Copper Valley Communities Receive COVID-19 Monies

Local Communities Will Get Funding From State Coronavirus Relief Fund

McCarthy is one of the towns receiving state funding. (Photo, Country Journal) 

A number of local communities in the Copper Valley are in line to get funding distributed by the legislature, according to a document sent out by Representative George Rauscher, one of the two Copper Valley state legislators.

These include:
Chistochina ($75,000), Chitina ($75,000), Copper Center ($75,000), Gakona ($75,000), Glennallen ($75,000), Gulkana ($75,000), Kenny Lake ($75,000), McCarthy ($75,000), Mentasta ($75,000), Nelchina/Mendeltna ($75,000), Silver Springs ($75,000), Slana ($75,000), Tazlina ($75,000) and Tolsona ($75,000).

The money comes from a distribution of over a billion dollars, given to the state by the federal government. The legislature reconvened to decide how the money would be divided. Some of the funds are going to small businesses and the appropriations to the communities were pushed through by local legislators.

The amount of $75,000 seems to be the standard default funding for places in the unorganized borough, without city or borough governments. Larger places, such as Wasilla and Valdez, received millions of dollars through this program.

The state document says:
Alaska has received  $1,250,000,000 from the CRF (Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund) and will direct $257,548,754 to communities for mitigation and recovery efforts based on population as distributed through the community assistance program.

Communities receiving these payments will be required to certify compliance with federal guidance regarding expenditures of CARES Act funds. Communities will be required to reimburse the State for any misspent funds.

Beginning June 1, 2020, municipalities shall electronically submit, on the first day of each month, a report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that lists the expenditures used to cope with the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Payments will be made as soon as possible in FY2020 to ensure communities have access to the resources needed to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency.