From Bill White --

NANA Regional Corp. has distributed a $14-per-share dividend to its more than 12,000 shareholders, the Kotzebue-based regional Native corporation said.

A typical shareholder with 100 shares got $1,400.

The total distribution was about $20 million.

“The cost of living in our region is high and the cost of heating fuel continues to climb,” said Donald Sheldon, board chairman. “We hope that these distributions help ease some of the financial burdens that our shareholders feel in this current economic climate.”

Last year the company paid out $17.2 million in dividends, NANA said.

NANA owns the Red Dog zinc and lead mine in Northwest Alaska, the state’s largest mine. It also owns businesses involved in engineering and construction services, information technology and telecommunications, and facilities management and logistics.