Mayor LaFrance celebrates major milestones and previews next steps for the Port of Alaska Modernization Program

Today, at the Don Young Port of Alaska, Mayor LaFrance celebrated recent major milestones and new alignment on the Port of Alaska Modernization Program (PAMP), including a $50 million grant directed by Alaska's congressional delegation.

"Thank you to Senator Sullivan, Senator Murkowski, and Representative Peltola for getting this construction funded," Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said. "This was one of the biggest grants awarded nationwide in a competitive process, and it took a lot of people working hard in coordination, from Port staff to the administration and Assembly, all the way to our congressional delegation in D.C., to make it happen. This win is a direct result of us all working together to do what's best for Alaska."

The $50 million in Port Infrastructure Development Program funding is dedicated to building the first of two new cargo docks at the Port, and will activate remaining state of Alaska grant funds which require a federal match.

Other milestones include a new paradigm of alignment on the path forward between Administration, Assembly, and users. At the November 6 meeting, the LaFrance administration offered eleven Port-related actions, all of which the Assembly approved, including a reconstituted Port Advisory Board; dedicated design, legal, and financial resources for the program's next steps; and a design for T​erminal 2 that the Port's Design Advisory Board unanimously supported.

For next steps on the Port, the LaFrance administration will release the program's refreshed comprehensive plan of finance before the new year, and issue $180 million in revenue bonds in early December for construction, with a corresponding Assembly-approved surcharge for shippers effective January 1. The administration will issue a new RFP for Terminal 1 construction by next week before sending out an RFP for design services on Terminal 2.

About the PAMP Surcharge

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​​Contact: Ama​nda K. Moser | 907-615-7852 | amanda.k.moser@anch​orageak.gov