NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH square miles of land (size of ) 39,000 and water 7,791 Northwest Arctic Borough population (2018) Kivalina Noatak

Ambler Kotzebue Kiana Shungnak Kobuk Noorvik

Selawik

61% Deering Estimated higher Buckland cost of living in ’s second Kotzebue compared # largest borough to Anchorage, Alaska 2 2,928 36% 11 average # of jobs Annual average government Northwest Arctic Borough (2018) sector employment communities 84% 97% Alaska Native/ Alaska Native American Indian population who is population Iñupiaq

# Largest and lead producer in the U.S. 5 1 (Red Dog Mine) National parks/monuments and preserves Annual average 26% sector employment 59,000 National parks/monuments and preserves annual people employed recreational visits 750 in mining sector

miles: length of proposed deep-water Ambler Mining District 0 port facilities 211 Industrial Access Road STRATEGIC LANDOWNERSHIP TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATIONS ARCTIC LOCATION The federal government Air passenger and cargo Kotzebue is connected to Much of the Northwest owns significant land in the services are available daily Alaska and global commerce Arctic Borough (NAB) is NAB, including the National from Anchorage and outlying centers through Quintilllion located north of the Arctic Parks Service (with five communities. Barge services fiber-optic cable connectivity Circle, along the Chukchi national parks, preserves, deliver fuel and cargo along and GCI’s broadband TERRA Sea coast. Kotzebue, on the and monuments), Bureau of the major river systems from network. coast of Kotzebue Sound, Land Management, and the Kotzebue. NAB’s communities serves as the regional U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. are unconnected by a unified WORKFORCE population, transportation, Under the terms of the Alaska road system, leading to DEVELOPMENT and commercial hub. NAB Native Claims Settlement continued efforts to reduce is strategically positioned Act, NANA owns more than transportation costs. Kotzebue is home to the as the U.S. Department of 2 million acres, most of it The DeLong Mountain Alaska Technical Center Defense and U.S. Department located around the region’s 11 Transportation System, (ATC) and the University of of Homeland Security seek villages. Kikiktagruk Iñupiat owned by the Alaska Industrial Alaska Chukchi Campus. an expanded presence in the Corporation (Kotzebue) owns Development and Export ATC, an adult training center, Arctic. 161,000 acres of surface Authority (AIDEA), supports provides vocational training acreage. State lands are Red Dog Mine. The system such as certified nurse’s CLIMATE CHANGE primarily located in the upper includes an industrial haul road aide, construction trades Kobuk, Kivalina, and Seward from the mine to the port, a technology, and process Impacts of a warmer climate Peninsula areas and contain shallow water dock, and an technology. It also offers short include coastal erosion, high mineral potential. NAB offshore conveyor system. certification courses including permafrost melt, and sea owns 285,000 acres. A 211-mile private road to be commercial driver’s licenses ice retreat, are negatively owned by AIDEA is proposed, and water plant operators. affecting NAB’s infrastructure linking the Ambler Mining Chukchi Campus provides and maintenance costs. District to the Dalton Highway. distance education courses In extreme cases, such Lack of deep-water port offered through the University as the community of facilities means deep-draft of Alaska. Kivalina, climate change has vessels carrying goods and necessitated moving virtually fuel must lighter their loads all community assets to a new into Kotzebue from 12-15 location. Adverse impacts to miles offshore. The U.S. the region’s economy from Army Corps of Engineers the effects of climate change completed a harbor feasibility on subsistence resources study for the Cape Blossom are also a major concern. deep-water port project Receding sea ice also presents and recommended a 10- new business opportunities as mile road connecting Cape marine traffic increases and Blossom to Kotzebue along access to offshore resource with significant uplands development improves. development. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

TOURISM MINERAL ENERGY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FISHING The borough’s terrain varies The Northwest Arctic dramatically with mountains, The borough has only one Regional Energy Plan outlines A small salmon commercial giant sand dunes, tundra, operating mine, Red Dog proactive measures to fishery currently exists in and boreal forests. Major Mine, an open-pit zinc, lead, develop alternative energy the region and has potential waterways include the Kobuk, and mine located resources to decrease reliance for expansion, including Noatak, Kivalina, Selawik, approximately 90 miles on costly diesel fuel. Proposed development of a small- and Ambler rivers. Along northeast of Kotzebue on projects include wind scale processing facility in with beautiful vistas and rich land owned by NANA Regional generation studies in several Kotzebue. cultural assets, sport fishing Corporation and operated by communities, hydroelectric Federal waters in the and hunting opportunities are Teck Alaska. In operation since and biomass projects, and region are currently closed abundant. 1982, it is both the largest increased bulk diesel fuel to commercial fishing. This The U.S. National Park zinc and lead concentrate pool purchasing, as well as closure could be lifted at a Service manages the producer in the U.S. upgrades to high energy users future date. Additionally, the Bering Land Bridge National Teck American, Inc. has like water and sewer systems, community development Preserve, Cape Krusenstern been evaluating development and efforts to reduce quota (CDQ) program, National Monument, Gates opportunities on adjacent residential fuel currently limited to areas of the Arctic National Park underground prospects, consumption. of Western Alaska south and Preserve, Kobuk Valley Aktigiruq and of Kotzebue, is seen as National Park, and the Noatak Anarraaq, successful and a major National Preserve. located on contributor of community Kotzebue has several of the state land development funds in infrastructure assets needed 7 miles member communities. to support a visitor industry, northwest of Kotzebue could play a key role including daily jet service Red Dog. in any newly-formed Arctic from Anchorage and modern Current CDQ entity, if established. hotel accommodations. exploration in this Local features include the region is underway Northwest Arctic Heritage in other promising Center, a museum and visitor mineralized areas, center operated by the US including copper, and the zinc, lead, gold, Suilianich Art Center, where silver, and local Alaska Native artists cobalt in the work and regional art can be Ambler purchased. Several events Mining throughout the year, including District. dog sled and snowmachine races, attract regional residents and visitors. NAB’S DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS CONTACT US

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NORTHWEST ARCTIC LEADERSHIP TEAM (NWALT) is a Northwest Arctic Borough COMMISSION OF NORTHWEST partnership among Maniilaq Association, NANA Regional P.O. Box 1110 ARCTIC (EDC) includes Corporation, the Northwest Arctic Borough, and the Northwest Kotzebue, AK 99752 commissioners representing Arctic Borough School District to maximize resources and the NAB, NANA Regional reduce duplication of efforts to address issues affecting the 907.442.2500 Corporation, Teck Alaska, people of Northwest Alaska while honoring and perpetuating www.nwabor.org utilities, financial or the Iñupiat cultural heritage. professional business, Economic Development higher education, and Maniilaq Association is Northwest Arctic Borough Commission of Northwest tribal organizations. EDC a nonprofit corporation School District (NWABSD) Alaska and NAB Economic reviews all aspects of providing health, social, and provides Kindergarten Development Department economic development tribal services to the residents to Grade 12 education 907.442.8219 and taxation that come of NAB and Point Hope. to children living in the www.nwabor.org/ before the NAB assembly Northwest Arctic Borough, by departments/economic- and planning commission; NANA Regional Corporation, supporting both Iñupiat and development/ identifies and promotes Inc. is a regional Alaska Western standards of success services to encourage Native Corporation created in classrooms. NAB Planning Department economic development pursuant to the Alaska Native to local communities and Claims Settlement Act. Northwest Arctic Energy 907.442.8209 businesses; and coordinates NANA’s mission is to provide Steering Committee www.nwabor.org/ implementation of economic economic opportunities for makes sure all departments/planning/ development activities its more than 13,000 Iñupiaq stakeholders participated between all levels of shareholders and to protect in the development and governments, businesses, and and enhance NANA lands. implementation of the NAB’s residents. Regional Energy Plan. Northwest Arctic Borough is a home rule borough. NAB’s Village Improvement mission is to improve the Commission is the advisory quality of life for all residents. body of community residents Product and service delivery to provide oversight of the is accomplished through Village Improvement Fund Supported and funded by the three main departments of (VIF). The VIF is targeted Northwest Arctic Borough, Planning, Public Services, and at critical infrastructure, Economic Development Administration, and NANA Economic Development. The services, and programs for all Regional Corporation. NAB planning department communities in the NAB. must approve all development requests.

NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH P.O. Box 1110 Kotzebue, AK 99752 907.442.2500 www.nwabor.org