Commissioner Julie Anderson of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development discussed the state of Alaska’s usage of Federal CARES Act funding, in a Monday evening press briefing alongside Governor Mike Dunleavy.
Governor Dunleavy said that there is a deadline to spend CARES money by the end of the year, but that he is confident that it can all be spent before that deadline.
Commissioner Julie Anderson spoke regarding CARES Act applications numbers: “It was 4,163 applications with a total amount requested of $197.2 million. So, people are getting the word and they’re getting these applications in, and I think that’s wonderful.”
She also offered information about the current eligibility requirements: “I’d like to remind people that the current eligibility requirements are that businesses and commercial fishermen – are primary income sources, they must have 50 or less employees, are licensed and located in Alaska, and receive $5,000 or less in PPP or EIDA funding.”
Some restrictions previously bound to this money are on the path to being removed: “The RPL will remove the restrictions on businesses that received and kept any amount of SPA, PPP, or EIDL funding, or the restrictions on second-income. These changes will be in effect when the LB&A committee actually approves this, and I understand they’re meeting August 27. So, pending approval on these recommended changes, these will be implemented by the Department on August 31 – that’s if they actually approve these on Thursday.”
She also mentioned that the Department will be watching applications as they come in to help small businesses. Governor Dunleavy noted that the state is looking at expediting how businesses will be receiving the money.
