State moves final block grant workshop to Zoom only, citing Anchorage weather

The Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs canceled the in-person option for its final Community Development Block Grant application workshop, citing inclement weather in the Anchorage area. The session runs only on Zoom, 1 to 4 pm Tuesday, according to the division's bulletin, which includes the link to join.

The workshop had been set as a hybrid session, online and in person at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development field office in Anchorage, according to an Oct. 16 division bulletin.

"We apologize for the inconvenience but want to keep everyone safe and off the roads as conditions continue to deteriorate," the division wrote.

The National Weather Service had a winter weather advisory for Anchorage and the Lower Matanuska Valley until 9 am Tuesday, with snow turning to freezing rain overnight before becoming rain Tuesday morning.

The federally funded grants pay for local projects that mainly benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Federal rules require that at least 51% of the people a project benefits be low- or moderate-income. Awards run up to $850,000 per community, and any Alaska municipal government except Anchorage may apply, according to the division's block grants page. About $2.5 million was available for competitive grants in the 2025 cycle, the page says.

Staff will cover the federal funding announcement, eligibility rules, submission requirements, eligible projects and timelines. Applicants may send questions to the division ahead of time.

Applications go only through the state's online grants portal and are due Dec. 4.