State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Alaska DOT&PF Post Award Conferences – Economic Opportunities for Rural Alaska October 22, 2007 State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Some Facts about Transportation and Rural Alaska •DOT&PF transportation program is truly multi-modal, utilizing highways, airports, and vessel ferries to provide transportation to Alaskans •Funding for village roads is available through an exemption for Alaska – other states cannot use FHWA funds on local roads unless it is part of the National Highway System •Approximately 1/3 of Alaskan communities are accessible by road or highway, so airports and ferry access is critical to prove rural Alaskans with access benefits enjoyed by urban Alaskans •Alaska DOT&PF owns and maintains approximately 258 airports ranging from international airports to small village airports – Alaska DOT&PF has the greatest number of airports of any single FAA recipient State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office DOT&PF’s Approach to Resolving Some of the Economic Inequities Faced in Rural Alaska •Administrative Order 199 signed by Governor Knowles directed DOT&PF to conduct “Post Award” meetings to coordinate efforts for Native employment between the Contractor, the Tribe and DOT&PF. DOT&PF developed a consultation policy & procedure for government to government relations with Alaska Tribes; •Working with the Tribal Non-profit Service provider, identified individuals interested in heavy civil construction employment and utilizing a combination of training funds sent the individuals in for training as commercial truck drivers or heavy equipment operators •Working with private businesses, village and tribal governments, identify economic opportunities related to construction project needs State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office What is a Post Award Conference? •It is a contractually required meeting that a DOT&PF contractor must attend before the project can begin to discuss with the community •How the project will be built •What jobs are available •How to apply for a job •What other economic opportunities are available State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Post Award Conferences on ADOT&PF Northern Region Projects 2004 -2007 • Galena Airport • Koyokuk Airport • Tetlin Airport • Kotzebue Airport • Tanana Airport • Anvik Airport • Eureka-Rampart Road • Unalakleet Airport • Tok Cutoff EQ Perm. Repairs (Chistochina & Mentasta) State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Post Award Conferences on ADOT&PF Northern Region Projects 2004 -2007 (continued) • Minto Airport • Mountain Village • NRRST-Lake Louise Road • Pitka’s Point Road • Grayling Bridge • Anaktuvuk Pass Landfill Road • Cordova – Whitshed Road • Styevens Village Airport State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Post Award Conferences on ADOT&PF Central Region Projects 2004 - 2007 • New Stuyahok Airport (2 projects) • Chevak Airport • King Salmon Airport • Kokhanok Airport • Bethel (3 projects roads and airport) • Manokotak Airport • Perryville Airport • Cold Bay Airport • Tuntutuliak Airport • Nunapitchuk Airport • St. George Airport • Iliamna Airport and Roads State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Results of PACs Hosted •Better local understand of how to get a job with a contractor on a DOT&PF project and other economic opportunities available with the contractor •Typical employment opportunities are truck driving, laborers, heavy equipment operators, flaggers, administrative and camp support staff •Average local employment ranging from 30% to 90% •Contracting opportunities have included •Buying fuel and water from village cooperative •Purchasing gravel from local village corporation or tribal government •Contracting for housing for core staff of contractor and project DOT&PF staff State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Alaska DOT&PF’s Philosophy •Be a positive force for change and to think creatively about how to utilize economic opportunities presented by a DOT&PF project; and •Work with tribal governments, Contractors and Unions to effect change in a system that has not worked well for rural Alaska. State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office Contact information: State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Civil Rights Office 2200 East 42nd Avenue PO Box 196900 Anchorage, AK 99519-6900 telephone (907) 269-0851 fax (907) 269-0847.