Small Project Infrastructure Protection Grants | DC VIP 17 001

Small Project Infrastructure Protection Grants (DC VIP 17 001) - FAQs

What is the Small Project Infrastructure Protection Grants opportunity (DC VIP 17 001)?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Denali Commission through its Village Infrastructure Protection (VIP) Program. The funding supports small, targeted projects that help rural Alaska communities reduce or prevent damage from erosion, flooding, and permafrost degradation.

Who is offering this funding?

The Denali Commission is offering this opportunity under its Village Infrastructure Protection (VIP) Program.

What is the main purpose of the VIP Program?

The central purpose is to reduce or prevent harm caused by environmental threats (erosion, flooding, and permafrost degradation) by supporting practical mitigation actions that protect people and critical community infrastructure.

What types of hazards is this program meant to address?

The opportunity is designed for threats from erosion, flooding, and permafrost degradation that create immediate safety and public health risks and can cause longer-term damage to essential infrastructure.

What kinds of infrastructure can VIP-funded projects help protect?

The program description highlights infrastructure and facilities such as roads, utilities, fuel storage, water and sewer systems, community buildings, and other essential facilities that may be undermined by erosion, flooding, or permafrost degradation.

Is this program intended for emergency-disaster response and recovery after major events?

No. A key feature of this opportunity is that it focuses on serious local environmental events that are below the threshold needed to qualify for other state or federal emergency and disaster response or recovery programs. It targets urgent problems that do not meet formal disaster criteria but still need timely action to avoid escalating damage and costs.

What makes this opportunity different from other disaster-related funding programs?

It is specifically designed for rural Alaska communities dealing with real and urgent environmental threats that are not large enough (or do not meet formal criteria) to trigger broader disaster declarations, yet still require rapid mitigation to prevent worsening impacts.

What is the funding mechanism used for this opportunity?

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates the federal agency expects to have an active role during the project period compared with a standard grant.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

Based on the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement typically means the Denali Commission (or the federal agency administering the award) may be actively involved during the project period, rather than serving only as a pass-through funder.

What is the CFDA category for this program?

The program is categorized under Disaster Prevention and Relief (CFDA 90.100), reflecting that it is intended to be preventative and protective rather than focused on long-term redevelopment.

How much funding is available per project?

The maximum award amount listed is $200,000 per project.

About how many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated about 10 awards.

Does this funding support large-scale infrastructure rebuilds?

The description indicates the program is meant to fund smaller, targeted projects rather than large-scale infrastructure rebuilds, given the $200,000 maximum per project and an anticipated total of about 10 awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is geared toward entities that directly represent or serve rural Alaska communities. Eligible applicants include municipal governments, borough governments, and Tribal governments, as well as Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Village Corporations and regional tribal nonprofit organizations that serve rural Alaska.

Is this opportunity limited to rural Alaska communities?

Yes. The opportunity is designed specifically for rural communities in Alaska experiencing increasing threats from erosion, flooding, and permafrost degradation.

What kinds of applicants does the program prioritize?

Based on the eligibility categories provided, the program is structured for local governments, Tribal governments, ANCSA Village Corporations, and regional tribal nonprofit organizations that serve rural Alaska communities and can take timely action to protect essential infrastructure.

What problem is this program trying to prevent from getting worse?

The program aims to prevent urgent environmental threats from escalating into larger, more costly infrastructure failures by funding practical mitigation actions before damage and risk intensify.

When was this funding opportunity notice created?

The notice was created on May 17, 2017.

What was the application closing date for this specific announcement?

The original application closing date listed for this announcement was July 7, 2017.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided is DC VIP 17 001.

What is the overall goal for communities supported by this program?

The opportunity is structured to help community-serving organizations take timely, concrete steps to stabilize and protect essential infrastructure when environmental conditions threaten community safety and health, particularly in situations where conventional disaster programs do not apply.