The Berkowitz Administration in Anchorage is granting $6 million to small businesses and nonprofits in Anchorage, and the CARES Act grants are limited to $10,000 each, to be determined by lottery on Thursday.
But on in the Kenai Borough, over $7 million has already been given out to businesses and nonprofits. Another $2.2 million has been set aside for Phase II grants, for a total of $9.2 million.
That’s for a population of businesses that is a fraction of the size of Anchorage.
Kenai Peninsula has a population of 58,000 compared to the 291,000 people who live in the Anchorage municipality. Each of the senior centers on the peninsula have already been awarded $50,000.
Fairbanks has also been more generous with its businesses and nonprofits than Anchorage. The City of Fairbanks, population 31,000, was awarded more than $16 million in CARES Act money and is granting more than a third of it — $6.25 million — to businesses.
Some $2.8 million has already been awarded to 174 businesses in Fairbanks. Grants are $15,000, a third more than the Anchorage grants are going to be during the Thursday lottery.
Fairbanks will also award $7.75 million to medical facilities, $1 million to individuals and families, and $1 million for direct expenses and administration costs. Applications for Phase II of the distribution is available through Sept. 30.
Anchorage is spending most of its CARES Act money on government-related and health services. It has given out $14 million to hospitality and tourism businesses in a separate tranche of Economic Stimulus grants. Nonprofits have already received $3 million. Another $4.5 million is being spent on a pet project of the unions — hiring laid off members question to build trails around Anchorage, Girdwood and Eagle River, and to help with the installation of an “Indigenous Wayfinding” project, which means signage in Native language, in a sweetheart deal pushed by Rep. Zack Fields
- Economic Stimulus: $33,442,380.04
- Family Support: $18,850,000
- Housing & Homelessness: $38,050,000
- Public Health & Safety: $31,300,000
- Community Investments: $5,500,000
- Direct Municipal Response: $14,635,000
- Contingency Fund: $14,936,186
Total: $156,713,566.04
