State offers trainings as Alaska towns apply for the first block grants that can build housing

The state will hold two online trainings this month for Alaska cities and boroughs applying for this year's Community Development Block Grants, the first round in which the federal money can pay to build housing.

About $2.5 million is available statewide, with up to $850,000 per community. Projects must mainly benefit low- and moderate-income residents: at least 51% of the people a project serves must meet federal income limits, Alaska News reported in September.

A federal law passed in July caps new housing construction at 20% of a grant, so the most any single community could put toward building is about $170,000, Alaska News has reported. Every Alaska municipality except Anchorage, which runs its own block grant program, can apply.

The trainings run Oct. 15 from 1 to 4 pm and Oct. 28 from 9 am to noon over Zoom, through the Division of Community and Regional Affairs. Applications are due Dec. 4, and awards follow in the spring.