Tlingit & Haida sought $8.4 million for child care after the landslides and floods, and got $1.1 million

The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska asked the federal government for $8.4 million to rebuild child care in six Southeast Alaska communities hit by landslides and floods. It received $1,149,999, about one-seventh of what it asked for, leaving roughly $7.3 million of the identified need unfunded.

The award covers Juneau, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Saxman, Craig and Klawock. How the money divides among them has not been set. Split evenly, it would come to about $191,000 apiece.

The disasters behind the request run back two years: the Wrangell landslide in November 2023, flooding from the Mendenhall at Juneau in August 2024, and the Ketchikan landslide later that same month. A fourth federal disaster declaration covers Craig and Klawock.

The money comes from disaster supplemental funding the Office of Child Care announced in July 2025 — $250 million nationally, handed out by assessed need rather than the usual formula, with priority going to applications showing the greatest need and impact. It can only be spent on child care recovery tied to those declarations.

The tribe's 477 Program, which lets a tribe run multiple federal programs under a single plan, filed the application in August and September of last year. The award came Feb. 10. The tribe has to obligate the money by Sept. 30, 2029 and spend it by Sept. 30, 2030.

The Executive Council voted unanimously on Feb. 20 to let President Richard J. Peterson, or someone he designates, execute and administer the grant.