First National Bank Alaska’s newly renamed Wealth Management department (previously Investment Management & Trust Services) offers customers a full spectrum of investment, asset, and trust management services for business and personal finances. The new name is meant to better reflect the bank’s global approach to helping Alaskans manage investable assets. fnbalaska.com

The US Senate passed an appropriations package that includes $655 million dedicated to the design and construction of a new heavy polar security cutter; $20 million to acquire long lead-time materials for a second polar security cutter; and $400 million for offshore patrol cutters and $340 million for fast response cutters, six of which will be based in Alaska. Additionally, the bill provides $53 million for shore-side infrastructure facilities in Alaska to support the new cutters, with $22 million going to Kodiak and $31 million to Seward. senate.gov

The US Army Corps of Engineers released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Pebble Project, a copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry project, which would include an open-pit mine and associated infrastructure. The public comment period on the Draft EIS began March 1 and will end May 30, 2019. Comments can be submitted online, through testimony at public meetings, or by mail. The Draft EIS and all contact information are available at pebbleprojecteis.com.

The Alaska House of Representatives created the first ever House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs. The committee will be chaired by Representative Tiffany Zulkosky (D-Bethel) and has been tasked with advancing strategic partnerships between tribes and state government. The House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs was created by the passage of House Resolution 5 on a 37-1 vote. It has been authorized for the duration of the current legislative session, which ends in January 2021. akleg.gov/house.php

Sabrewing Aircraft Company and the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (ACSPI) signed a history-making agreement for Sabrewing to provide a mix of up to ten aircraft—including the 800-pound-payload Rhaegal and the 4,400-pound-payload Wyvern aircraft. The aircraft will be tested at a new ACSPI-created test range, one of the largest aircraft test ranges North America, centered about St. Paul Island.

Under the agreement, Sabrewing will provide equipment and training to allow the ACSPI community to initiate and operate a complete test range complex, known as the SPxTR (pronounced “specter”) Complex. Sabrewing will use the SPxTR Complex to conduct research and development, as well as FAA certification of its aircraft designs.

In addition to the aircraft and test range, Sabrewing and ACSPI are creating a joint venture corporation to provide UAV pilot training, maintenance and dispatcher training, and aircraft replacement and spare parts. sabrewingaircraft.com | tanamawaa.com/acspi/

The Anchorage Midtown Farmers Market will be held on Saturdays starting June 22, 2019, in the BP Alaska building parking lot. Approximately twenty-five vendors are expected to sell their food and agricultural-related products at the new market. The Anchorage Midtown Farmers Market will be held each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., from June 22 through October. anchoragemidtownfarmersmarket.com

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) announced its resident coyotes have moved into their new enclosure and are on display to the public.

Togiak, the male coyote, came from a litter that was living in a den in the flight path at the military base in Anchorage. When the United States Department of Agriculture relocated the den, Togiak was left behind by his family and was transferred to AWCC in 2016. Aurora, the female coyote, has a similar story to Togiak: she was discovered on the runway of the military base, her mother and littermates nowhere to be found. She was relocated to AWCC in 2017.

AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals year-round and provides them with spacious enclosures at its 200-acre facility. Most of the animals that arrive at AWCC become permanent residents. alaskawildlife.org

Anchorage Community Land Trust received a $75,000 grant from KeyBank, which will be used for the expansion of its Set Up Shop program. Set Up Shop provides a pipeline of support for neighborhood entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business in low-income areas. Through the program, entrepreneurs have access to training, lending, business assistance, and real estate services to enable them to build the business of their dreams in their home community. This marks KeyBank’s largest small business investment in the state. key.com | anchoragelandtrust.org