Circuit Rider and Peer Assistance Program

Circuit Rider and Peer Assistance

The Indian General Environmental Assistance Program (IGAP) Circuit Rider & Peer Assistance Program provides funding to Tribes and Tribal consortia for financial and/or grants management training and assistance for Tribal staff with IGAP programs across Alaska. There are approximately 229 federally recognized Tribes in Alaska, of which approximately 189 receive EPA IGAP grants.

Frequently asked questions about the program

1. What is a Circuit Rider or Peer Assistance Provider?

A circuit rider or peer assistance provider is an IGAP funded employee, who works for either a Tribal Council or Tribal Consortia, who provides Administrative and Fiscal assistance - including grants management and writing training - to other IGAP grant recipients or applicants.

Technically a circuit rider is a term for any professional who travels a regular circuit of locations to provide services, and has several specific applications (Wikipedia, 2008).

2. Why is this important to me?

Alaska Tribes identified fiscal and administrative training as a critical need in order to strengthen grant programs during meetings and grants management trainings since 2004. They expressed a desire to understand better how to meet EPA’s reporting and accounting requirements, and how to establish internal systems to maintain best practices to ensure continuity of IGAP funding and competitiveness for a variety of other programs.

Additionally, program reviews conducted by the US Office of Inspector General documented deficiencies, and no meaningful training program to address these issues.

As a result of these reports and Tribal desire for fiscal and administrative training, EPA decided to focus on improving grant management and address these pressing needs by allocating some of its IGAP funding towards developing fiscal and administrative training for Tribes through Circuit Rider and Peer Assistance agreements.

3. What type of grant management assistance is provided?

A wide array of services may be offered depending on the provider. Generally assistance may be broken down into two categories: individual support and group training.

Individual Support

Most circuit riders or peer assistance providers offer one-on-one, individual assistance over the phone, via email and in-person either in villages or hub communities. One-on-one assistance may be in the form of grant writing, grant management assistance (including how to complete and submit required forms), and/or developing Tribal Council policies and procedures, etc.

Group Training

Most circuit riders and peer assistance providers also provide group trainings held in either hub communities or villages. Group trainings may cover topics such as Grant Writing, Grant Management, Financial Management Training, Tribal Council/Board Development, Setting up Office Systems.

4. How much does it cost?

The services are free. However if your Tribe wishes to receive services, the Tribe must submit a letter of support or Tribal Council resolution to the Circuit Rider or Peer Assistance Provider's Tribe or Consortia.

5. Who are the Circuit Riders in Alaska and how does my Tribe request services?

Many regions of the State have a Circuit Rider available to provide assistance.

Some Tribes or regional consortia offer the assistance through EPA cooperative agreements, while other Tribes or consortia provide assistance as part of their IGAP grant’s work plan.

Each Circuit Rider or Peer Assistance Provider with an EPA cooperative agreement need to have copies of Tribal Council Resolutions or Letters of Support on file in order to provide services to the Tribes they assist.

Each Circuit Rider or Peer Assistance Provider has their own method to receive requests for services. It varies from needing a formal letter to a simple phone call or e-mail.

View a chart of all the service providers statewide

, indicating which region served and their preferred method of contact for requesting services.

Circuit Rider and Peer Assistance Program

Circuit Rider and Peer Assistance

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