Cook Inlet Tribal Council Breaks Ground on Non-Profit Service Center

On Aug. 13, Cook Inlet Tribal Council took an important step toward consolidating its services and the services of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, The CIRI Foundation and the Alaska Native Justice Center by hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for the Non-Profit Service Center on a 6.47-acre wooded site located on the corner of Debarr Avenue and Bragaw Road in Anchorage’s Northway Business Park.

The ceremony honored Rep. Don Young and his wife Lu Young for their tireless commitment to the Alaska Native community. The ground breaking was an opportunity to recognize the funders and supporters of the project, including the Rasmuson Foundation, Sen. Ted Stevens, CIRI and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council Board of Directors.
As a part of the ceremony and ground blessing, CITC Chair Clare Swan led the crowd in an Athabascan cloth ceremony. The building will honor the Dena'ina Athabascan culture as well as recognize all the Alaska Native culture groups.

The Non-Profit Service Center, a $16-million capital project, will be a multiple-use, four-story, 75,000-square-foot facility where organizations will co-locate and provide social services and programs primarily to the Native community of Anchorage, as well as regionally and statewide. Together, the four organizations serve more than 15,000 clients in the Anchorage area on an annual basis, many of whom receive services from more than one of the agencies. Cook Inlet Tribal Council is the lead organization on the project that is projected to be completed in December 2005.

CITC Board members, Mayor Begich, Rasmuson Foundation (Diane Kaplan and Ed Rasmuson), Liz Connell from Sen. Stevens’ office, Carl Marrs, Congressman Don Young and his wife Lu Young, Alaska Commissioner of Health and Human Services Joel Gilbertson, Gloria O’Neill, Jaclyn Sallee and Susan Anderson at groundbreaking.

Cook Inlet Housing Authority Seeks Applicants for New Rent to Own Home Program

One of 12 Cook Inlet Housing Authority homes currently under construction in Mountain View is scheduled to be featured in the 2004 Anchorage Parade of Homes Sept. 18-20. The 12 brand new, three-bedroom, two-car garage homes in Mountain View will be available for rent this fall. In addition to offering quality affordable rental opportunities, these homes also provide future homeownership opportunities for the residents.
The beautiful 1,500-square-foot homes offer an example of innovative affordable home design.

All of the homes feature open floor plans, 9-foot ceilings, and spacious master bedrooms. The entries to the two-car garages have been placed behind or to the sides of the homes where possible, and each offers covered front porches. Rental homes are currently available to qualifying families for $1,038 per month. Eight additional homes will be constructed for more immediate homeownership to qualifying families.

In addition to the single-family homes, 16 fully renovated two-bedroom apartments are available for $776 per month. Cook Inlet Housing Authority is currently accepting applications for the 12 rental homes and 16 two-bedroom apartments. The homes and apartments are available to families whose incomes, for example, are below $42,480 and $47,220 for families of three and four people. Section 8 voucher holders are encouraged to apply.

n an effort to improve the quality of affordable housing as well as the quality of life in Anchorage, Cook Inlet Housing has launched a significant neighborhood revitalization effort in Mountain View. Cook Inlet Housing Authority’s mission is to provide quality housing that promotes healthy communities, economic development, independence and partnering.

New Native America Calling Host

Two new staff members have joined Koahnic Broadcast Corporation’s popular radio program and “electronic talking circle” – Native America Calling.

Patty Talahongva (Hopi), long-time fill-in host for Native America Calling and independent radio and television producer, was hired in early June to fill the post of producer for Native America Calling and National Native News. The new host of Native America Calling is Wayne Cody (White Mountain Apache). Cody, who has a background in both TV and radio news, hosted a call-in talk show on KNNB when he served as manager of the tribal radio station in Whiteriver, Ariz.

“We’re so excited about this milestone,” KBC’s President and CEO Jaclyn Sallee said. Native America Calling just celebrated nine years on the air and National Native News is 17 years old—two of the longest running Native programs produced for public radio.

Both programs are produced in the studios of KUNM-FM on the University of New Mexico campus and can be heard on public radio stations across the country, as well as on the Internet at www.nativeamericacalling.com and www.nativenews.net.

Patty Talahongva