Unmet waste needs and waste workforce development

The Denali Commission, a federal agency focused on supporting critical infrastructure and community development in Alaska, awarded a $899,993 Project Grant to the Zender Environmental Health & Research Group Co, a non-profit organization based in Anchorage, Alaska. The grant, under the Denali Commission Program (CFDA 90.100), will support the organization's efforts to address unmet waste needs and develop the waste management workforce in rural Alaskan communities over a period of 3 years, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.

Zender Environmental Health & Research Group Co, a key provider of environmental solutions in Alaska, will leverage this funding to deliver a range of products and services, including technical assistance, training, and environmental job programs tailored to the unique needs of remote Alaskan regions. Notable initiatives include the Rural Alaska Community Environmental Job Training (RACEJT) program, which recruits and trains unemployed Alaskans for environmental technician careers, and the Backhaul Alaska Pilot project for hazardous waste disposal.