Helping Alaska’s communities build sustainable economies and effective self-governance

Since its creation in 1959 under Article X of the Alaska Constitution, the Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA) has supported communities across the state. Its mission is to promote maximum local self-government while minimizing unnecessary government units and avoiding duplication of tax-levying jurisdictions. DCRA advises and assists local governments, collects and shares information, and performs other duties as prescribed by law.

Local Government Assistance
DCRA provides hands-on support to cities, boroughs, tribal governments, and nonprofit community associations that deliver governmental services. Assistance can cover nearly any aspect of local governance. Key programs include:

• Bulk Fuel Revolving Loan Program: Helps communities, utilities, and fuel retailers purchase bulk fuel for power generation or public use in rural areas.

• Rural Utility Business Advisor (RUBA): Offers management assessments and on-site technical assistance for rural water and wastewater utilities.

• Training and Publications: Develops and distributes materials, classes, and online resources on local government topics, presented locally, regionally, and statewide.

• Local Government Resource Desk: A staffed service providing guidance on elections, administration, ordinances, resolutions, codification, boundary changes, planning, land use, and more. The desk offers information and sample documents, accessible to any community member needing hands-on support.

The Alaska Partnership for Infrastructure Protection (APIP) works to bring together private and public sector owners of critical infrastructure within Alaska’s municipal, state, and federal emergency management framework. APIP participates in all stages of the disaster cycle, from preparedness and mitigation to response and recovery.

APIP’s mission is to enhance Alaska’s emergency management capabilities by:

• Identifying and managing resources

• Sharing critical information

• Characterizing infrastructure sectors to address vulnerabilities, dependencies, and single points of failure

• Raising awareness of physical security, cybersecurity, law enforcement, and anti-terrorism threats

• Strengthening individual businesses’ response capacity

• Building teams and partnerships through exercises

• Recommending priorities for protecting, supporting, and recovering critical infrastructure

• Providing a safe environment for critical infrastructure owners and operators to increase statewide resiliency
  
  

To achieve these goals, APIP:

• Establishes and maintains infrastructure maps

• Shares infrastructure information with partners as needed

• Supports planning and response efforts for infrastructure resource holders

• Develops internal communication procedures

• Conducts exercises and training to build readiness