In gear

Northrim BanCorp Inc. board of directors recently approved the company's investment in a newly formed investment advisory company, Elliott Cove Capital Management LLC. Marc Langland, Northrim's chairman and chief executive officer, also will serve on Elliott Cove's management committee. Northrim's investment in Elliott Cove will be done through a new subsidiary, Northrim Investment Services Co. Elliott Cove provides investment management products such as groups of stocks, bonds and real estate investment trusts, to community banks, individuals and other financial advisors. Northrim Investment Services Co. will initially hold a 42 percent Elliott Cove interest, which is expected to decrease upon completion of Elliott Cove's pending private placement. NISC's ownership interest will not fall below 22 percent.

The Department of Justice is releasing $2 million to the Alaska State Troopers for the Alaska Illegal Drug and Alcohol Use Initiative, according to a press release from Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens. The funds will be used by the Alaska State Troopers' Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit to coordinate law enforcement efforts to reduce the availability of controlled substances throughout Alaska. The unit's goals are to investigate and seize illegally distributed controlled substances and alcohol, provide training and investigative support to criminal justice agencies, and support and participate in public education programs.

Kudos

Mayor George Wuerch recently presented the Anchorage Home Builders Association with a public service award for their Care Endowment September donation of $20,000 to the Anchorage Fire Department for the purchase of two thermal imagers. Since the endowment was established in Dec. 2001, it has raised more than $70,000.

Koahnic Broadcast Corp. was recently recognized for public relations excellence by the Alaska Chapter of Public Relations Society of America. KBC received the chapter's First Place Award for Radio Public Service Announcements. The urban Native public radio station KNBA 90.3 FM, a division of KBC, teamed with the Internal Revenue Service and the Annie E Casey Foundation to create a public service announcement campaign about the earned income tax credit as a way to add to annual income in Alaska rural villages. The station worked with other public radio stations to arrange for placement of the informational messages on public radio stations reaching more than 300 communities in the state.

Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, in cooperation with Carrs/Safeway and the Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Services, are making Christmas tree recycling available again this year until Jan. 19. Anchorage residents can recycle their trees at any Carrs' parking lot. Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer residents can recycle trees at the Eagle River and Palmer Carrs stores.

Much obliged

Wells Fargo Bank Alaska employees recently raised $83,157 in their annual Community Support/United Way fund-raising campaign. The figure was matched by Wells Fargo Bank Alaska for a bank record of $166,314 in contributions to nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Bank employees raised funds for various charities throughout Alaska through fund-raising techniques such as bake sales, root-beer float sales, casual days and Hawaiian hula dancing. Wells Fargo Bank Alaska employees also made pledges online for the first time in the bank's history.

Apply within

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting proposals for funding under the Alaska Coastal Conservation Grant Program. Nongovernmental organizations, local governments, Native Alaska organizations, state agencies and others may request up to $25,000 in matching funds for voluntary projects that restore, identify or protect coastal habitats. The program specifically targets projects benefiting migratory birds, anadromous fish, marine mammals or threatened or endangered species. Proposal deadline in Jan. 31. For more information and application guidelines, visit http://alaska.fws.gov/es/cpapplic.pdf or call 907-786-3925.