The Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS), coordinated in part by the Southeast Conference (SEC), is a transformative initiative under the USDA’s OneUSDA effort. Its purpose is to advance sustainable, equitable economic development throughout Southeast Alaska by supporting locally driven, community-centered projects. From Fall 2022 to Summer 2024, SEC played a vital role in facilitating coordination among stakeholders, administering sub-awards, building organizational capacity, and tracking progress to ensure positive economic and social outcomes.
The SASS program focuses on several core themes: diversifying the regional economy, strengthening community resilience, developing sustainable resource use, and increasing access to economic opportunities for Indigenous and rural residents. SEC’s involvement includes hosting annual gatherings, facilitating communications between partners, overseeing micro-grant distributions, and tracking economic impact metrics. As of 2023, SASS projects catalyzed over $8.8 million in economic activity, created 114 full-time equivalent jobs, and paid $3.6 million in local wages.
Key Program Goals:
- Support Local Economies: Empower rural and Indigenous communities through increased access to fisheries, mariculture, renewable energy, and sustainable forestry.
- Enhance Workforce Development: Launch vocational and apprentice programs to train residents, especially youth, for long-term careers in fishing, mariculture, biomass energy, and project management.
- Invest in Infrastructure: Fund construction and upgrades such as oyster packing facilities, shellfish hatcheries, biomass heating systems, and pellet mills.
- Promote Sustainable Resource Use: Encourage clean energy and responsible harvesting practices that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and preserve local ecosystems.
Major Takeaways:
- Locally Driven Impact: All funded projects were rooted in local needs and ideas, addressing economic, cultural, and environmental priorities of Southeast Alaska communities.
- Capacity Building: A microgrant program awarded 15 grants across a range of organizations to pilot projects, strengthen institutions, and develop future funding pipelines.
- Successful Subawards: Projects included the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust’s quota access and apprentice programs, the Alaska Oyster Cooperative’s infrastructure development, OceansAlaska’s hatchery upgrades and training efforts, and Craig School District’s renewable heating project.
The SASS model showcases how flexible, community-driven investment strategies can build economic resilience, empower Indigenous leadership, and serve as a blueprint for sustainable development in rural and remote regions.
