Alaska Business Resource List
LOCAL
City of Kenai. For information about the City of Kenai’s COVID response and business services, please visit the City’s COVID-19 webpage.
Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The Alaska SBDC maintains a local office and provides no-cost, confidential, business advising services, workshops and webinars, and information regarding Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. Their COVID-19 Resource Center provides guidance, regular updates, and resources to assist businesses understand and apply for SBA loan and grant assistance programs. Visit their website to learn more and register for business advising or ask a question via email.
Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District (KPEDD). The KPEDD is a regional resource with local programs to assist small businesses. They are available to answer questions about their programs and about other assistance opportunities.
Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. The Kenai Chamber closed the Kenai Visitor Center to public access, but Kenai Chamber staff are available to assist over the phone 907-283-1991 Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and via email.
Kenai Peninsula Borough. The Borough hosts a virtual joint information center, a blog that hosts municipalities, government and non-government agency links and their official notifications at www.kpboem.com. Agencies have the option to post onto the blog or the Borough PIO can assist an agency with posting to the blog. The borough has also developed an Informational Hub that collects and maps the location, operating hours and services of participating businesses. The hub also provides links to additional COVID resources that are maintained by the AK Dept. of Health and Social Services.
https://kenai-peninsula-borough-covid-19-hub-kpb.hub.arcgis.com/
STATE
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. This Alaska Department hosts a Resource Portal for business that includes information on travel protocols, bridge and disaster loans and on the Veteran’s Business Outreach Center.
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/EconomicRecoveryResourcesforBusiness.aspx
COVID-19 Economic Stabilization. The Office of the Governor established the “Alaska Economic Stabilization Team” and a corresponding website. The site includes resources and links for small businesses, and for Alaskan’s seeking unemployment insurance.
https://gov.alaska.gov/home/covid-19-economy/
University of Alaska Coronavirus Information. This site is a clearinghouse for information about the University of Alaska's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including emergency financial support for students.
https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/coronavirus/
Alaska Small Business Development Center Overview of the CARES Act. The Alaska SBDC has created this guide to the CARES Act and the various programs that are available to small businesses.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12FKjQ2T7Zry3gHLNsSVtWqNzB9tSfqA7/view
Alaska’s Participating Lenders List. This list contains Alaska lending institutions that are authorized to lend and participate in SBA programs like the Paycheck Protection Program.
Alaska Law Help Regarding COVID-19 Issues. Choose from several topics to find free resources, articles, and court forms. COVID-19 legal rights are changing every day. Check back here regularly to see if your situation is covered by a new law.
https://alaskalawhelp.org/issues/coronavirus-covid-19-resources-updates
FEDERAL
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA oversees the majority of Federal financial assistance programs for small businesses. Specific links to their programs are included below.
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). (04-16-20 Program Closed) This program provides loans and may forgive those loans for small businesses who retain their employees during and after the crisis. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). This program provides up to $10,000 of economic relief in the form of a grant, and also provides loans to businesses that are experiencing difficulties. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance
- SBA Bridge Loans. Enables small businesses with an existing relationship with an SBA lender to quickly access up to $25,000. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-express-bridge-loans
- SBA Debt Relief. For holders of existing SBA loans, this program offers debt relief for a period of up to six months. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-debt-relief
Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act. The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship developed this guide to help businesses understand the major programs and initiatives that are now available from the Small Business Administration.
Small Business Guide and Checklist for Emergency Loans. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce developed this easy to read guide to explain the relief offered by the CARES Act. It answers questions on eligibility, what lenders are looking for, how much can be borrowed and how much may be forgiven.
https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/023595_comm_corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final.pdf
U.S. Department of Labor. Resources for employers and their employees, including updated news briefs, unemployment guidance, and workplace safety to include standards for respiratory protection can be found at this website.
https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus
NONPROFITS
The Foraker Group. The Foraker Group has created a webpage and video that provides an up-to-date collection of resources, local funds, communication guides, and fundraising information to assist nonprofits.
https://www.forakergroup.org/covid/
Alaska Community Foundation. The Alaska COVID-19 Response Fund at the Alaska Community Foundation supports nonprofits that provide critical services to communities and individuals throughout Alaska whose lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://alaskacf.org/blog/funds/ak-covid-19-response-fund/
National Council of Nonprofits. The Council has prepared a webpage with updated information and resources that nonprofits can use to prepare and respond.
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofits-and-coronavirus-covid-19
FRAUD ALERT
The Federal Trade Commission has published “Seven Coronavirus Scams Targeting Your Business.” This post describes seven scams that are specific to small businesses and that seek to exploit companies’ concerns about COVID-19. The SBA also has a webpage devoted to scam and fraud alerts with instruction on how to report them.
https://www.sba.gov/document/report--sba-programs-scams-fraud-alerts
