Federal government approves nearly $50M in pandemic aid for Alaska’s fishing industry
Print article JUNEAU The federal government has approved Alaska’s plan to give the state’s fishing industry almost $50 million in pandemic relief. The decision came after two major revisions to the plan and more than 200 public comments from every industry sector, CoastAlaska reported Friday. “It really was a balance between getting the funds out quickly and developing a spending plan with the input of affected fishery participants,” said Alaska Department of Fish and Game Deputy Commissioner Rachel Baker. The final details of the plan were published on Thursday.
Print article Alaska could lose out on millions of dollars in additional food benefits if it doesn’t have a new public health disaster declaration in place by spring. Alaska, along with other states, can ask the federal government for certain emergency benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP formerly known as food stamps that Alaskans receive on top of their regular benefits during the pandemic, said Shawnda O’Brien, who directs the state’s public assistance department. But those added dollars hinge on both a state and national emergency disaster declaration being in place each month. Alaska’s disaster declaration expired this month.