COVID-19 RESPONSE FUNDING
MAY 12, 2020
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the federal act known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act (CARES Act). This Act includes funding for a variety of State agencies for the response and
mitigation of the public health crisis. It is anticipated that this will be an iterative process, with
numerous additional items forthcoming as funding opportunities arise. This package, originally
introduced on April 21 and approved May 11, addresses known federal relief received by the State.

COVID-19 Response Fund (CRF) Distribution
This funding is provided to the State for items that “are necessary expenditures incurred due to the
public health crisis with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Expenditures of the
Coronavirus Relief Fund are constrained by guidance released by the US Treasury on April 22.
Commerce – Direct Municipal Relief ($568.6 million):
• Funding is allocated using a combination of quantified economic activity metrics – such as retail,
hospitality and tourism, regional commercial fishing, and other measures of commerce activity –
and population as distributed through the community assistance program. Provides
communities with the resources needed to respond to first and second order impacts of COVID19.
Commerce/AIDEA – Small Business Relief ($290 million):
• The Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED) through the
Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), will utilize the Alaska-CARES
program to provide grants to Alaska small businesses impacted by COVID.
• DCCED will allocate $750,000 to Alaska Regional Development Organizations to provide
technical support to Alaska small businesses applying for State grants and federal loans.
AHFC – Homelessness Assistance ($10.0 million):
• COVID-19 economic impacts have increased the need for homelessness assistance. This funding
will provide grants to local communities and agencies to support programs designed to prevent
and reduce homelessness, provide services that prevent housing displacement, and assist the
homeless to transition back to permanent housing.
Health – Non-Profit Support ($50.0 million):
• Basic essential human services, including, but not limited to: soup kitchens & food banks, nonresidential emergency shelters, religious non-profits, homeless shelters, clothing items, and
other entities supporting social welfare. No RPL is required as the Department of Health and
Social Services (DHSS) has adequate authorization to accept federal receipts.
Health – Health-Related COVID-19 Costs ($331.4 million):
• Support ongoing response and mitigation efforts with federal receipts and maintain a
contingency for potential unknown impacts. No RPL is required as DHSS has adequate
authorization to accept federal receipts.

Direct Agency Funding Items Included in RPL Package:
Education - Emergency Education Relief Funds ($44.9 million):
• Emergency grants to Local Education Agencies that are impacted by COVID-19. Distributed per
the Title-1 formula.
Education – Child Nutrition Funding ($41.9 million):
• Funding to schools and other institutions participating in the National School Lunch Program and
related programs.
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 COVID-19 RESPONSE FUNDING
MAY 12, 2020
Education – National Endowment for the Arts Funding ($0.4 million):
• Grants to arts organizations, local arts agencies, and partners for emergency relief
to sustain operations in response to COVID-19.
Transportation - Federal Transit Administration Grants ($29.0 million):
• Funds are available for operating expenses for all Federal Transit Administration 5311 recipients
(non-urbanized areas) including Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Alaska Marine Highway System
Transportation - Federal Aviation Administration Rural Airport System Maintenance ($49.0 million):
• Airport Grants will be used for statewide aviation and rural airport system operating and
maintenance expenses, where revenue or expenditure impacts have occurred.
Transportation - Measurement Standards and Whittier Tunnel Support ($3.0 million):
• Funding for unbudgeted and unanticipated expenditures related to ensuring continuity of
operations and program delivery within this appropriation.
Commerce - Economic Stimulus for Alaskan Fisheries ($100.0 million):
• Through the Federal CARES Act funding is being allocated to the National Fisheries Marine
Service who will distribute funding to states to provide assistance to subsistence, charter/guide,
and commercial fishery participants affected by COVID-19
Public Safety - U.S. Department of Justice Byrne-JAG Grant ($3.6 million):
• The program provides states with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas
including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, corrections, crime victim and
witness initiatives, and mental health programs.
University – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ($5.0 million):
• Grants directly to institutions to support students impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Other Items Not Requiring RPL
Transportation - International Airport ($32.1 million)
• Funds will be accepted directly by the International Airport System to support airport
operations.
Office of the Governor – Elections Support ($3.0 million)
• Funds are used to support modifications to the current elections process in light of the COVID19 public health crisis. Authority already exists to deposit funds into the Election Fund, but a
subsequent appropriation for the project will be required in the near future.
Commerce - Community Development Block Grants ($2.8 Million):
• Funds to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities. Sufficient prior-year
funding exists to receive these federal receipts.

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