(Juneau) - Today by a vote of 15 yeas and 3 nays, the Senate passed SB 291, a municipal harbor facility matching grant program. SB 291, sponsored by Sen. Bert Stedman (R - Sitka) creates a grant program to achieve capital improvements for harbor facilities through a one-time 50/50 matching grant to municipalities.

This program will fund major maintenance and capital improvements of harbor facilities using the state's portion of the raw fish tax and the watercraft fuel tax. "For many coastal communities harbors are the center of business and the only point of access into the community. We cannot afford to ignore the dilapidated condition of our harbors anymore," explained Sen. Stedman.

SB 291 found strong bipartisan support on the Senate Floor. "I see the vote today as acknowledgement that harbors are our roads to resources and a call to the Department of Transportation to address these infrastructure needs," said Sen. Stedman.

For more information, contact Kim Carnot at (907) 465.3873.

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