Alaska Marine Highway Interpretive Plan Development

The summary for the Alaska Marine Highway Interpretive Plan Development grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Div of Contracting Facilities Mgt, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Alaska Marine Highway Interpretive Plan Development: Project Location The Southwest, or Kodiak & Aleutians route of the Alaska Marine Highway extends from the tip of the Kenai Peninsula in Homer to Kodiak, and then makes stops along the Alaska Peninsula and terminates in Dutch Harbor, Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands. The interpretive plan will recommend products and services for the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry and the port communities it serves including Homer, Kodiak, Port Lions, Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, and Unalaska. Project Summary This document provides a foundation and direction for coordinated interagency Scenic Byway Planning for the Alaska Marine Highway System Kodiak & Aleutian segment (from Homer to Dutch Harbor). This project will assess and inventory interpretive and educational opportunities along the route. It will include an analysis of traveler profiles, and develop interpretive themes and stories specific to the Marine Highway route and associated public lands and communities. The plan will strategically layout appropriate traveler products and services for the ferry and port communities. This project addresses the Kodiak & Aleutians Byway Corridor Plan recommendation that: "Travelers should have easy access to information; this will make their trip planning more efficient and encourage lengthier stays. ...there is a great need for an interpretive plan that looks at the entire region, its communities and the ship servicing the area and pulls all of this together into an effective, integrated strategy." The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) will partner with Alaska Department of Natural Resources (AK DNR) to develop an interpretive plan for the southwest/Kodiak & Aleutians Segment of the Alaska Marine Highway - a newly designated All American Road. The USFWS Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge lies along this route. This project will identify opportunities to connect travelers interests with the cultural and natural resources of this unique segment of America's Byway Collection, including native cultures, world class birding & marine mammal viewing, WWII history, access to public lands, recreational opportunities, and rural Alaskan communities. The project also provides critical safety and way-finding information, allowing the traveler to take full advantage of the opportunities available along the Marine Highway and in the public lands and communities along the way. Alaska Department of Natural Resources will supply exclusive data sets for formulating the interpretive plan. Alaska DNRs exclusive rights to land status, maps to illustrate wildlife habitat and boundary status, and community profiles uniquely qualifies them to collaborate in the interpretive plan development. It is imperative that Alaska Department of Natural Resources provide design, layout, and data sets since hunting boundaries, regulations, and accuracy of information, as applies to this area of the refuge and Marine Highway, as these elements will be key aspects of the interpretive plan. In addition, Alaska DNR has specific expertise in developing Scenic Byways plans within Alaska. Their experience includes community visits and workshops, and identifying interpretive audiences, themes, resources, and opportunities. Their unique liaison role with other State of Alaska departments has resulted in DNR being the primary writer and planner for the Seward Scenic Byway Plan, Glenn Highway Scenic Byway Plan, and Dalton Highway Corridor Management Plan. As the Alaska Department of Natural Resources is the only non-Federal entity with the management authority and capabilities, this grant agreement is not open to competition outside the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Maximum amount of $48,000 and Minimum amount of $37,000. Project Coordinator: Marianne Aplin U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Manager [email protected] 907-226-4619 95 Sterling Highway, Suite 1 Homer AK 99603 Scope of Work: This project will: . develop and analyze traveler profiles . inventory & assess existing interpretive products and services . conduct community workshops in key port communities to gather input and assess opportunities for local involvement and messages . create and test sample graphic elements for use in interpretive products . develop interpretive themes and stories . detail safety and way-finding needs in port communities . define and prioritize appropriate interpretive and informational products and services for the ferry, port communities, and internet sites . suggest strategies and partnerships to implement recommended interpretive products . recommend messaging, graphics, and themes that can be incorporated into future marketing strategies Audience: Byway Traveler This project benefits the byway traveler by systematically identifying opportunities to connect their interests with the cultural and natural resources of this unique segment of America's Byway Collection. This interpretive plan will reveal the byway's remarkable potential: . The plan will also identify locations and products for way-finding and safety messages, which would give travelers tools and information such as: o Safety messaging o Local attractions and services o Suggested activities and walking tours o Directional and informational signs o Kiosk locations and messages o Maps . The Alaska Marine Highway and Ferry System History . Remote Communities and Economies (including Unalaska, the busiest fishing port in the U.S.) . Alaska Native cultures - both past and present . World class birding (millions of seabirds, including species found nowhere else in the world) . Marine mammal viewing (whales, sea lions, sea otters, and seals) . WWII relics (Japanese occupation of American soil) . Ring of fire (Pacific Rim volcanoes) . Early Russian Exploration & Fur Trade . Remote Communities and Economies (including the busiest fishing port in the US) . Alaskas unique maritime history and nature (North Pacific & Bering Sea) . The Aleutian Archipelago and island ecosystems