USDA grant to allow Alaska Tribes Extension Program to expand

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – The U.S. Division of Agriculture has awarded the College of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service a $730,585 grant for its Alaska Tribes Extension Program as a part of a $71 million funding to assist underserved communities.

UAF affiliate professor Heidi Rader mentioned the Alaska Tribes Extension Program focuses on tribally directed wants and objectives associated to meals sovereignty. That may imply supporting conventional methods of understanding and securing meals, or beginning a backyard, farm, ranch or different actions that support group meals safety, resiliency and financial variety.

COVID-19 and local weather change have harassed necessary conventional sources of meals, which has triggered a better curiosity in rising meals.

 “This funding may be very thrilling and can enable us to supply digital and hands-on workshops to tribes all through Alaska,” Rader mentioned. “We’re dedicated to providing outreach alongside conventional information holders.”

The Rural Alaska Group Motion Program will present technical help in addition to digital workshops. Metlakatla Indian Group will present a hands-on experiential workshop as effectively.

The undertaking goals to serve Alaska’s 115,000 Alaska Natives and 229 tribes.