The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee voted on Thursday to make it so more Alaskans will have access federal pandemic relief money made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The vote amends the eligibility requirements of the small business relief program originally approved on May 11 through the Revised Program Legislative proposal.
Commissioner Julie Anderson of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development discussed the state of Alaska’s usage of CARES funding, in a Monday evening press briefing alongside Governor Mike Dunleavy.
She mentioned the importance of some restrictions tied to this money 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.”
They did, in fact, approve the changes. The Governor has pledged to expedite the distribution of these funds.
