The Skagway Public Library

Wifi is available outside the library 10am-10pm..  

U.S. Passports: Crystal Harris, our Library Assistant, is currently Skagway’s only passport acceptance agent. Applications are accepted by appointment only Tuesday through Friday. day. Please call to schedule. For more more information – 907-983-2665 or email library@skagway.org

Rasmuson Foundation is accepting applications for Tier 1 and Community Support grants, now with increased award sizes. These awards form a central part of Rasmuson Foundation’s grantmaking activities, supporting nonprofit organizations in Alaska with key resources and infusions of capital.

Tier 1 grants

Tier 1 is a core program of the Foundation, known for fast capital and one-time funding. In addition to a 40% increase in the maximum award size, the program now allows organizations to apply up to 15% of an award toward administrative costs. Tier 1 grants will provide up to $35,000 per project and the application period opens Aug. 15. This is a rolling grant program, and applications are accepted throughout the year.

Community Support grants fund capital projects and programmatic projects with broad community impact. The grants are intended for requests between $35,000 and $250,000. Capital requests will be approved quarterly, while non-capital/programmatic requests will be reviewed twice a year. Grants of this size do not require an invitation to apply, and organizations can access the application starting Aug. 15.

The Foundation anticipates awarding 150-175 Tier 1 grants and 10-20 Community Support grants annually. 

Program details, application tips, and frequently asked questions are also available at rasmuson.org. 

Applications for Micro-Grants for Food Security are Now Open. Alaska Div. of Agriculture receives $2.6 million to fund

The grant application period runs from Sept. 27 to Nov. 26, 2024 at 5pm. 

   Applicants must meet eligibility requirements as outlined in the Request for Applications (also on the Micro-Grants for Food Security website). Funding is available in four categories:

Small-Scale Gardening Projects ($2,500)

Small-Scale Livestock, Poultry, Fencing, and Apiary Projects ($5,000)

Food Processing and Storage Projects ($5,000)

Greenhouse Projects ($5,000)

More information on the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program is available through the Division of Agriculture. Applications must be submitted electronically via the SmartSimple application portal (https://akdivag.us-1.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp). Successful grantees will have one year to complete their projects. The Micro-Grants for Food Security website will include the most up-to-date timelines. Applicants who did not receive funding during previous grant cycles may reapply.

NOAA Fisheries proposes a new fee starting in 2025 to support the Recreational Quota Entity Program.

A 30-day public comment period is open now through Dec. 2, 2024 for interested parties to share feedback on a proposed rule to require a charter halibut stamp for all adult charter vessel anglers for each day they intend to retain halibut on a charter vessel in International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Southcentral Alaska). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended this new program for implementation by NOAA Fisheries. Detailed information can be found in the Proposed Rule. 

The proposed fee for the stamp is $20.00 per person per day. If approved, the proposed fee would be implemented in early 2025 for the upcoming season. These funds would be used to help increase the amount of halibut available to charter vessel anglers as described below. 

What would it do?

Funds collected by NOAA Fisheries from halibut stamp fees would be transferred to the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE), a non-profit organization that works on behalf of the charter halibut fishery. The RQE would use the fees to purchase and permanently hold halibut quota shares from the commercial halibut fishery. Each year, the pounds of halibut from the RQE quota would be added to the amount of halibut the charter fishery receives under a catch-sharing allocation with the commercial fishery. This provides a mechanism for compensated reallocation of a portion of commercial halibut quota to the charter fishery, with the goal of less restrictive annual management measures for the charter fishery.

How do I Comment on the Proposed Rule?

Review the proposed rule and provide your comments. Instructions for commenting and additional details here: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-25229.

Comments are due by Dec. 2,