The U.S. Department of Transportation is giving $23 million to the coastal village of Emmonak to improve maritime transportation access by adding a permanent dock, barge landing and ramp, and funding extensive road renovation.
Located near Alakanuk, Nunam Iqua, and Kotlik, Emmonak’s economy relies heavily on commercial fishing and is part of the Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association. The dock project has been in the works for a while.
Emmonak City Manager Martin Moore Sr. declined a recorded interview with KYUK, but referred us to a thank you letter he wrote to the Alaska congressional delegation for their support in which he says "this is awesome."
In a release last Friday, the congressional delegation said, “Emmonak's project addresses a growing demand for durable port infrastructure, including barge landing and road infrastructure in the region as fishing and mining industries grow."
All three delegation members supported the grant application that Emmonak submitted to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program.