The grant provides funding to support the cooperator's temporary bridge program to allow for consistent forest management activities in geographic areas that are difficult to navigate which will…

Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Region 10 (Alaska Region), awarded Koniag, Inc. a $500,000 project grant on August 28, 2025, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Temporary Bridge Program (CFDA 10.721) to establish and operate a temporary bridge rental program in Alaska. The funding supports the acquisition and deployment of portable skidder bridges, bridge mats, and other temporary water crossing structures designed to facilitate forest management activities in geographically challenging areas while minimizing stream bed disturbance and protecting water quality during operations. The program operates through fee-based rental, no-cost rental, or rent-to-own arrangements that reduce operational barriers for timber producers and contractors working across sensitive environmental areas.

The grant period extends through December 31, 2027, enabling Koniag, Inc. to establish sustained rental infrastructure that supports both environmentally responsible timber production and rural economic development throughout Alaska. As an Alaska Native Corporation, Koniag, Inc. is positioned to deliver this specialized service across rural Alaskan communities, where access to temporary water crossing solutions addresses critical infrastructure gaps in forest management operations on both federal and non-federal lands.

The grant provides funding to support the cooperator's temporary bridge program to allow for consistent forest management activities in geographic areas that are difficult to navigate which will also help mitigate water quality degradation during the activitties.