(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - In a live address to Alaskans, Governor Mike Dunleavy earlier today unveiled the Alaska COVID-19 Economic Stabilization Plan, a statewide approach to provide Alaskans with urgent relief and protect the state’s economy from the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“As the virus (COVID-19) and the economic impacts unfold, the plan will adjust to take into consideration new, unforeseen negative impacts,” said Governor Dunleavy. “It must be noted that this is a stabilization plan – not an enhancement, not an attempt to grow government, and not in place to create new programs. Rather, the plan is merely an attempt to mitigate the health and economic impacts as a result of this virus. 

The details of this six-point plan are now available online and according to the Governor, there may be additional stabilization efforts added to the six points outlined today. The Alaska Economic Stabilization Team lead by Former Governor Sean Parnell and Former U.S. Senator Mark Begich, who are in constant contact with the business community of Alaska, will also add suggestions that modify this plan. As this is an ever evolving and unprecedented event, so should be the response,” added Governor Dunleavy.

The six major components of the plan are 1) Immediate Relief for Alaskans 2) Alaska Businesses, 3) COVID-19 Emergency Healthcare Enhancements; 4) Municipalities; 5) School Districts; 6) State Workforce.

For details of the proposed components of the economic stabilization plan, an informational sheet describing the six major components is available online ( click here pdf). 

Governor Mike Dunleavy expresse his gratitude to former Governor Sean Parnell and former Senator Mark Begich, co-chairs of the  Alaska Economic Stabilization Team (AEST), for their initial work on a statewide plan to protect Alaskans, their families and businesses from the economic fallout of COVID-19.

“Sean and Mark didn’t waste one minute reaching out to Alaskans to learn what strategies and ideas they have to shield the economy from the COVID-19 global pandemic,” said Governor Dunleavy. “Their initial work gives me valuable guidance and insight for the next measures we are taking to protect Alaskan jobs and families during and after the pandemic.”

A copy of the team’s first information sheet: Alaska Economic Stabilization Team Information Sheet-1 March 20, 2020 is available for download, click here (pdf).

The full text of Governor Dunleavy’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:

 Good Afternoon, my fellow Alaskans. 

Over the past several days, we experienced seismic changes to our way of life. For most of us, we’ve never before experienced this level of disruption to our daily lives.

I know anxiety is high, but seeing Alaskans react with courage and resolve gives me great hope and great pride for all of Alaska.

Leaders working across party lines, local officials taking initiative to protect their residents, and business owners and hardworking Alaskans choosing to forgo income – in many cases before the mandates were issued – to keep their neighbors and each other safe.

Know that we are doing everything in our power to protect your health, safety, and welfare. As you know, we’ve issued new health mandates nearly every day this week, and there will likely be more in the days ahead – this afternoon for example.

But we must protect Alaska’s economic health as well. 

If Alaskans are unable to work and earn a living, to pay their rent, to buy food, to buy diapers for their children, then we have failed to account for the hardships many Alaskans are facing. Immediate and far-reaching economic relief is needed right now – not tomorrow – not two weeks from now, but right now.

Therefore, today I’m announcing the Alaska COVID-19 Economic Stabilization Plan.

I call on the legislature to immediately authorize payment of the remaining $1,306 from the 2019 PFD that is owed to every Alaskan. This is the first step. This is the quickest way to get cash into the hands of Alaskans so they can pay their rent, buy gas, and keep on with their daily lives. This can be done very quickly, and we can get those PFDs out in April.

Never in the last 40 years has payment of the PFD been more critical, and Congress itself is on the verge of enacting its own version of our dividend to get cash into the hands of Americans. Not just in one payment, but in multiple payments in order to get through this crisis.

While federal relief payments appear to be headed for approval, Alaskans need assistance right now. On March 31st, many Alaskans must pay their mortgages, rent, and bills. We need to be there for them so that no Alaskan slips through the cracks.

Failure to act immediately will have devastating consequences on Alaska’ public health and could jeopardize our pandemic response. I urge our legislature to follow the lead of Congress and take concrete action to safeguard the lives, welfare, and the economy of Alaska now.

I’m asking the legislature: Please authorize payment of the PFD now so Alaskans can receive this payment in April to help with their daily lives.

Hours ago, I came to an understanding with Alaska’s lending community to provide small business bridge loans to hurting businesses and their impacted employees. These loans will be obtainable at local lending institutions to ensure our business owners and Alaskan workers can withstand this economic crisis and continue to pay their employees while waiting for assistance from the Small Business Administration.

Interest rates will match those given by the Small Business Administration, and the state will 100 percent guarantee these loans to ensure our lenders are not at risk.

Effective immediately, I am establishing a $1 billion-dollar fund for disaster relief. The funds will come from existing accounts within government that we already have in state hands.

As part of this funding, we are aggressively expanding unemployment insurance to cover situations where Alaskan workers lose their job or substantial hours due to COVID-19 and the resulting economic shutdown.

Next, I will be signing an executive order protecting the 13,000 Alaskans who receive rental assistance through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. No evictions may be carried out against these individuals for at least 60 days under this order. 

Likewise, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is directed to suspend foreclosures and evictions immediately. Loan servicers are authorized to grant forbearance to homeowners suffering financial hardship due to this shutdown.

We must also look out for our healthcare providers and state workers as they continue to keep critical services operational. I am authorizing upwards of $75 million to underwrite emergency healthcare facilities and personal protective equipment. These healthcare workers are on the frontline and they need our help right now. These are the foot soldiers. To fight this virus, they need our support.

Another $100 million is authorized for addressing the expected increase in state workforce and public health workload to combat this virus. Funds will also be available to retrofit state offices with health safety equipment for all our state workers. We need our state workers protected and safe, and we need them to continue the functions of state government.

Our municipalities are also under great stress as a result of increased healthcare demands and the economic uncertainty. This has resulted in a loss of revenue such as sales tax. Resources will be set aside to help them cope with the expected loss of revenue and the ramifications of the economic shutdown.

The actions I’ve announced today are only the beginning. Earlier this week, I established the Alaska Economic Stabilization Team led by former Governor Sean Parnell and former Senator Mark Begich. They are hard at work interfacing with Alaska’s business community and additional measures will roll out shortly with regard to their findings and recommendations.

Every department has been mobilized and every barrier is being reviewed. Every regulation is also being looked at, including procurement processes to streamline our attempts to stabilize this economy.

Fellow Alaskans, I want you to know your government is here to protect your health, welfare, and safety.  And that includes doing everything in our power to stabilize our economy following an economic shutdown that was through no fault of your own. 

We will get through this together, and I believe we’ll be stronger in the end. 

Please stay tuned for more updates. We’ll be rolling out more components of this plan that will help Alaska. We are confident – again – that we’ll get through this together, we’ll be stronger, and we’ll have a greater Alaska.

Thank you for listening.

Source of News:

Office of the Governor
www.www.gov.alaska.gov

Representations of fact and opinions in comments posted are solely those of the individual posters and do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.

SitNews ©2020
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews are considered protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper freelance writers and subscription services. E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.