Program Update

Cash-Flow Bridge for Rural Alaska Energy Grants

Alaska Venture Fund is relaunching its expanded rural bridge fund designed to support rural Alaskan communities and Tribes. Many federal and state energy grants are reimbursable, meaning communities must pay upfront before getting reimbursed. Shovel-ready clean energy projects stall when our rural communities can’t front that cash.

If your community, Tribe or utility has a reimbursable energy grant and needs cash for upfront costs, reach out to Alaska Venture Fund about our new Rural Revolving Bridge Fund to see if a zero-interest cash advance is possible.

How It Works 

Many federal and state energy grants are reimbursable: communities must pay costs upfront before receiving repayment. However, in many cases rural Alaska communities can’t front that cash, so shovel-ready projects stall. AVF now offers a simple bridge advance: 

  • AVF issues a zero-interest bridge advance, or “recoverable grant” to cover upfront project costs • The community uses the cash advance to pay eligible project expenses 
  • The community submits receipts and receives federal or state reimbursement • Funds are repaid to AVF—typically within months—and revolve to the next community 

With a community’s existing grant award, no underwriting or traditional collateral is required. No new bureaucracy.

Who Should Reach Out 
  • Communities, tribes, or utilities with a reimbursable federal or state energy grant already awarded 
  • Organizations supporting rural Alaska energy projects who know communities facing this cash-flow barrier 
  • Project developers or technical assistance providers working on stalled projects 

Eligible grant programs include but are not limited to DOE Office of Indian Energy, USDA High Energy Cost Grant, and AEA Renewable Energy Fund, and AEA RE-VEEP.

"The AVF bridge fund helped us unlock the funds we needed to implement our energy efficiency project." — Mayor Joshua Verhagen (Nenana, Alaska)

It Works: Chefornak, Alaska 

Between 2023 and 2024, we deployed over $2.6 million in bridge funding across three communities, helping these communities advance renewable projects to increase their energy independence and stabilize cost.

A $198,000 bridge advance from AVF unlocked a $950,000 Department of Energy grant for a wind-powered microgrid — targeting a savings of 20,000 gallons of diesel per year.

Read more here.

Contact Us

Talk to Alaska Venture Fund about our new Rural Revolving Bridge Fund to see if a zero-interest cash advance is possible.

Reach out to Shaina Kilcoyne at bridge@alaskaventure.org.

The Alaska Rural Revolving Bridge Fund is provided with the generous support of ImpactAssets, Inc., which keeps this capital available at zero cost to participating communities.

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