North Slope Borough Assembly approves $6.6 million in grant appropriations

The North Slope Borough Assembly approved $6.6 million in new grant appropriations Tuesday spanning wildlife research, housing repairs, homeless services, and public safety equipment.

Wildlife Management received $2 million for studies including beluga harvest research, polar bear habitat monitoring, bowhead feeding area acoustics, and spotted seal ecology. The grants support both community-based observations and non-invasive monitoring programs.

The Housing Department received $989,500 for a home leveling program in Nuiqsut following resident concerns about blasting impacts. an unnamed participant said the funding follows years of community engagement and fact-finding trips to document structural issues.

Mayor Patkotak confirmed the Housing Department has made numerous trips to the village over the past two years to build documentation required for the NPR-A grant.

The appropriations passed as part of the Assembly's regular June meeting.