It was announced on Thursday by the U.S. Economic Development Administration that a grant of $697,991 was awarded to the Association of Village Council Presidents for the purchase of training equipment for use in training workers in mechanical disciplines in the aviation industry.

The grant was issued to off-set the recent failures in the fishing industries in the area. The grant is a step in getting this rural region’s economy back on track.

The equipment purchased will be housed in the AVCP aircraft hanger facility at the Bethel Municipal Airport. GRant monies will also enable AVCP to implement the Aviation Mechanics Program at the Airfrfame and Power Plant Mechanical Training School.

With the implementation of this project, small aircraft in the Bethel area will be able to have their aircraft maintained without having to travel to other regions in the state to have the work done.

Senator Mark Begich welcomed the news of the grant on Friday. 

“This grant will go a long way towards training workers in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region for current jobs and get the local workforce back on track,” Begich said. “I’m glad that folks in Washington are listening to me and starting to understand the importance of investing in Alaska’s unique rural communities and I will continue to push for the support needed to bring jobs to rural Alaska.”

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