Economy

Tribes now have access to more federal funds thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, better known as the CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27.

In the past week, Alaska Airlines has slashed a majority of its flights between Bethel and Anchorage to prevent flying mostly empty planes as more people hunker down at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Grocery stores in Bethel are expecting another large run on goods this week, and have substantially increased the size of their shipments into Bethel to prepare. 

The coronavirus is squeezing the local economy as businesses shutter and people lose their jobs, and Bethel Community Services Foundation wants to provide some relief. The organization has set up a fund to help nonprofits and community service providers who are helping people facing eviction, homelessness, food insecurity, and struggling to pay utility bills. It’s called the COVID-19 Response Fund.

Alaskans will have more time to apply for a Permanent Fund dividend this year.

Calista may have closed its offices, but that’s not stopping the regional Native corporation from distributing spring dividends to its shareholders.

Alaska Cab is still transporting customers around Bethel as of Tuesday, March 24. Bethel's largest taxi company, Kusko Cab, halted all of its vehicles on March 20 due to the threat of COVID-19.

The Kuskokwim Corporation has closed the doors of its office in Anchorage to the public, and will distribute its annual dividend early to offset the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Shareholders will begin receiving these dividends on April 10, according to a TKC Facebook post.

With more people staying, working, and learning from home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and with the rapid flow of critical health information online, GCI is expanding its internet services.