Emergency relief for federally owned lands

On September 19, 2025, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded a formula grant of $5.44 million to Kawerak, Inc. under the Highway Planning and Construction program (CFDA 20.205) for Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Lands. The award, performed in Nome, Alaska, supports transportation infrastructure development and emergency relief activities on federally owned lands serving Alaska Native communities in the Bering Strait, Norton Sound, and Yukon regions of western Alaska.

As a federally recognized tribal consortium representing 20 tribes, Kawerak, Inc. utilizes this funding to conduct road construction, bridge rehabilitation, and transportation safety improvements across remote Alaska Native communities. This award aligns with the organization's extensive track record managing FHWA grants exceeding $70 million cumulatively for tribal transportation programs, demonstrating established capacity to deliver complex infrastructure projects in rural, underserved regions. The funding supports the FHWA's mission to assist eligible applicants in constructing, preserving, and improving transportation infrastructure authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.