ANCHORAGE, AK-Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) board of directors, at its annual meeting, this year held in Cordova, re-elected Frank Roppel of Wrangell to serve as the board chair. Governor Murkowski appointed Roppel to the board of directors in July 2003, and he has served as chair since that time. Roppel previously served on the Alaska State Housing Authority (ASHA) and AHFC boards for 12 years in the '70s and '80s.

Roppel is also chairman of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, a subsidiary of AHFC, which recently presented a feasibility study of an in-state gas line aimed at providing gas at the lowest possible cost to a majority of Alaskans.

The board also re-elected N. Claiborne Porter from Anchorage as vice-chair. Mr. Porter has served on the board since May of 2005.

The seven-member board consists of four governor appointees: Roppel, Porter, Brent Levalley of Fairbanks, and Marty Shuravloff of Kodiak. The remaining three members are state commissioners: Susan K. Bell, Commissioner, Dept. of Commerce, Community & Economic Development; Bryan Butcher, Commissioner, Dept. of Revenue; and William J. Streur, Commissioner, Dept. of Health & Social Services.

AHFC is a self-supporting public corporation with offices in 16 communities statewide. It provides statewide financing for multi-family complexes, congregate facilities, and single-family homes, with special loans for low- and moderate-income borrowers, seniors, veterans, teachers, nurses, and those living in rural areas of the state. AHFC also provides energy and weatherization programs, low-income rental assistance in 16 communities, and special programs for the homeless and those seeking to become self-sufficient.