Introduction
The Circuit Rider is an Environmental Protection Agency funded program in its fourth year to provide capacity building to ensure that Tribes in the Yukon River region successfully manage EPA grants.
Purpose
The goal of this project is to provide Tribal staff with hands-on technical assistance to guide and assist them in managing IGAP grants, and other grants funded under the EPA. This project will also help tribes meet and understand EPA's reporting and accounting requirements, and allow us to establish internal systems to maintain best practices as needed to continue future EPA funding.
The Circuit Rider focuses on each Tribe's own needs, which could include EPA guidelines, filling out correct forms accurately, grant guidelines, application review and approval process, policies and procedures for federal awards, draw downs of federal funds, procurement and contracts/subcontracts, central files containing official records, A-133 Audits, travel and cost share, financial management/financial narrative reporting, indirect costs, grant writing assistance and adequate financial management systems and effective internal control systems.
Circuit Rider Services
Services provided are:
- Grant Writing Management and Grant Writing Assistance in group trainings and/or one-on-one local intensive training. These training sessions will/may include grant writing approaches, grant reporting requirements, grant tracking approaches, assurance of timely grant reporting, how to submit grant revisions, and we will provide assistance in grant extensions.
- Tribal Council/ Board training, which may cover Council responsibilities, administrative oversight, financial oversight, fiscal responsibility and reporting, in addition to on-going planning.
- Bookkeeping and accounting support services to tribes in need of intensive support. Support services will include review of software being utilized for recording, audit preparation needs, internal bookkeeping systems, checks and balances, and reading budget vs. actual and profit and loss statements.
- Facilitation of tribal government strategic planning sessions when possible. These sessions will produce visual strategic plans focusing on administrative and financial needs. Planning will involve; Council members, Tribal Administrators, Environmental Directors and Bookkeepers.
Circuit Rider Communities
To receive Circuit Rider services, Tribes must formally request the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (YRITWC) to provide them assistance through letters of support or resolutions.
Currently, YRITWC is serving between 22-25 Tribes.
Circuit Rider Staff
Mike Grundberg - Anchorage
Direct Phone: (907) 258-3337
E-mail: mgrundberg@yritwc.org