UPDATE 11/4/20
All communication has been delivered from the municipality. If you have not heard from them or received your grant funds, please call their downtown office at
(907) 983-2297
UPDATE 9/25/20
If you have received an approval email or letter, please complete the following documents and submit them to the SDC by Friday, October 2nd, 2020.
Once all appeals have been processed the amount of funds to be distributed will be announced.
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS
SDC is reviewing submitted applications. They will be submitted to the Municipality of Skagway by Friday 9/18/19 for review. The city will give out acceptance and denial notices; after which a 10 day waiting period will be given for those wishing to appeal the decision made. After the appeals are considered the city will remit payments to the awardees.
At its meeting on August 6th, 2020, the Skagway Borough Assembly adopted Resolution No. 20-32R which established a Small Business Emergency Grant (SBEG) program and authorized the municipality to contract administration assistance for the program from the Skagway Development Corporation (SDC).
This program is designed to help financially relieve Skagway's local businesses.
Depending on the number of eligible businesses that apply, this grant will be between $1,000 - $6,000. The application is below and is also available on the MOS websites.
What Should Businesses Do?
Make sure you have a copy of your 2020 State license required for your business,
If you employed people between November 1, 2019 -March 31, 2020 make sure you have a copy of your Q4 (2019) or Q1(2020) State of Alaska Quarterly Contribution Report (if the owner is the only employee of the business, this report is not needed), and
Contact SDC if you have any questions at (907) 983-3414.
Submit completed & signed applications by 5 pm Friday, September 11th, 2020.
In-person at the SDC office on 9th & State; or,
Mail to: Skagway Development Corporation, Attn: SBEG Program, PO Box 1236, Skagway AK, 99840; or,
Email: sdcprograms@aptalaska.net
Applications may be amended before the deadline. Incomplete applications will be rejected if SDC is unable to reach the applicant to assist in completion. Applications will be notified of the status of their application via email to the contact person listed on the application. Questions about the grant program, application process, or application status must be directed to Kaitlyn Jared, the SDC Program Administrator at (907) 983-3414, or email sdcprograms@aptalaska.net.
FAQs
Are these loans or grants?
They are one-time grants. This money does not need to be paid back.
Are there fees associated with these grants?
No, there are no fees charged to the applicant.
What is the timeline for the grants program?
Applications must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Friday, September 11th, 2020. SDC will provide a list of recommended applicants to the Municipality of Skagway within 7 days of the closure of the program. The MOS will then send approval and denial letters. Those approved will have to provide SDC with a W-9 and signed grant agreement. Those denied have 10 days to file an appeal. Once all appeal cases are settled, a final funding amount can be determined and checks can be issued.
Who can apply?
Each MOS business that is permanently located in the Borough of Skagway, commercial fishermen based out of Skagway and nonprofits that operate primarily within the Borough of Skagway.
I am the sole owner and/or am a partial owner of multiple businesses, will all my businesses be funded?
No, applicants must select which of their businesses is their primary business to be funded with this program and note which business is secondary, tertiary and so forth. NOTE: Submit an application for all MOS businesses you own. If more funding becomes available, the MOS plans to use the applicants of this program to disperse additional funding to peoples’ secondary, tertiary, and so forth businesses.
How is business eligibility checked?
Any business that checked ‘yes’ on a question in section 2 question 2 a-j of the application is ineligible.
Business eligibility is checked against the current State business registry and one downloaded June 5, 2020 to ensure: (1) the business was present and established in Alaska prior to March 11, 2020, (2) had a physical address in Skagway prior to the announcement of this program on June 4th, 2020, (3) has an active State license, and (4) to verify business type if needed.
Business eligibility is also checked against the Municipality of Skagway’s 2020 business license list to ensure the business has a current and unique local business license.
What if my business does not have an active State business license?
Businesses who do not hold an active State business license when applying for this grant will be denied and must appeal the denied application, showing that they (1) held an active 2019 State license with a Skagway physical address and (2) that their State license is now active. Businesses may only renew 2019 State licenses. This is to prevent businesses from attempting to receive more program funds by incorrectly registering a business with a physical address of Skagway and/or renewing a past license when not in business in 2019 or intending to be in business in 2020.
What if my business does not have an active MOS business license?
If your business is required to have a local MOS business license to conduct business, you must have an active MOS business license. Businesses who do not hold an active MOS business license when applying for this grant will be denied and must appeal the denied application, showing that they (1) held an active 2019 MOS license with a Skagway physical address and (2) that their MOS license is now active.
Do I have to provide financial records to prove my economic loss from the public health emergency?
No.
What expenses can the grant money cover?
Any of the approved business’s business expenses.
Will the Municipality of Skagway (MOS) mail out checks or send the funds electronically to bank accounts?
The MOS will mail out checks in the name of the business listed on the application.
Is this program First-come, First-serve?
No. The final award amount will be determined after the closure of the program and the number of eligible businesses is determined.
Will the names of grant recipients be public record?
Yes, the names and amounts of the grants are public record.
Will receipt of this grant make me ineligible for other grant programs?
If you are going to apply for other federal or state grant or loan programs, the SDC advises applicants to check the eligibility rules for those programs.
Will receipt of other CARES Act grant or loan programs make me ineligible for this program?
No. It is the intention of this program to provide a layer to those businesses impacted by COVID-19 and their efforts to find a financial stability solution.
Is there a deadline for a grant recipient to spend the money?
No.
Will receipt of this grant make me ineligible for other grant programs?
If you are going to apply for other federal or state grant or loan programs, the SDC advises applicants to check the eligibility rules for those programs. Note: This program has been funded with local sales tax dollars, not CARES Act funds.
Will receipt of other CARES Act grant or loan programs make me ineligible for this program?
No. It is the intention of this program to provide a layer to those businesses impacted by COVID-19 and their efforts to find a financial stability solution.
Is there a deadline for a grant recipient to spend the money?
No.
Do I have to keep receipts for my spending?
No, the MOS is not asking for proof of the spending after the fact.
Are the grant funds subject to federal income taxes?
SDC and the MOS advise applicants to contact their tax preparer for professional advice.
Does the business owner(s) have to be a resident of the Borough of Skagway?
No, the business owner does not have to be a resident of the Borough of Skagway. But the business’s permanent physical location must be Skagway.
Can a business that is behind in its sales taxes qualify for the SDC grant?
Yes, so long as the business is not under a tax lien issued by the Borough. Businesses that have entered into a payment plan with the Borough and are adhering to that plan would be eligible for a grant.
What if my business shares physical quarters with other businesses? Can each business apply and qualify for its own grant?
Yes, so long as each business has its own unique MOS business license and a State business license.
If the owner is the only worker for a business located in Skagway when generally open, is the business eligible for the grant?
Yes, but the owner(s) cannot be counted as an employee in the requested employee information.
Can a Municipal business license share a State license number with another Municipal business?
Yes, business applicants are only required to have their own unique 2020 MOS business license for a business with a State business license that was established on or before March 11, 2020.
Additional Information for nonprofit applicants:
What if my nonprofit organization’s Physical Address is outside the Borough of Skagway?
A nonprofit with its main office outside the Municipality is ineligible.
What if the nonprofit does not hold a Municipal business license?
Nonprofits that do not hold a Municipal business license will be confirmed as incorporated against the State of Alaska’s corporation registry.
Is this grant limited to certain types of non-profits?
No, all 29 non-profit types are eligible to apply.
Additional Information for commercial applicants:
How is commercial fishermen’s eligibility checked?
Commercial fishermen records are checked against the State of Alaska’s Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission’s list of Permit Database to ensure active permits and a Skagway address.
What if I hold more than 1 permit for different fisheries, can I apply for more than 1 permit?
Yes. Permits are being considered the equivalent of a business’s State and MOS business license, but an applicant must select which permit # they are the owner of is their primary ‘business’ to be funded with this program and note which business is secondary, tertiary, and so forth. Commercial fishermen will receive a grant for only one permit. NOTE: Submit an application for all permits you own. If more funding becomes available, the MOS plans to use the applicants of this program to disperse additional funding to peoples’ secondary, tertiary, and so forth businesses.