Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain
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In this issue:
• COVID-19 Updates
• SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Alaska Small Businesses
• Community Events
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The legislature has been working to address the many challenges related to COVID-19. On Thursday, the House passed a bill that will make sure eligible Alaskans can receive Unemployment Insurance as quickly as possible. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration will now offer disaster assistance to small businesses in Alaska.
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COVID-19 Updates
House Passes Immediate Relief for Laid Off Workers Affected by COVID-19
In response to the thousands of Alaskans who were laid off to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the House passed House Bill 308 Thursday morning, just one day after being introduced. The bill:
- Allows Alaskans who are unable to work, or who are underemployed because of public health measures, to become eligible for unemployment benefits and help prevent the spread of COVID-19;
- Waives the standard 1-week waiting requirement to begin receiving unemployment insurance benefits; and
- Increases the weekly per-dependent benefit from $25 to $75, providing relief for families who have lost childcare and income simultaneously.
To apply for or check your unemployment benefit status, please log onto your My Alaska.
House State Affairs Committee Hears from Experts on COVID-19
As more cases of COVID-19 are occuring in Alaska, the House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Wednesday from experts on the spread of infectious diseases to help guide legislators on the policies needed to keep Alaskans safe.
We're learning from experts that the spread of COVID-19 can be contained, but it requires action now. Every Alaskan needs to practice social distancing, and those who have recently traveled out-of-state should self-isolate.
The Committee heard from Dr. Nirav Shah of Stanford University and modeler/mathematician Tomas Pueyo, as well as Alaska testifiers.
Dr. Shah and Mr. Pueyo testimony occurs first in the hearing. Mr. Pueyo published an article analyzing the spread of COVID that has received widespread acclaim, been translated into 28 languages, and been viewed 37 million times in the last week.
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SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Alaska Small Businesses Economically Impacted by COVID-19
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Alaska small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.
Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020.
For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.
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Community Events
Mark your calendars for this upcoming event:
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Virtual Live PE with The Alaska Club
Calling all kids! Meet Mr. Ben from The Alaska Club: He will be your PE teacher starting this Friday and every Monday - Friday @10:30 am. Tune in to the main Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheAlaskaClub/ and get moving with Mr. Ben on Facebook LIVE.
Mr. Ben is the Director of Family Youth and Rec Programming and he recently graduated from UAA in Physical Education. He's fun, motivated, and thinks kids are terrific. This program is for grade school-age kids.
When: Every Monday – Friday from 10:30 – 11:30 AM
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As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
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CONTACT INFORMATION
(907) 465-4919
State Capitol Bldg. Rm 118
Juneau, Alaska 99801
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CONTACT THE GOVERNOR
(907) 465-3500
550 West 7th Ave. Suite 1700
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
STATE OF ALASKA
State Info: (907) 269-5111
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CONTACT THE ADN
Write a Letter to the Editor
Submit your letter to the Anchorage Daily News via email or web form.
attn: Letters to the Editor
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