The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act reserved $8 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for payments to Indian Tribes, including funding that was initially held for Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) pending a Supreme Court decision in Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. Pursuant to this decision, Choggiung Ltd. received funding in the amount of $1,467,884.96 on August 9, 2021. Choggiung will initially allocate $1,300,000 of these funds through the Shareholder COVID-19 Relief Program as outlined below.
Eligibility: The Shareholder COVID-19 Relief Program will be available to Choggiung shareholders who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. To be eligible, shareholders must certify that they have been directly and negatively impacted by COVID-19 and have not received duplicate assistance. Qualifying direct impacts from COVID-19 for which CARES Act funds may address include, but are not limited to:
- Loss of income (job loss, business closures, etc.)
- Increased costs of healthcare
- Increased costs of food
- Increased costs for personal and household safety and protection (PPE, sanitation, etc.)
- Increased cost of living due to COVID-19 (accessing essential services, increase in utilities, etc.)
- Increased cost of dependent care (distance/online learning, child-care, health, and wellness, etc.)
Available Amounts: To promote efficient and effective delivery of assistance, shareholder assistance payments will be a lump sum amount initially capped per shareholder applicant, estimated at $600 and increased based on available funding. This amount will vary based on overall Program funding and need. As funding availability allows and shareholder needs are addressed, Choggiung may offer additional individual assistance through a second round of COVID-19 Shareholder Relief Program applications.
Application & Distribution Process: Choggiung will open program application period effective September 1, 2021 with application period closing October 15, 2021, or until allocated funding is exhausted. Applicants will apply online or via paper application submitted in person or by mail. Applications must be received by the above-mentioned application closing date. Applicants will be required to certify that they suffered direct negative impacts by COVID-19 and that they are not seeking funds for expenses/losses that they have already been reimbursed by other federal funds.
At the conclusion of the application period, applications will be reviewed by Choggiung Limited to verify shareholder eligibility. Direct assistance payments to shareholders are anticipated to be delivered via direct deposit or check as soon as possible and before December 31, 2021.
Click here to apply for this CARES Act relief online. (Read instructions for the online form here).