Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
03/31/2022 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Community Service Block Grant Program by the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development | |
| Presentation: Division of Community and Regional Affairs and Rural Cap | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 31, 2022
8:08 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sara Hannan, Co-Chair
Representative Calvin Schrage, Co-Chair
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative Ken McCarty
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Josiah Patkotak, Vice Chair
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Kevin McCabe
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE~ COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- HEARD
PRESENTATION: DIVISION OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND
RURAL CAP
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
PAULETTA BOURNE, Grant Administrator
Division of Community and Regional Affairs
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation on the
Community Service Block Grant state plan; answered questions
during the PowerPoint presentation on the Public Hearing
Community Service Block Grant.
TIEL SMITH, Chief Executive Officer
Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation on the
Community Services Block Grant.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:08:10 AM
CO-CHAIR SARA HANNAN called the House Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:08 a.m.
Representatives McCarty (via teleconference), Schrage, and
Hannan were present at the call to order. Representative
Drummond arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^PRESENTATION: Community Service Block Grant Program by the
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
PRESENTATION: Community Service Block Grant Program by the
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
8:09:16 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN announced that the first order of business would
be a presentation on the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG)
program by the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development.
8:09:38 AM
PAULETTA BOURNE, Grant Administrator, Division of Community and
Regional Affairs, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development, gave a PowerPoint presentation titled "Community
Service Block Grant (CSBG) State Plan" [hard copy included in
the committee packet].
8:10:05 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 8:10 a.m.
8:10:46 AM
MS. BOURNE explained how CSBG funds are allocated, as she moved
to the second slide, titled "CSBG - General Information," which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Federal program funded by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS)
• For the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023 funding
cycle, we anticipate receiving $2.3M to $2.5M.
• By statute:
95% goes to Community Action Agency: Rural Alaska
Community Action Program (RurAL CAP).
5% for State administrative costs
MS. BOURNE continued on slide 3, titled "CSBG - Purpose," which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Purpose and Goals:
• Alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty.
• Revitalization of low-income communities.
• Empower low-income families and individuals in rural
and urban areas to become fully self-sufficient.
MS. BOURNE added that the CSBG is particularly for families who
are attempting to transition off of state programs. She
continued to slide 4, titled "CSBG - State Plan" that
highlighted the requirements to be able to receive a grant,
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
42 USC § 9908 (a)(3) requires States to hold at least
one legislative hearing every three years.
• The hearing is to be held in conjunction with the
development of the State Plan.
• The State Plan outlines the activities to undertake
in the Federal Fiscal Year.
• Alaska's FFY 2023 State Plan is currently in
development.
MS. BOURNE stated that because the state plan is lengthy, she
would briefly outline the major components. She moved to slide
5, titled "CSBG - Program Components," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
The RurAL CAP identifies several program components
through the following departments:
• Administrative Services
• Child Development Division • Community Development
Division
• Development and Communications
• Planning and Construction Division
• Supportive Housing Division
MS. BOURNE reminded the committee that each of these components
are described in detail in the state plan. She moved on to
slide 6, titled "CSBG - Outcome Measures," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
Identified in the State Plan:
• Track results and report on quarterly basis.
• Progress reviewed by RurAL CAP staff, who use it to
evaluate results and make changes when necessary.
MS. BOURNE concluded the presentation by stating that both the
department, and the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.
(RurAL CAP) place a strong emphasis on promoting maximum
participation for rural residents in the elimination of causes
and conditions of poverty. She said today she wished to educate
the public and accept comments.
8:14:04 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE asked Ms. Bourne whether she had been the
grants administrator for 11 years.
MS. BOURNE replied yes.
^PRESENTATION: Division of Community and Regional Affairs and
RurAL Cap
PRESENTATION: Division of Community and Regional Affairs and
RurAL Cap
8:15:01 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN announced that the final order of business would
be a presentation by the Division of Community and Regional
Affairs and RurAL Cap.
8:15:52 AM
TIEL SMITH, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Alaska Community
Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP), presented a PowerPoint, titled
"Public Hearing Community Services Block grant" [hard copy
included in the committee packet], and began by providing his
background. He stated that Ms. Bourne's presentation was
extremely meaningful and highlighted that CAP agencies are
unique in that they are not trying to subsidize someone's
living, but rather trying to educate, participate in healing,
and help individuals change.
8:19:20 AM
MR. SMITH pointed out the "amazing mission" this year, as
strategic planning will not be changed, but rather expanded to
areas of development which will be discussed today. He focused
on the fifth slide, titled "Statewide Impact," which showed a
map of the areas of development, and he pointed out a narrative
report that should be included in the committee packet.
8:20:37 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN sought to confirm that there was only one CAP
agency in Alaska, whereas most states have many.
MR. SMITH replied that is correct and gave a brief summary of
where the CAP agency came from in the 1960s. He explained that
rural CAP is no different in leadership change, adding that he
was not here to emphasize that. He proceeded to the sixth
slide, titled "Statewide Impact," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
FY 2021 Highlights:
• 233 adults and 315 children received
transitional or affordable housing
• 125 families' homes were weatherized
• 22 Tribes received training and technical
assistance through the Alaska Tribal Justice Resource
Center
• 639 children were enrolled in Early Head Start
and Head Start programs
8:25:26 AM
MR. SMITH reiterated that success could not be accomplished
without partners, including tribes and government relations
working together and collaborating. He stated there is no
healing or change without education first.
8:26:55 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN referred to the 639 children enrolled in the
Early Head Start/Head Start programs, and questioned whether
that number is the entirety of the Head Start programs or only
the programs with which RurAL CAP is coordinating.
MR. SMITH responded it is just RurAL CAP at this time.
8:27:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND reported that in total, at least 3,000
kids from birth to age 5 had been served through Head Start
programs statewide. She acknowledged how "critically important"
the programs are and thanked Mr. Smith for being one of the Head
Start providers.
MR. SMITH commented how early the brain starts absorbing
information, adding that [age 0-5] is a very influential time of
life.
8:29:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether the Parents as Teachers
program is affiliated with the RurAL CAP program in parts of
Southeast Alaska.
MR. SMITH confirmed that is correct. He proceeded to slide 7,
titled "Community Driven Planning & Development," where he
stressed a focus on housing. He stated that since taking over
as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role last year, he has been
meeting with the partners, funders, and stakeholders to see
where the work has been together and to refresh it going forward
and set new goals. Also highlighted with housing, he said, was
that education and healing will occur when there are good and
well-built homes to complement living. In addition, he stressed
the importance of sustainability and food security.
8:35:16 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN referred to the governor's task force on food
security, indicating that there will be another bill next
spring. She encouraged RurAL CAP to have a voice in the
process.
8:38:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked what RurAL CAP is doing to avoid
redundancy with their partners.
MR. SMITH responded that it takes ongoing outreach to individual
partners that provide services in a similar arena as RurAL CAP,
but also development planning. He said RurAL CAP was utilizing
its communication avenues while also building new ones that can
provide what other organizations are doing.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY pointed out that RurAL CAP is the point
organization for these projects. He asked whether different
organizations report to RurAL CAP.
MR. SMITH replied that it is less about reporting and more about
collaboration and sharing so the organizations complement one
another.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked how one audits the progress if
there is collaboration but no data sharing.
MR. SMITH clarified that there is a sharing element within the
organizations. He explained that a data team within the child
development division assembles and reports data regularly.
8:42:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY alluded to a baseline of longitudinal
studies.
8:42:47 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN summarized Representative McCarty's question and
asked Mr. Smith how RurAL CAP is reporting success for each
program based on a baseline analysis.
MR. SMITH responded they have monthly and quarterly reports they
measure against and continue to do planning going forward.
There is a whole system of assessment that allows for measuring
success, he added.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked about challenges for RurAL CAP over
the past three years.
MR. SMITH replied that there are easily obtainable reports
available in areas of success and those in which improvement is
needed. He said there had also been a recent CSBG report
accounting system updated in the last three years, as well as an
updated human resources (HR) system, which allows for more
accuracy being reported.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY stated that he would like to receive the
more accurate reports.
8:45:33 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE offered his perception as to what happens with
the money flow after the funds are administered. He stated his
understanding that the federal government issues the CSBG, which
flows to the state of Alaska, after which the funds are
administered by Ms. Bourne as grants to RurAL CAP. RurAL CAP
then further administers the funds to partner organizations and
utilizes the funds to administer programs in-house. He asked
whether this is accurate.
MR. SMITH directed the question to Ms. Bourne.
8:47:00 AM
PAULETTA BOURNE, Grant Administrator, Division of Community and
Regional Affairs, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development (DCCED), confirmed that Co-Chair Schrage's
understanding of the flow of funding was accurate. Part of the
plan to health and human services, she explained, identifies how
the board wants to utilize the funds. Once they are
distributed, she said, then outcome measures must be shown.
MR. SMITH confirmed that what Co-Chair Schrage perceived was
stated very well. He added that the partners with whom they
have grant relationships with take advantage of the funds, which
is where data and reports are assembled and reported back. He
referred back to the program areas that take advantage of CSBG
funds, including construction, child development, and community
development. He said RurAL CAP leverages the CSBD dollars with
the programs to accomplish the mission of a block grant.
8:50:09 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE said he appreciated the opportunity to have
this conversation and learn more. With respect to the programs
RurAL CAP runs in-house, he asked whether Mr. Smith is in charge
of all the programs or whether there are program coordinators.
He asked how it all works.
MR. SMITH explained that he has a team of people he works with,
composed of an executive team and directors over each of the
program areas. In the end, he stated, there are about 400
employees in various communities who all execute the mission.
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE thanked Mr. Smith for the helpful information.
8:52:04 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked whether there is any headway being made in
safe housing and adequate conditions in Alaska - mainly rural
Alaska. She questioned whether that is an achievable goal. She
gave examples of the hardships that can be experienced living in
rural Alaska.
MR. SMITH provided his perspective, stating that he has a board
chair and that RurAL CAP is focused on housing with all the
other entities. He said there is slow progress being made, and
there is much to do. There is an outmigration problem, he
explained, from rural Alaska into the central hubs, so the low-
income housing is being built as there is a strong need in urban
areas; however, there are many who still want to remain in the
rural villages they grew up in.
8:56:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND related that when she first came to
Alaska, a lot of housing was built in the Pacific Northwest and
barged up to many of the villages in Alaska. She explained that
the walls were prefabricated with wiring and plumbing and were
then stacked and assembled in the villages due to the lack of
facilities to build them in the villages.
MR. SMITH thanked Representative Drummond for her input and
important points. He stated there is currently a housing
business case with assessments for the right design and
location. All the elements are being considered, he added.
9:01:36 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE expressed confusion as he read through a report
and asked how the statewide plans relate to each other.
MR. SMITH responded it may be a two-part answer. He began by
simplifying that the needs assessment determines how to execute
in all the program areas.
9:04:02 AM
MS. BOURNE added that 42 U.S.C. requires that agencies have a
strategic plan, a needs assessment, and a budget to implement
the program.
9:05:01 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE commented that RurAL CAP works to deploy a
funding strategy. He asked whether the reports on various work
areas RurAL CAP engages in could be found online.
MR. SMITH replied if the information is not on the website, it
can be made available.
9:06:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY reflected back to the discussion
mentioning food security and the rural areas that depend on a
different paradigm of food security, where traditional values of
food security may have been altered. He asked whether RurAL CAP
is exploring those traditional values.
MR. SMITH replied absolutely. He relayed that he also sits on
the Bristol Bay Native Corporation Board, which has a cultural
and traditional development program area that goes back to their
shareholders. He discussed leveraging the wisdom and experience
of the elders and letting youth participate in resetting their
understanding of language, culture, and a subsistence way of
life. The focus is on understanding the intimate nature of that
culture, he said.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY inquired about the cultural significance
of a multi-generational household.
MR. SMITH replied that being culturally sensitive is important,
and he highlighted the importance of collaborative and strategic
thinking with different areas of Alaska. He agreed there is a
community element in their housing and in functioning together,
but it is not all created equal throughout the state.
9:11:43 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked Mr. Smith to rephrase a statement he made
earlier regarding Bristol Bay.
MR. SMITH replied that Bristol Bay comprises roughly 8,000
people, 10,000 bears, and 50 million fish.
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked Mr. Smith whether she could appropriate
that and use it.
MR. SMITH confirmed yes.
CO-CHAIR HANNAN mentioned that in Juneau, Tlingit and Haida
Central Council purchased a contractor and its forte is modular
commercial buildings. After the contract was purchased, the
council's goal was workforce development and the idea of modular
construction inside the rainforest as a successful enterprise.
MR. SMITH said that "one size does not fit all," adding that
Central and Southwest Alaska are different areas and require
potentially different designs, as well as different
circumstances. All these elements are a part of making sure
there is a solution in the communities. He stated that a model
has to be there for it to be sustainable.
9:16:40 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE referred back to slide 5, "Statewide Impact,"
and questioned numbers 1 and 3 [corresponding handout included
in the committee packet], as to what drives the level of
spending in a region. He also asked for clarity regarding the
$9 million for the Cook Inlet Tribal Council Region.
MR. SMITH replied that the ingredients that make up that
particular allocation are the economy, the population, and the
application, all of which allow these areas to benefit. It is
not specific to one area, he said, adding that Co-Chair Schrage
was right in questioning the allocation of funds to different
areas. It will change going forward, he said.
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE asked whether the aforementioned $9 million was
distributed to entities that are headquartered at the location
or whether some of the funds are "bleeding" out to other
communities.
MR. SMITH replied he would have to do a "deeper dive" on that.
9:21:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND sought to clarify whether the $9 million
is leveraged with grants and other resources, and whether it
covers salaries.
9:22:25 AM
MS. BOURNE replied that is the "beauty" about the CSBG - the
ability to combine funding to help the cause and conditions of
poverty. She added that performance results must also be shown
to ensure that the monies are reaching as many people as
possible throughout the state.
MR. SMITH commented that he would be better prepared to talk
about the numbers next time.
9:24:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether prefabs are done here
rather than in the Lower 48.
MR. SMITH replied that RurAL CAP is not in that development
space yet; however, RurAL CAP is looking for development ideas
and will be continuing to explore that business model and
partnership with others that are doing it already.
9:26:58 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE asked for confirmation that some of the
entities, such as Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC),
actually started within RurAL CAP.
MR. SMITH listed Alaska Village Initiatives, AVTEC, and Alaska
Legal Services Corporation as three examples of what came out of
what is now called RurAL CAP.
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE asked whether the entities still collaborate
with and receive funding from RurAL CAP.
MR. SMITH confirmed Co-Chair Schrage's statement was correct.
9:31:19 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE expressed appreciation for all the information
shared today.
9:31:37 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN noted that Ms. Bourne's boss, Sandra Moller, had
been available online and thanked her for her work.
9:32:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND stated that she was grateful for
learning about all the different ways RurAL CAP and the grants
program benefits Alaskans.
9:33:16 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 9:33 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCRA - Alaska 2019 Fact Sheet 3.31.22.pdf |
HCRA 3/31/2022 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HCRA - DCCED - CSBG Presentation 3.31.22.pdf |
HCRA 3/31/2022 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HCRA - CSBG State Plan Testimony 3.31.2022.pdf |
HCRA 3/31/2022 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HCRA - FFY22 CSBG State Plan.pdf |
HCRA 3/31/2022 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HCRA - RurAL CAP Presentation 3.31.22.pdf |
HCRA 3/31/2022 8:00:00 AM |