We assisted DOWL with a study to evaluate if a port at Cape Blossom would reduce the cost of living for Northwest Arctic Borough residents. Our role was to develop a socioeconomic profile and population forecast, document existing cargo and fuel logistics in the Kotzebue region, and using information gathered from interviews and research, develop a model of delivery costs for fuel and cargo arriving at a Cape Blossom port versus the existing Crowley dock. We found that under some sets of assumptions, the new port could reduce the cost of goods, though challenges remained on the land transportation side. This work took place in 2024–2025.
