The Southeast Conference

The Southeast Conference, a Juneau, Alaska-based nonprofit community development corporation, functions as a federal grant recipient delivering regional economic development, climate action, renewable energy, and mariculture industry-building programs across Southeast Alaska. The organization operates exclusively as a prime grant recipient (96% of awards) with minimal subcontractor engagement, competing in full-and-open federal grant programs without SBA set-aside designations.

The Southeast Conference's grant portfolio spans ten federal agencies, concentrated heavily in two customer relationships. The Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) accounts for 19 awards under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program (CFDA 11.307), while the Denali Commission accounts for 13 awards under its program (CFDA 90.100). These two agencies represent 89% of award count. Combined obligated dollars across all awards total $164.4 million against a reported combined potential value of $2 thousand, indicating the organization's recent activity reflects substantial real invoiced revenue rather than forward pipeline.

The organization's capability portfolio centers on catalyzing regional economic clusters and climate resilience. Representative work includes a $38.6 million EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CFDA 66.046) Cooperative Agreement awarded October 1, 2024 to implement greenhouse gas reduction programs across Alaska, with specific targets including heat pump installation in 100% of oil-heated homes and over 80,000 metric tons of emissions reductions by 2030; a $26.28 million EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance award to lead the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (September 12, 2022, continuing through 2026), capitalizing a revolving loan fund, developing workforce training, and conducting research in partnership with Sealaska Corporation; and a $2.0 million Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration grant (CFDA 20.534, September 23, 2023 through December 22, 2028) to develop an electric ferry pilot program in Southeast Alaska and provide technical assistance to the Alaska Marine Highway System. The organization also received a $683,383 Denali Commission award (February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2029) for regional economic development and strategic planning in Southeast Alaska, and multiple Denali Commission grants supporting rural infrastructure including solid waste strategy, renewable energy technical assistance, and landfill operator training.

The Southeast Conference sub-awards portions of larger grants to regional partners and service providers—including Alaska Heat Smart, the Alaska Municipal League, Sealaska Corporation, and Spruce Root, Inc.—to support statewide implementation and community engagement. Seven awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, creating recompete opportunity in the Denali Commission and EDA programs. Recent activity shows volatility: two awards in 2021, thirteen in 2022, one in 2023, seven in 2024, and one as of early 2026, reflecting the lumpy nature of multiyear project grant cycles rather than steady operational contracting.