U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has announced a $3.1 million grant awarded by the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Chugach Regional Resources Commission in Anchorage, Alaska. The grant is intended to enhance workforce development in the Kenai Peninsula’s mariculture sector.
The grant is set to support the expansion of the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute Patrick (Ratii) Norman facility, a move projected to create jobs in the marine research and mariculture fields. Matched with $1.1 million in local funds, this EDA investment is expected to retain 95 jobs and generate $12 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo lauded the investment, emphasizing the importance of building a robust and resilient workforce to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. She highlighted that this particular investment would provide the Keani Peninsula community with valuable job skills while diversifying the regional economy.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo added that the investment would strengthen a crucial sector in Alaska’s economy by providing workforce development in a sustainable industry. This sentiment was echoed by Senator Lisa Murkowski, who noted that the EDA’s financial support would boost the mariculture industry’s full potential in the Kenai Peninsula.
Emphasizing Alaska’s prominent role as the nation’s largest seafood producer, Senator Dan Sullivan expressed his support for the investment, noting the significant opportunities for sustainable mariculture in Alaska. He voiced pleasure at the prospect of bolstering workforce development to further develop the industry. Representative Mary Peltola (AK-At Large) similarly stressed the importance of mariculture investments in sustaining both the Alaskan way of life and the environment, while also generating new, well-paying jobs.
