Nome Region

The Nome Community Network covers most of the Seward Peninsula, St. Lawrence Island, and the coast directly to the south of the peninsula. As of 2020, the population was 10,046, up from 9,492 in 2010. Eighty-two percent of Nome’s population is Alaska Native. The Nome Census Area has a lot of opportunities including the Port Nome, which is being expanded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The region is also home to the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, an annual long-distance sled dog race in March.

Since 2021, two new collaborative, public-private partnerships have joined to tackle the greatest challenges of the area: housing and workforce development. The expansion of the Port of Nome will bring opportunities to Nome but also promises to affect housing availability and affordability in the area. There are also concerns that the local workforce needs more training to fully take advantage of the new jobs that may accompany expanded port operations. However, the lack of available and affordable housing limits the ability to attract new workers that might relocate from surrounding villages, and training opportunities are far away. Currently, most of the training opportunities for the technical programs needed for port employment are hosted several hours away and require stays of up to 15 weeks. Limited daycare options also throttle the ability of local families to increase their income.

The region is also still recovering from Typhoon Merbok, which took place on September 17, 2022. The city of Nome and its housing sustained damage, and the village along the coast experienced significant losses. The storm also impacted labor and economic development. RPN, in collaboration with the Nome Community Network, will prioritize affordable and safe housing, workforce development, and youth programs.