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Community Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CCIAP)

Named Recipient Program: Municipality of Skagway

Chapter 15 SLA 09 allocates a portion of the State of Alaska's CIAP funds to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development for legislatively-named recipients. The Municipality of Skagway was appropriated $86,110 through this legislation for capital projects. These funds are being administered through the Community Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CCIAP).

Municipality of Skagway CCIAP Project
  • Skagway Small Boat Harbor Improvement – Phase B

Municipal Profile

Skagway The Municipality of Skagway is a First Class Borough located 90 miles northeast of Juneau at the northernmost end of Lynn Canal, at the head of Taiya Inlet. Skagway lies 108 road miles south of Whitehorse, just west of the Canadian border with British Columbia. The Municipality of Skagway has a population of 846 (2008 DCCED Certified Population), a coastal area of 154 square miles, and a shoreline of 63 miles.

Situated within the shadow of the Coastal Mountains, Skagway receives less rain than is typical of Southeast Alaska. Skagway was originally known by the Tlingits as Skagua, meaning "windy place"; it was used by the Chilkoots and Chilkats for hunting and fishing. In 1896, gold was discovered 600 miles away in the Yukon; Skagway acted as the starting-off point for prospectors. During WWII, Skagway stationed as many as 3,000 troops, who worked to construct the Alcan Highway. The Klondike Highway to Dawson City opened in 1979. In 1994, the city dock collapsed and sent a tidal wave across the bay; the dock was rebuilt within the year. The city was dissolved in 2007 and became the first first-class borough in Alaska that same year.

Skagway is predominantly a tourist community, with historical Tlingit influences. Downtown buildings have been colorfully restored to reflect the history of the gold rush through the Chilkoot Pass. The tourist industry flourishes in Skagway, as a port of call for cruise ships and a transfer site for rail and interior bus tours. Approximately 1 million cruise ship passengers visit Skagway each year, in addition to RV traffic and numerous state ferry travelers. The Klondike Gold Rush Historical Park and White Pass and Yukon Railroad are major attractions. A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Skagway Village. The Klondike Highway and Alaska Highway provide a connection through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, Canada, to the lower 48 states or north to Interior Alaska.

As a recipient of CCIAP funds, the Municipality of Skagway has developed projects to be funded through the Municipality's CCIAP allocation. The Municipality ranked these projects in Tier 1 and Tier 2 project lists to address regional priorities. The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Community and Regional Affairs then sent the proposed project lists to the Department of Natural Resources for inclusion in the state's CIAP plan.

As a recipient of CCIAP funds, the Municipality of Skagway has developed projects to be funded through the Municipality's CCIAP allocation. The Municipality ranked these projects in Tier 1 and Tier 2 project lists to address regional priorities. The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA) then sent the proposed project lists to the Department of Natural Resources for inclusion in the 2010 Amendment to the Alaska Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) Plan. The plan received federal approval, and the State has subsequently applied for and received federal awards for all approved projects in the CIAP plan. DCRA is now entering into grant agreements with Named Recipients for each approved CCIAP project.

Chilkoot Trail

Hiking the Chilkoot Trail, Skagway. Photo: DCCED

Municipality of Skagway main point of contact for CCIAP

Tom Smith
Borough Manager
Phone: 907-983-2297
Email: t.smith@skagway.org

Contact for More Information

Sally Russell Cox
Division of Community and Regional Affairs
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1650
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-4588
FAX: 907-269-4066
Email: sally.cox@alaska.gov