Borough reps pursue trip to Washington D.C.

PALMER — Representatives from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough traveled

to Washington, D.C. last week, for an advocacy trip to talk with

federal agencies about funding for local projects.

Borough assembly members Dan Mayfield and Randall Kowalke, and borough

manager John Moosey participated, borough public affairs director

Patty Sullivan said. A cost estimate for the trip was not available at

press time.

Sullivan said representatives from the borough usually make the trip

twice per year. Last week, the borough’s D.C. trip focused on

discussing the borough’s fish passage program with U.S. Fish and

Wildlife, ascertaining reasons for FEMA’s rejection of funding to

address Matanuska River erosion affecting homeowners, and working with

federal agencies to better understand how to package a grant

application to fund the Port Mackenzie rail project.

Sullivan said borough reps talked with FEMA in an effort to improve

its odds of being selected for federal programs in the near future to

assist with erosion in the Matanuska River area.

Sullivan said learning more about how to make successful grant

applications for federal funding of the Port Mackenzie railroad

project is a high priority for the borough.

“We are applying for a Fast Lane grant,” Sullivan said of the project.

“It’s two-thirds of the way funded and built, and so that was really a

wonderful meeting to talk with the folks who will be considering the

applications, to best package the project. It’s a rural railroad, so

that is one of the criteria.”

She said the federal funding source the borough is looking at is

relatively new.

The 32-mile connection from the borough’s deep-water port to the

Alaska railroad system is important, not just to the valley, but

statewide resource development, Sullivan said.

“It will help with potentially getting LNG to the Interior, as well as

mineral development exports, bulk exports to Japan and Asia.”