JUNEAU, AK (July 22, 2022) – The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) has launched a new program to assist tribal citizens who have changed careers due to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and started a new business or plan to start a new business in 2022.
A total of $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding has been directed to the Rescue Small Business Relief Startup Grant program to provide a maximum of 200 grants ($2,500 per grant) to tribal citizens who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a tribal citizen of Tlingit & Haida at the time of application.
- Must be a U.S. citizen age 18 or older.
- Must have a state business license issued after January 1, 2022.
- The individual applicant must be 50% owner of the small business.
- Must complete an online application.
- Business must be actively managed by tribal citizen.
- Non-Artist Applicants: Must complete Spruce Root’s Business Basic online course.
- Artist Applicants: Must complete Spruce Root’s Business Basic online course for artists.
As a pre-requisite to apply for a grant, applicants will need to complete Spruce Root’s Business Basics online class. Classes are available through November 2022. To register for a class, visit www.spruceroot.org/businessbasics.
The funds must be expended in compliance with federal law and used by the applicant only to pay for startup business expenses such as product parts, supplies, and/or inventory.
Only one application per tribal citizen will be accepted and all applications will be processed in the order received. Tribal citizens who previously received a Rescue Small Business Relief grant from Tlingit & Haida are not eligible to apply.
The application period will close on December 30, 2022 at 4:00 PM (AKST) or when all funds have been expended.
Tlingit & Haida President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson hopes new business owners will take advantage of this opportunity.
"Economic sovereignty for Tlingit & Haida remains one of our top priorities. This includes our tribal citizens who own a small business and are contributing to the economy of our communities and working hard to provide for their families," President Peterson shared. "The growth of these small businesses are the backbone of our economy and supporting them through these difficult times has been one of the core missions of Tlingit & Haida."
The startup grants are considered taxable income and businesses are advised to contact their tax accountant to learn how this could affect their tax return.
