The application window for the second round of borough-distributed CARES funding opens Monday morning. Small businesses and nonprofits located in the borough’s unincorporated communities that did not receive grants from the Kenai Peninsula Borough during its first round of funding are eligible to apply.
Commercial fishermen who fish within borough boundaries are also eligible, says Brenda Ahlberg, the borough’s community and fiscal projects manager.
She said there’s about $2.5 million allocated to round two.
“However, we are aware that if there are more applications than there is funding available, that the administration is prepared to go back to the assembly to provide money for the remaining balance,” Ahlberg said.
The borough assembly approved two rounds of CARES grants earlier this summer, and this round will operate much like the first. In August, the borough distributed $6.1 million during round one.
You can see where, exactly, that funding was allocated on the KPB CARES Dashboard online. The “CAR01” tab under the dropdown menu will display all grants distributed in that round, while grants from the second round will be listed under “CAR19.”
Applicants can apply for the second round of grants online or submit hard copies of their applications at the Borough Building in Soldotna, the Seward or Homer annex or through the mail. Just make sure it’s postmarked by the Spet. 25 deadline.
Should they apply digitally, applicants can also register for their absentee ballots through the online portal.
Businesses and nonprofits that have received aid from other CARES programs are still eligible to receive funding from the borough, as long as the borough grant covers different expenses.
“They just have to please list that in their application, but it does not preclude them or prevent them from applying for the borough’s grant,” Ahlberg said.
The peninsula’s six municipalities — Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Kachemak City, Seldovia and Seward — have their own CARES funding programs and residents of those cities are ineligible for this round of funding by the borough.
Ahlberg advises applicants to go online to read the borough’s three-page program guide, which includes a checklist, as well as a section of FAQs gleaned from the first round of applications.
The application window opens 8 a.m. Monday and closes 5 p.m. Sept. 25. For more information and to apply, visit the KPB Cares website, cares.kpb.us.
