Build Alaska's Future

Build Alaska's Future Build Alaska’s Future - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to transparency that fosters public trust, a strong workforce, and good governance.

Our map at BuildAlaska.org enhances understanding of infrastructure while promoting opportunity and accountability. Build Alaska’s Future is committed to providing clear, accessible, and complete information about federal funding opportunities in Alaska. We work to ensure Alaskans have the information they need as we work together to build a deliberate, inclusive, and sustainable economic future f

or our state. We believe the better informed our state is, the more we can take full advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity. Build Alaska's Future is a joint initiative between Build Back Better, Alaska, a 501c3 nonprofit, and Build Alaska's Future Action Fund, a 501c4.

Rural Health Transformation Funding: Round 2 is on the map!Alaska announced its second round of rural health funding awa...
08/19/2026

Rural Health Transformation Funding: Round 2 is on the map!

Alaska announced its second round of rural health funding awards on August 14 — about $30 million this time, roughly six times the size of the first round. That brings the total awarded so far to about $34.5 million out of the $272 million Alaska received for rural health care.

We've updated our map to show where this new round of funding is going. There's still about $237 million left to be awarded before an October deadline, so expect more updates soon.

We've also made a few small tweaks, improving the look & feel of the map - check it out at BuildAlaska.org today!

First Round of Rural Health Funding Hits Alaska – Here's Where it’s Going Where is Alaska's rural health funding actuall...
08/13/2026

First Round of Rural Health Funding Hits Alaska – Here's Where it’s Going

Where is Alaska's rural health funding actually going? We're tracking it so you can see for yourself.

Alaska just started handing out $272 million in federal funding meant to help rural health care — hospitals, clinics, and health programs across the state. The first 19 projects were announced last week, and more will be announced almost every Friday through October.

We built a map so you can see exactly which communities are getting funded and follow along as more awards come in.

Check it out at BuildAlaska.org.

Our goal at Build Alaska’s Future is to take transformative funding announcements like this one and make them clear and visible for everyday Alaskans. Your engagement helps support that work. Learn more at BuildAlaska.org.

Election Day is Tuesday, August 18th. Are You Ready to Vote?Election day is just over a week away. Now is a great time t...
08/11/2026

Election Day is Tuesday, August 18th. Are You Ready to Vote?

Election day is just over a week away. Now is a great time to double-check your voting plan!

Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day, but life happens — travel, work, weather, or unexpected circumstances can get in the way of making it to your polling place. That's why many Alaskans choose to Vote By Mail, and why it's always smart to have a back-up plan even if you're planning to vote in person.

If you're planning to vote by mail, here's how to ensure your vote counts:

- You'll need 2 stamps to mail your ballot back
- Ask the postal worker to date stamp your envelope so it's officially postmarked
- Your mail-in ballot must be postmarked by close of business on August 18th — Election Day

Every vote matters in shaping the future in Alaska. Make your plan, double-check those details, and make sure your voice is heard!

Learn more at https://aknativevote.com/

On her birthday, we remember Judi Slajer, the inspiration for Build Alaska's Future's ClerkStart initiative. In 1964, Ju...
07/30/2026

On her birthday, we remember Judi Slajer, the inspiration for Build Alaska's Future's ClerkStart initiative. In 1964, Judi was hired as the first employee of the newly incorporated Ketchikan Gateway Borough. She served as Borough Clerk for 14 years before becoming Alaska’s first woman borough manager.

Judi left a rich legacy to the people of Alaska, including Anchorage’s Performing Arts Center, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks.

Today, we at Build Alaska’s Future remember Judi’s leadership, integrity, and commitment to strengthening good governance across the state.

07/28/2026

Here's something most Alaskans don't know: right now, some communities in our state cannot hold an election. Not because of a law. Not because of a court order. Because they don't have a clerk.

Clerks administer every municipal and tribal election in Alaska. They ensure every voter is treated equally and every ballot is counted fairly. As Gina Gregg of Fairbanks puts it, elections are a sacred right — "you don't want to disenfranchise anybody." Beth McEwen, who kept Juneau's elections running through a pandemic with a staff of three, is clear: "We will make sure your right to vote is protected under all circumstances."

But when there's no clerk, there's no election. And right now, too many Alaska communities are in exactly that position.

No clerk, no election. You can change that. Learn more at BuildAlaska.org/Clerks — and share this with someone who might be ready to step up.

Last call to weigh in on AMHS's Winter Ferry ScheduleThe comment period for AMHS's draft Winter 2026/27 schedule closes ...
07/21/2026

Last call to weigh in on AMHS's Winter Ferry Schedule

The comment period for AMHS's draft Winter 2026/27 schedule closes Wednesday, July 22 at 5:00 p.m. AKST.

If you haven't reviewed it yet, now's the time:
📋 dot.alaska.gov/amhs/doc/winter_considerations_2026-2027.pdf
✉️ Email your comments: [email protected]
🎤 Or join Thursday's virtual hearings (July 23) — Southeast at 9 a.m., Southwest/South Central at 11 a.m. All meeting info can be found in the PDF linked above.

Got a community event that depends on ferry service this winter? This is your chance to flag it before the schedule is finalized.

Image: the Tustumena in Sand Point, 2009. Courtesy of Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs.

07/21/2026

There's one person in your community who keeps everything running. The records. The meetings. The elections. The licenses, the contracts, the public notices. Most people have never heard of them.

Helen George of Scammon Bay calls them "the backbone." Ginger McCormick of Saxman says simply: "Without the city clerk, none of it would be possible." Beth McEwen of Juneau describes the role as being the conduit between government and the people it serves.

Alaska's municipal and tribal clerks are out there, in every community across this state, doing essential work in near-total obscurity. It's time that changed.

Share this video and help us put a name — and a face — to the people keeping your community together. BuildAlaska.org/Clerks

07/14/2026

One of the most important jobs in your community could be yours.

Clerk positions are open across Alaska right now — in cities, boroughs, and tribal offices. The work is real, the salary is competitive, and the network behind you is statewide.

As Beth McEwen, who served the City and Borough of Juneau for 25 years, puts it: the interactions are "never dull" and deeply gratifying. Donald Jones of Kotzebue says you go home knowing you've made a difference. Gina Gregg of Fairbanks has a simple message for anyone on the fence: "Don't be too scared, give it a try. Come on board."

Your community needs someone local. That someone could be you. Watch the video and learn more at BuildAlaska.org/Clerks.

Open for Public Comment: Your Feedback Can Shape the Winter Ferry Schedule The Alaska Marine Highway System has released...
07/13/2026

Open for Public Comment: Your Feedback Can Shape the Winter Ferry Schedule
The Alaska Marine Highway System has released its draft Winter 2026/27 schedule, covering sailings from October 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. You can give feedback before it's finalized.

Review the draft schedule: dot.alaska.gov/amhs/doc/winter_considerations_2026-2027.pdf

How to weigh in:
- Email comments to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. AKST, Wednesday, July 22
- Or join a virtual public hearing on Thursday, July 23:

Southeast Alaska review — 9:00 a.m.
Southwest & South Central Alaska review — 11:00 a.m.
(In-person option available at the AMHS Ketchikan Central Office)

Also worth noting: AMHS says the M/V Aurora will be out for an extended overhaul after crews found extensive wasted steel during maintenance — a reminder of why the state's ongoing investments in Alaska Class Ferries and local docks matter for keeping Prince William Sound connected.

If your community has a special event that depends on ferry service this winter, AMHS is asking people to flag those dates directly — this is your chance to make sure the schedule works for your town.

Track how ferry and marine infrastructure investments are moving across the state at BuildAlaska.org.

Image: the LeConte docks in Pelican, Winter 2013. Courtesy of Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs.

Good Governance Starts at the Grill! 🍔🗳️Good governance powers absolutely everything that makes Alaska strong, and it al...
07/02/2026

Good Governance Starts at the Grill! 🍔🗳️

Good governance powers absolutely everything that makes Alaska strong, and it all starts with your vote.

We at Build Alaska’s Future are proud to shout out Alaska Voter Hub’s upcoming Cookout to Get Out the Vote! Driving civic participation is exactly how we shape transparent, accountable leadership for our state.

Next Wednesday, come connect with your neighbors, grab some free food, and celebrate our shared civic duty.

Let's build a stronger, well-governed Alaska together. See you there!

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