Chambers to meet

■ The Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce will host a joint luncheon at noon on Aug. 2 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. An update from Washington, D.C. with Congressman Don Young is scheduled. RSVP required to 262-9814.

■ The Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce will host a joint luncheon at noon on Aug. 3 at the Kenai Visitors Center. A forum for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives is planned. RSVP required to 283-1991.

■ The Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce will host a joint luncheon at noon on Aug. 9 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. A forum for candidates running for the State House of Representatives District 30 seat is planned. RSVP required to 262-9814.

Grants available for use of specialty crops in health care, university facilities

The Division of Agriculture is seeking applicants for grants intended to increase Alaska health care and university facilities’ use of Alaska specialty crops during the summer and promote consumer knowledge of these crops. The grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant program and will be administered by the division.

The division will award multiple grants with a maximum funding amount of $5,000 each. Applications must be submitted to the division by 4:30 p.m. on August 5. Awards will be determined on or before August 19 and distributed the week of August 22. Eligibility requirements, project expectations, and applications can be found at http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/Grants/2016FHCU_application.pdf.

Only projects related to specialty crops are permitted under this funding source. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops. A list of USDA-eligible specialty crops can be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop

Extension offers money management video series

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service has launched a series of short videos to help Alaskans manage their finances.

Topics in the Mastering Money Management series include improving your credit score, reading your credit report, children’s allowances, living on a seasonal income, automating your bill payments and what to do before choosing bankruptcy.

Roxie Dinstel, who has been teaching family finance classes for Extension for nearly 40 years, coordinated the series of five- to eight-minute YouTube videos. Ideas for topics came from agents and their clients, including farmers and fishermen, she said. Dinstel hopes the videos will be a quick resource that people can use.

Personal finance is important, she said. “But we’re not teaching it in school.”

Dinstel said Alaskans face special challenges for money management because of seasonal incomes, an uncertain state economy and budget cuts.

The videos are available at www.uaf.edu/ces/money. Eight have been posted, and more will be added this month. The videos were developed by Dinstel, agents Sarah Lewis and Linda Tannehill in Juneau and Soldotna, respectively, and media technician Jeff Fay. Former University of Alaska President Pat Gamble provided funding for the series. Anyone with ideas for additional video topics may contact Dinstel at 907-474-7201 or at rrdinstel@alaska.edu.

Portable kitchen for rent

The Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District has a DEC-approved mobile kitchen for rent by the day, week or season. The 6.5-by-12-foot trailer with ball hitch contains propane stove, griddle, refrigerator and small freezer, suitable for preparing and/or serving food at events (Kenai Peninsula only).

Call Larry Marsh at 262-9671 for additional specifications and rental requirements.

What’s new in your business?

Have you opened a new business, moved to a new location, hired a new person or promoted an employee? Send us your information at news@peninsulaclarion.com, fax it to 907-283-3299, or drop it by the Clarion at 150 Trading Bay in Kenai. Questions? Call 907-335-1251.

Business announcements may be submitted to news@peninsulaclarion.com. Items should be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication.