Nelson Island Consortium

Nelson Island Consortium is a non-profit organization and federally recognized Indian Tribe registered to receive federal grant awards since January 2015. The consortium focuses on environmental protection and community development initiatives for tribal communities in Alaska. Through federal grant programs, Nelson Island Consortium provides services related to solid waste management, recycling, environmental education, and capacity building for local environmental programs. The organization aims to improve public health and environmental conditions in tribal areas by implementing sustainable waste management practices and increasing awareness of environmental issues.

Recent federal grant awards to Nelson Island Consortium highlight its involvement in various environmental projects. In June 2024, the consortium received a $1,500,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program. This project focuses on improving post-consumer materials management, reducing municipal solid waste generation, and increasing waste diversion from landfills in the Nelson Island community. Activities include providing backhaul training, setting up e-waste collection centers, and shipping items to recyclers. Additionally, the consortium was awarded a $260,000 Project Grant in October 2023 under the EPA's Indian Environmental General Assistance Program. This four-year grant supports efforts to enhance tribal environmental protection through capacity building, community education, and landfill waste mitigation. Earlier, from 2019 to 2023, Nelson Island Consortium received another EPA grant to build tribal environmental capacity by hosting meetings, conducting environmental education, and researching subsistence resource protection and proper solid waste disposal.