Officials with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development say a dozen Alaska Native villages and tribes are receiving a total of nearly $6 million in grants to help them meet needs for affordable housing and economic and community development.

The funds are part of HUD's Indian Community Development Block Grant Program.

Officials said Tuesday that recipients plan to use the competitive funds to replace or expand homes, build community facilities and decrease overcrowding.

Recipients include Arctic Village, the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and the Native villages of Buckland, Kiana and Ekwok.