Bulletins 01/08/12

SBA accepting nominations for Small Business Innovation Research Awards

The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for awards honoring the critical economic role small businesses play in federally funded research and development. Three awards will be given. One will be for companies that have participated in SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, one for individuals who advocate on behalf of the programs and a third “Hall of Fame” award to recognize companies that have an extended period of extraordinary success of research, innovation and product commercialization within the SBIR or STTR program. Nominations opened Dec. 15 and will close at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Jan. 31. Awards will be presented in Washington, DC, in April. To submit a nomination, please visit tibbetts.challenge.gov  (Tibbetts Awards – companies and individuals) and sbirhof.challenge.gov  (Hall of Fame Awards).

GCI opens Mountain View store

General Communication, Inc. just held a grand opening celebration for its newest Anchorage location in Park Place Village at 4211 Mountain View Drive. The opening is part of a community revitalization effort established by the Cook Inlet Housing Authority and Anchorage Community Land Trust. The new store is a little more than 1,000 square feet and within walking distance of about 7,000 households. The Mountain View location is GCI’s 13th store in Anchorage and 35th store statewide. GCI plans to open two additional stores in Anchorage by the end of January.

Princess Cruises named “Best Cruise Line in Alaska” by Travel Weekly

Princess Cruises has once again received top honors as the “Best Cruise Line in Alaska” in the annual Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards. This marks the fifth year in a row, and the eighth time, that the company has been recognized with this distinction for its Alaska cruises. Princess Cruises has more than 40 years experience in Alaska. It currently has accommodations at five Princess-owned and operated wilderness lodges. Princess’ 2012 Alaska cruise season features seven ships, including a fourth ship added to the Gulf of Alaska route, and three ships sailing the Inside Passage. They will depart on 122 voyages. Travelers can choose from more than 20 different cruisetour options.

Fort Wainwright to honor fallen soldier at dedication ceremony

U.S. Army Alaska and Fort Wainwright will conduct a Dedication Ceremony at 2 p.m. Jan 5 to name the Fort Wainwright Training Support Center in honor of Fairbanks’ native Sgt. Joel David Clarkson. Clarkson died of injuries sustained during a patrol in Farah Province, Afghanistan on March 13, 2010, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The dedication will be held at the Fort Wainwright Training Support Center located at 3441 Ile De France Ave. on Fort Wainwright. Clarkson, a Team Leader, was on his fifth deployment and continued his legacy of devotion to duty and selfless service by offering seven organ recipients a second chance for life. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. Clarkson grew up in Fairbanks and graduated from Lathrop High School, where he was a member of the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program. He joined the Army in February 2006 and One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., as an Infantryman.

Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project files Pre-Application Document with FERC

The Alaska Energy Authority filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission entering the formal licensing process for the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. The PAD is an early step in an expected six-year licensing and design process for the hydroelectric project. Public comments on the PAD are accepted until April 27.The Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project is to be located on the Susitna River at river mile 84, above Devils Canyon, approximately halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The licensed project would have a concrete gravity or rock-filled dam, approximately 700 feet tall, with a 39-mile-long reservoir. The project capacity is expected to be between 600 to 800 megawatts. The PAD is available online at susitna-watanahydro.org or www.ferc.gov. Hard copies will be available at the project office in Anchorage and the following libraries: Z.J. Loussac Public Library in Anchorage, Wasilla Meta-Rose Public Library, Talkeetna Public Library and the Noel Wien Public Library in Fairbanks.

BLM seeks comments on regulation development for competitive leasing of solar and wind energy on public lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register to give the public background information about the BLM’s interest in establishing an efficient, competitive process for issuing right-of-way leases for solar and wind energy development on the public lands. The comment period closes Feb 27. The BLM is interested in receiving any comments regarding the content and structure of the competitive process for solar and wind energy development. Because this discussion is specifically focused on the development of the competitive process, comments are not being requested regarding solar and wind energy environmental issues.

HHS awards $5.6 million ‘performance bonus’ to Alaska

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $5,660,544 to Alaska as a “performance bonus” for streamlining and improving Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization (CHIPRA) processes. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius awarded a total of $296 million to 23 states, including Alaska. New data show 1.2 million more children nationwide have health insurance since the reauthorization of CHIP in 2009. To qualify for a bonus, two sets of performance goals had to be met. States had to take specific steps to streamline their enrollment and renewal processes to make it easier for families with eligible children to gain coverage and then document significant increases in the number of children enrolled in Medicaid. Alaska met five of the eight enrollment simplifications for this year’s bonus.

Chefs Wanted for 2012 Great Alaska Seafood Cook-Off

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is hosting the Great Alaska Seafood Cook-Off in Anchorage on May 14 and is inviting chefs from around the state to compete to compete for the honor of representing Alaska this August at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans. Entries will be collected until April 1. Any professional chef is invited to enter the contest. During the live competition, the contestants will have an hour to prepare and plate a dish highlighting Alaska seafood. Their work will be judged by a panel of past Great American Seafood Cook-Off contestants and culinary stars from Alaska and beyond. Find out more about the cook-off, including how to enter, at greatalaskaseafoodcookoff.com.