The Coronavirus led to many business closures in 2020. Of those that were able to adapt and weather the financial storm caused by the pandemic, many are still struggling to recover.
To that end, the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska has reopened its federally funded small business relief grant program to help small businesses owned by tribal citizens. The council also has introduced a grant program for 2022 start-ups.
The relief grants have been awarded since 2021, with $200,000 total being awarded to 40 businesses in Wrangell so far. There will be two more grant cycles in 2023 and 2024.
Small businesses can be awarded up to $5,000 and the owners must be a tribal citizen enrolled with Tlingit & Haida. Recipients must own at least 50% of the business they are applying for and be actively involved in running the operation. They can live anywhere in the United States. Businesses must have been in operation in 2021 or before. The deadline to apply is Dec. 30 or when Tlingit & Haida has approved 50 applications Southeast-wide, whichever comes first.
Start-up businesses are also eligible for $2,500 in grant awards. The same rules apply, except the business must have started in 2022. Fifty of those grants are available. So far, Tlingit & Haida has awarded 28 start-up grants, six of which were to businesses located in Alaska.
“There isn’t a single person who was not impacted by the pandemic,” said Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, president of the Central Council. “Tlingit & Haida has many citizens who are business owners and are still feeling the impacts of the pandemic. Tlingit & Haida is grateful to have the resources to help provide some relief to our small business owners.”
Central Council has received responses from many award recipients, reporting the funds have helped, especially with the rising cost of fuel and groceries. Two commercial fishing businesses in Wrangell wrote in, stating the grants helped offset bills and other expenses, the council reported.
In 2021, $2.5 million in grants were awarded through the program in Southeast, which is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. About $2.3 million has been awarded so far in 2022.
Grants applications can be found at ccthita-nsn.gov.
Reader Comments(0)