Economy

As Alaska moves to reopen parts of its economy, Bethel businesses are reopening their doors.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the federal government from paying CARES Act funding to Alaska Native corporations. 

Ravn Air Group has proposed a plan in bankruptcy court to sell all of its assets, including airplanes, to go toward paying off the company’s debts.

On April 21, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on that restaurants and other retail businesses can begin offering more services on Friday, April 24, if they follow certain health guidelines.

With oil prices tumbling to their lowest level in over a decade, some people in rural Alaska are wondering if that will mean lower electric bills. The Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, or AVEC, says that it bought its fuel far in advance, which means that the savings will be small.

This article originally appeared on Alaska Public Media. 

Congress allocated $8 billion for tribes in its $2.2 trillion coronavirus response bill. Alaska’s Congressional delegation says the CARES Act clearly says Alaska Native Corporations are eligible for that money, too.

A deadline for tribes to apply for federal funding is coming up at the end of the week, and Calista Corporation worries that tribal leaders don’t have enough time or internet bandwidth to meet it.