After more than a year of diligent evaluation effort, Ecotrust has published the “AMC Grant Evaluation Report: 2023-2025“. This 75-page report presents a formative evaluation of the AMC grant activities conducted from 2023 through 2025. It explains how SEC and its partners have deployed grant funding across Alaska to support workforce development, research, equipment and technology, marketing, access to capital, and other initiatives designed to grow the mariculture industry. The evaluation examines the grant’s early impacts by analyzing program data, stakeholder feedback, and project outcomes. Readers will gain insight into how AMC’s investments are addressing challenges, strengthening partnerships, supporting industry participants, and helping build the foundation for a sustainable mariculture sector in Alaska.

About Ecotrust’s Grant Evaluation

Beginning in 2023, Southeast Conference (SEC), on behalf of the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC), began issuing subawards and contracts to complete projects that are helping catalyze Alaska’s mariculture industry. These grant component projects are led by economic development districts, trade associations, universities, state agencies, and other partners throughout Alaska’s coast regions. AMC’s investments are providing funds for projects in workforce development, research, equipment and technology, marketing, business development, and more.

To capture the grant’s impact, SEC contracted with the non-profit Ecotrust to serve as AMC’s grant evaluator. Ecotrust is helping AMC refine its methods and metrics to achieve the grant’s objectives, as well as helping to understand industry reach, track success, and maximize effectiveness of each component project. AMC’s activities and projects have contributed positively to the mariculture industry in Alaska, strengthening relationships, trust, and partnerships in pursuit of a viable and sustainable industry.

Ecotrust is applying a methodology for evaluating the AMC grant, which began with with developing a theory of change and indicators. Their team performs document review, data analysis, interviews, focus groups, and surveys. SEC meets regularly with Ecotrust to stay engaged and learn from the ongoing evaluation while administering grant programs. Externally, Ecotrust has presented updates on the grant evaluation process to the AMC Governance Body, AMA Liaisons, and regional EDDs, as well as presentations at webinar and conferences.

Background

Southeast Conference (SEC) is the federally designated Economic Development District (EDD) for Southeast Alaska, as well as the state designated Alaska Regional Development Organization. SEC’s mission is to undertake and support activities that promote strong economies, sustainable communities, and a healthy environment in Southeast Alaska.

In September 2022, Southeast Conference was awarded a $49 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) grant to catalyze a viable and sustainable mariculture industry in Alaska, supporting the production of shellfish and seaweed, for the long-term benefit of the state’s economy, environment, and communities.

SEC leads the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) grant coalition, which includes members of Alaska’s mariculture industry, tribal organizations, regulatory agencies, university system, regional EDDs, trade organizations, and others. A Governance Body, composed of AMC coalition leaders and Tribal executives from each of the project regions, guides the grant’s work and equity metrics.

The AMC has complementary grant components designed to break down barriers and develop Alaska’s mariculture industry. The Overarching Narrative explains how the grant components work together to grow the industry in an equitable and responsible manner. The full project period for the AMC BBBRC project is October 1, 2022 to September 30th, 2026.