively.

The Funny River Community Association received funding for operations, and Hope Inc. received funding for Hope Sunrise community services. Kachemak Selo allocated their full award for village street lights and road repairs.

Kalifornsky Beach divided their award equally among nonprofits including the Bridges/Kenai Local Food Connection; Kenai Peninsula Animal Lovers Rescue; Kenai Peninsula Food Bank; Love, INC; Pathways Re-entry Center; Peninsula Spay and Neuter Fund; and Tsalteshi Trails for various needs including general operations, nutritional services and holiday meals, voucher programs and trails management.

Kasilof divided their award between Back Country Horsemen of Alaska for trails maintenance; the Kasilof Cohoe Cemetery Association for maintenance of Spruce Grove Cemetery; and the Kasilof Regional Historical Associations for museum operations.

The Lowell Point Community Council accepted their full award to support community services and their local fire department. Moose Pass accepted their award on behalf of their chamber of commerce to support community service programs and chamber services.

Nikiski allocated funding to Get Thrifty for building repair and maintenance; to Love, INC for general operations; to the Nikiski Community Council and Nikiski Senior Center each for community services; to North Road Pioneers for a preservation project and general operations; and to the North Star United Methodist Church to support their food pantry.

Nikolaevsk allocated their full award to their community council to fund water facility operations. Port Graham and Seldovia Village will use their awards for emergency preparedness and emergency response training and, for Seldovia, for the purchase of a surplus fire engine.

Ninilchik allocated funding to the Bridges/Saturday Lunch Program to support weekend meals for students; the Ninilchik Library for general operations; the Ninilchik Senior Center for a flooring replacement project; and the Kenai Peninsula Fair Association for facility repairs.

Sterling divided their award between the Sterling Area Seniors Center and the Sterling Community Center for general operations. Primrose funded operating expenses and medical supplies for the Moose Pass Volunteer Fire Department. Tyonek funded youth services and general operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Alaska. Voznesenka selected their community council to receive funding for the Stroyka building completion and beautification.

Find Ordinance 2025-19-19 in full at kpb.legistar.com.