CARES Act

On June 25, 2021, the United States Supreme Court acknowledged ANCs are Indian tribes as described under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 by ruling ANCSA corporations are eligible for CARES Act funding.

Koniag is eligible to receive assistance from the CARES Act, which allocates $450 million in funding to be divided among Alaska’s 12 regional corporations and nearly 200 village corporations to help our Alaska Native Shareholders, Descendants, and communities recover from the pandemic.

Koniag cannot thank Alaska’s congressional delegation, the State of Alaska, and the Alaska Federation of Natives enough for their unwavering support of Alaska Native people throughout the Supreme Court litigation.

Everything we do at Koniag is with our Shareholders and Descendants at top of mind. Koniag’s Board and staff recognize that the COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted us all.

The Department of Treasury has strict spending requirements for CARES Act funding. The guidelines restrict Koniag from simply paying a special distribution with the funds.

In late August, the Koniag Board approved our CARES Act spending plan, which includes three parts: a $1 million donation to KANA to help cover costs associated with in-region vaccinations and COVID-19 testing; mental health support; and direct relief to individuals.

Voting Shareholders and registered Descendants are eligible to apply. Applications will become available in late September.

Descendant applications are available in the MyKoniag Shareholder portal, at com/our-shareholders/records-forms/, or by contacting Shareholder Services.

Koniag wants to help as many Shareholders and Registered Descendants who have been impacted by the pandemic as possible. For this reason, we won’t know the individual relief amount until we start accepting applications and understand the scope of the need.

Koniag CARES Act funding for Shareholders and registered Descendants will be distributed for mental health support and direct relief to individuals.

Direct relief to individuals will be issued for the following qualified expenses incurred between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021:

• Unreimbursed medical expenses related to COVID-19
• Personal care items (masks, sanitizer, hygiene products, etc.)
• Payment of rent or mortgage (to avoid eviction or foreclosure)
• Utility costs such as electricity, gas, etc.
• Expenses for telework or distance-learning, including internet and related equipment (computers, monitors, etc.)
• Other necessary expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

In our Shareholder COVID survey distributed last fall, Shareholders overwhelmingly said that the effect of isolation on their mental health was the most significant impact they experienced from the pandemic. In response to this, applicants who mark “mental health support” on their applications will be sent a voucher to a tele-counselor for free, confidential counseling. We consider this an urgent need, and vouchers will be sent to the applicant as soon as the application is approved.

Please note that the federal housing relief program is one of the federal relief programs that provide stimulus funding. Shareholders who receive this relief should not also apply for the same relief from Koniag.

The federal guidelines on how the funds may be used can be found by clicking here.

No. Federal guidelines (available here) restrict Koniag from paying a special distribution broadly to all Shareholders with CARES Act funding.

The application period will open near the end of September with applications due by November 12. Direct individual relief will be paid to eligible applicants by November 30. Mental health support vouchers will be issued immediately after approval, given the urgency of the need.

Because all funds must be used by December 31, 2021, there will be no extensions and no exemptions.

Online and paper applications became available on September 28 and are due on November 12. Direct individual relief payments will be made by November 30, 2021.

In the meantime, you can help by logging into the MyKoniag Shareholder portal and ensuring your contact information is current.

Koniag must distribute all of its CARES Act funding by December 31, 2021. Because all funds must be used by December 31, 2021, there will be no extensions and no exemptions.

Koniag will absorb any administrative costs associated with CARES Act funding to ensure 100% of the funds received are used to benefit our Shareholders and communities.

According to the federal government, these CARES assistance funds are generally not taxable to individuals, and you will not receive a 1099. Consult your tax professional with any specific questions.

Regardless, the recipient is responsible for payment of any taxes or fees associated with any assistance provided pursuant to the COVID-19 Grant Program

Self-certification is like promising (or attesting) the information provide is true and accurate. Koniag will not ask for receipts.
Per the federal government, any use of these CARES funds by Koniag must be directly connected to the pandemic.
When an applicant (you) self-certifies, that means you are confirming you were financially harmed by the current coronavirus pandemic since March 2020.

Yes. The parent or guardian will need to self-certify on behalf of the minor / dependent.

Yes. Tribal, state, and federal garnishments apply (i.e. child support, tax levies, etc.).

After Koniag’s CARES Tribal relief funds are provided to eligible Shareholders and Registered Descendants, Koniag will determine and authorize other CARES-related funding that meets federal requirements.

The number of shares owned is not a factor, and will be a flat rate per qualified applicant.

Yes, Koniag encourages this. The applying Shareholder must self-certify his or her own application.

Koniag will need at least two weeks to review and process any applications received by this date, and then prepare for a distribution to potentially thousands of eligible applicants.

Any remaining funds will need to be used by December 31 (meeting federal CARES Act requirements), or returned to the federal government. Because all funds must be used by December 31, 2021, there will be no extensions and no exemptions.

No.

• Provide their Shareholder or Descendant ID number and mailing address
• On the list of hardships experienced during the pandemic, check all items that apply
• Self-certify that all information you provided is true and accurate

• Shareholders and Registered Descendants can find their Shareholder or Descendant ID number in their My Koniag Shareholder Portal account.
• Additionally, on September 28, Koniag mailed out via USPS a letter to every Shareholder and Registered Descendant with his or her Shareholder or Descendant ID number printed at the top of the second page.

Online submissions will receive an email confirmation.

Address and direct deposit information may be updated in the Shareholder portal.

The online application can be completed from a cellphone or tablet.

No, unfortunately, our system does not support payments via direct deposit for Registered Descendants. Descendants will receive payment via a paper check.

Housing relief programs are some of the federal relief programs that provides stimulus funding. Shareholders who receive this relief should not also apply for the same relief from Koniag.

Shareholders who have received housing relief can still apply for other costs associated with the pandemic, however, as long as they have not already received relief funding for that expense.