Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

May 13, 2020

In this issue:

• Legislative Budget and Audit Committee Approves Use of CARES Act Funding

• Applications Open for Municipality’s Small Business Grant Pilot Program

• Community Events

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On Monday, the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee (LB&A) approved the governor's spending plan for over $1 billion in federal aid received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This action follows the committee's earlier approval of $125 million in federal aid to Alaska.

Legislative Budget and Audit Committee Approves Use of CARES Act Funding

This week, the LB&A Committee approved the following funding:

$586.6 million for direct municipal relief;
$290 million in grants for Alaska's small businesses. The money will be distributed through grants at the direction of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. DCCED estimates this funding will help 10,000 small businesses that were unable to obtain loans through the federal Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program;
Up to $100 million for Alaska's fisheries;
$10 million for AHFC's Homeless Assistance Program;
$49 million for Statewide Aviation and Rural Airport System FAA funding;
$1,350,000 for DOT Measurement Standards and Commercial Vehicle Compliance; and
$465,000 for Northern Region Highways & Aviation.

Ever since Alaska received $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act aid at the end of April, the legislature has been working on the best way to distribute the money quickly, effectively, and legally. The governor proposed distributing the funding through the "revised program legislative" (RPL) process—a process traditionally used to supplement existing appropriations with federal funding after the legislature adjourns for the session. Since RPLs only require the approval of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, the full legislature does not have to reconvene to approve them.

While the RPL process was an appropriate mechanism to distribute some of the federal CARES aid received by the state, the legislature's attorney warned that using the RPL process to distribute the $586.6 million to municipalities, $290 million to small businesses, and up to $100 million to fisheries is likely an unconstitutional delegation of legislative appropriation power. Despite underlying legal concerns, including the risk of a lawsuit challenging the appropriation as unconstitutional, the LB&A Committee prioritized getting the federal funds into our communities to help families, small businesses, and Alaskans experiencing financial hardships related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Applications Open for Municipality’s Small Business Grant Pilot Program

The Municipality of Anchorage is partnering with Cook Inlet Lending Center (CILC) to process and distribute small business and nonprofit stabilization funds. The application period opened May 12, and closes at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020.

Up to 120 small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 will receive a grant to help with expenses including payroll, employee benefits, rent, utilities, taxes, and paying vendors. Businesses and nonprofits with two to seven employees are eligible to receive a grant of $10,000. Sole proprietorships are eligible for a $5,000 grant. This is a pilot program to better understand the level of need for Anchorage small businesses and nonprofits, and could be expanded at a later date if additional funding is available.

Franchises, payday lenders, pawn shops, bingo halls, pull tab businesses, and businesses legally restricted to patrons over age 18 or 21 are not eligible to apply. Sole proprietors must make 75% of their annual gross income from the business to be eligible. Up to 20% of the funding will go to sole proprietorships, and another 20% to eligible nonprofits.

Applications and more information can be found at the Cook Inlet Lending Center website. Applications can be submitted online, via email to reliefgrant@cookinletlending.com, or mailed to 3600 Spenard Road, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99508. Applications will be available in Spanish, Tagalog, Hmong, Samoan, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese Mandarin, and Arabic.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for this upcoming event:

Anchorage Waterways 36th Annual Social Distancing Creek Cleanup

AWC is offering creek lovers a chance to get out safely to help clean up our waterways after a long winter. Small family groups are encouraged to participate.

1. Go to:

http://anchoragecreeks.org/pages/creekcleanup_locations.php and find a location where you would like to clean.

2. Go to:

http://anchoragecreeks.org/pages/creekcleanup_teamsignup.php to provide information about your small group, what day you would be cleaning, and the location you would like (provide a map # from the locations page).

3. You will be notified about your request.

4. Information about when and where to pick up your cleaning supplies (bags, gloves, map, etc.) will be forthcoming.

Please contact awc@anchoragecreeks.org for questions or help.

When: Thursday, May 14 - Tuesday, May 26

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.

Ongoing Events

Daily Briefings for Small Businesses

When: Monday - Friday at 2:00 PM

Join the Alaska Small Business Development Center Business Advisors for the latest updates in COVID-19 related news and resources (Emergency Loans, Unemployment, etc.) for small businesses. Participants will be able to ask the advisors and guests questions in real time to get the latest information and support.

These live webinars will be recorded and will be stored in the COVID-19 Informational Videos Channel.

Hunker Down Anchor Town

When: Thursday at 4:00 PM

The Mayor is giving weekly community updates about the Municipality’s response to COVID-19.

The discussion is hosted by longtime Alaska broadcaster, Steve Heimel. Community members may ask the Mayor questions by calling 907-222-1061 during the show or tweeting @outnorthradio.

Listeners outside of the Anchorage area can listen online from anywhere by visiting outnorthradio.com/stream from a computer or smartphone.

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.