1999 Annual Report Executive Summary*
Metlakatla Indian Enterprise Community
In January, 1999, with other communities across America, Vice-President Al Gore and Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, announced that the Metlakatla Indian Community had been designated as an Enterprise Community. A that time a Desk Officer at USDA in Washington was assigned to assist the Community, in cooperation with an EC Coordinator in USDA's State Office in Palmer. Two Metlakatla tribal delegates participated in the National USDA meeting in Oklahoma City for briefings and training on program requirements. A Two-Year Plan was adopted and implemented reflecting plans of the Community through the Planning Committee, Standing Committee, Council Annette Islands Reserve, Metlakatla, Alaska. The Planning Committee made the following recommendations to the Council:
1. To stabilize local government revenues enough to maintain quality, essential tribal government services.
2. To take action steps toward the promotion of industrial development opportunities and use of the Annette Islands Reserve's natural resources.
3. To provide for the land needs (commercial, industrial, residential and recreational) of community expansion while still maintaining a quality environment.
4. To provide quality utility services (water, sewer, solid waste, electric power) needed to accommodate population and economic growth and at the same time, to protect the public health and safety.
5. To ensure that adequate housing is provided to accommodate population growth.
6. To provide the necessary training and skills to enable Metlakatla Indian Community residents to participate in new or expanded economic activities.
The following benchmarks were adopted and approved by Tribal Council:
1. Community Economic Re-Assessment - Community successful to receiving two grant applications for Artists Village Building and Tribal Bottled Water Enterprise both total $1 Million dollars. Artist Village Building is completed ready for the 2000 Summer Tourism Season.
2. Establish A Tribal Economic Development Office - budgeted for $50,000.00.
3. Implement Metlakatla Comprehensive Plan budgeted for $85,000.00.
4. Completion of Artist Village Building - having 6 working studios and one large room for totem pole carving and a room for the artists to meet visitors face-to-face. Off-season cultural heritage learning centers to further perfect the arts and preserve the arts.
5. Construction of New Health Clinic - design and plans - $1.7 Million Dollars and actual costs associated for project estimated at $17 Million Dollars.
6. Construct Visitors Center for Tribal Tourism Program.
7. Expansion of Cold Storage Plant Freezing Capacity - Grant Application submitted to USDA - Rural Business Enterprise Grant - $500,000.00.
8. Upgrade, modernize and expand the Metlakatla Forest Product Mill - estimated cost - $500,000.00.
9. Development of a Local Bottling Water Plant - Grant received from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for $500,000.00 and match by community for $182,283.00 for its contribution.
10. Housing Rehabilitation - Metlakatla Housing Authority receiving $1.6 Million for FY 2000 and is submitting for additional funds.
11. Utility Upgrade - Upgrading Community Sewer System - progress to date - sewage outfall is in process of being completed first phase and to complete second phase has been submitted to Village Safe Water, State of Alaska for $1.3 Million Dollars.
12. Utility Upgrade - For Community System expansion of new homes there is low water pressure in the area of new homes. To specifically address this concern a loop line is needed and new water storage tank.
13. Municipal Open Dump Cleanup for: cleanup, remediation, reclamation and closure a 19-months costing about $2.1 Million Dollars. Metlakatla Indian Community is seeking assistance from US Environmental Protection Agency for this effort.
14. Development of New Community Landfill - estimated costs $1.2 Million Dollars.
15. Annette Islands Environmental Clean-up Annette Airport Area where once U.S Department of War leased 10,000 acres for airfield and defense base during World War II this area is now being cleanup. Estimate costs over ten-year period is $112 Million Dollars. Coordinated efforts community received $175,000 because of several federal and state agencies beside Department of Defense have used this area extensively.
16. Swimming Pool Repair - costs to run per year at least $150,000 and about $50,000 just to heat swimming pool.
17. Construction of Community Auditorium for Non-sports related activities. $50,000 Dollars set aside from Enterprise Community Funds per year.