Talkeetna Hockey Association receives grant

The Talkeetna Youth Hockey Association has received a grant that will allow them to purchase the tractor needed to maintain the hockey rink.  The $20,000  grant comes from a Tier 1 Rasmuson Foundation Grant.  She said the hockey association came up with matching funds to help buy the small zamboni fitted to the tractor.

All first quarter Rasmuson grant awards were announced Monday.  Award amounts to all organizations totaled almost $377,000.

Tier 1 grants fund equipment, vehicles, building repairs and other capital expenditures. Tier 2 grants are awarded to help fund expansion and innovation.  Those grants fund software, business development plans and technical assistance. 

First quarter grants awarded this year fell by about 100 thousand dollars from last year. The Rasmuson Foundation announced at the beginning of the year that due to heavy losses incurred in the latest stock market decline, they would be granting less awards this coming year. 

Cassandra Stalzer, Rasmuson Communications Director, says that the grant reviews are on going and organizations can apply at anytime.  Large Tier 2 applications are reviewed twice a year and are awarded less than Tier 1 funds.