Helping Alaska’s communities build sustainable economies and a means of self-governance.

The Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA) has been an advocate for our state’s communities since its creation in 1959 by constitutional mandate under Article X of the Alaska Constitution. DCRA’s purpose is to provide for maximum local self-government with a minimum of local government units, and to prevent duplication of tax-levying jurisdictions. DCRA was established to advise and assist local governments, review their activities, collects and publishes local government information and perform other duties as prescribed by law.

Local Government Assistance 

The Local Government Assistance provides onsite governmental and technical assistance for cities, boroughs, tribal governments, and non-profit community associations who provide governmental services. Assistance can be provided or arranged on just about any aspect of municipal government. Examples of assistance and training topics or activities provided by DCRA include:

Bulk Fuel Revolving Loan Program

Administration of the Bulk Fuel Revolving Loan Program to assist communities, utilities, and fuel retailers with purchases of bulk fuel to generate power or supply the public with fuel for use in rural communities.

Rural Utility Business Advisor (RUBA)

Provides management assessments and on-site technical assistance of rural water and wastewater utilities.

Training and Publications Development

Develops standardized technical assistance publications materials, classes, and websites on local governmental issues. Once developed these materials are distributed in a variety of methods including through presentation at local, regional and statewide settings.

Local Government Resource Desk

The Resource Desk provides assistance and support to communities in all areas of local governance including but not limited to elections, administration, ordinances, resolutions, codification, boundary changes, planning and land use, and much much more. The desk provides information about several areas of local governance, as well as resources such as sample documents for elections. The Resource Desk is a staffed service and any community member can contact the Desk for hands-on assistance.

The Alaska Partnership for Infrastructure Protection, APIP, works to integrate the private and public sector critical infrastructure owners into the municipal, state, and federal emergency framework, participating in all stages of the disaster cycle, from preparedness and mitigation through to response and recovery. APIP’s purpose is to improve Alaska’s emergency management capabilities through the following:

• Resource identification

• Information sharing and management

• Infrastructure sector characterization to understand and address vulnerabilities, dependencies, and potential single points of failure

• Provide awareness of physical security, cyber security, law enforcement, and anti-terrorism threats

• Strengthen individual business’s response capacity

• Team building and partnering for exercises

• Make recommendations for priorities of protection, support, and recovery of critical infrastructure

• Provide a safe partnership environment for Critical Infrastructure owners/operators to increase resiliency statewide

To accomplish these broad mission areas, APIP will:

• Establish infrastructure maps

• Share infrastructure information with APIP partners, as required

• Foster a planning and response environment for critical infrastructure resource holders

• Develop internal communications procedures

• Conduct various types of exercises and training opportunities