SWAMC staff is actively engaged in conversations with other ARDORs, the Alaska Small Business Development Center, Alaska Municipal League, and other State and Federal agency representatives to sift through and understand the many resources available for businesses, municipalities, tribes, and individuals who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SWAMC staff doesn’t claim to be experts on these programs, but we will do our best to help in any way that we can.
The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), working with the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), established the AK CARES grant program to provide economic relief to small Alaskan businesses impacted by COVID-19. SWAMC has been assisting many Southwest Alaska business owners, including commercial fishers and non-profits, with their AK CARES grant application.
Note: The AK CARES grant program has been oversubscribed, meaning more funds have been requested than are available. AIDEA closed the portal to new applications on Tuesday, September 15th.
Here are some tips:
SWAMC invites Southwest Alaska businesses to join FORWARD!
FORWARD is a free online tool provided by SWAMC that connects Southwest Alaska businesses (including commercial fishers and non-profits) to a comprehensive list of federal, state, and local resources — grants, loans, deferrals, and more. It’s a one-stop shop for businesses affected by COVID-19.
Many business owners know about PPP, EIDL, and the AK CARES grant, but there is more out there! Log in to FORWARD and browse everything that is available to you.
Note: FORWARD is a new program, and new programs sometimes have bugs. Known bugs are being worked on, but please let us know if you run into any issues. For best results, fill out every field in your business profile. And for businesses signing up for first-time access to FORWARD, there is a one-business-day turnaround time to receive your username and password.
SWAMC team member Keri is available to help answer questions about how to use FORWARD to access COVID-19 relief funding. Contact Keri at 907-242-4077 or forward@swamc.org.
The Alaska SBDC operates out of the UAA Business Enterprise Institute and they provide business guidance, services, and resources to Alaskan small businesses and entrepreneurs. Alaska SBDC is staffed by certified business advisors across the state and their services are free.
The Alaska Municipal League is a statewide organization of 165 cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities with a mission to represent Alaska’s local governments in state and federal decision making and provide training and services to strengthen Alaska’s local governments. Their Coronavirus resource page is tailored to the needs of cities and boroughs who are tasked with ensuring the health and safety of their residents.
This page includes health mandates issued by Governor Mike Dunleavy, DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink; more information about Gov. Dunleavy’s 6-Point Economic Stabilization Plan; and information for Alaskans about unemployment insurance, small business assistance, homeowner information, and Federal government resources.