TRIBAL SET-ASIDE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDING CARES ACT INFO

The Native Village of Paimiut received Tribal Set-Aside Coronavirus Relief Funding from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”).
The U.S. Treasury Department calculated and issued the first distribution based on population data.
The Native Village of Paimiut also received guidance from the U.S. Treasury on how the funds may be used. Every single Tribal Government and Village received the same guidance.
 
HOW IS THE CARES ACT FUNDING SUPPOSED TO BE USED? Tribal governments use the funds received to cover only those costs that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are complex rules required by the federal government and receiving the funds require documentation on how every penny was spent.
 
Some of the Funding went to Aid To Tribal Government (ATG), the funds that our villages depend on to operate.
This money is to pay for:

• Cleaning and disinfection of facilities
• Overtime pay for law enforcement and other occupations performing essential services.
• Purchase protective equipment for law enforcement and essential workers
• Enhance capacity to telework and connectivity (internet and phone access for employees when they worked from home, or to buy/lease equipment for employees to do so)

 
Welfare Assistance (WA): This part of the fund is allocated for

• General Assistance: Distributions from General Assistance will be made to qualifying Tribal members if they are able to show they have been financially impacted by COVID-19 because they lost a job, lost hours, etc.  There is an application process and an interview and documentation is required.
• Adult Care/Child Assistance
• Burial Assistance for Tribal Members that have died from COVID-19

 
The funds received from the CARES Act MAY NOT be distributed as per capita (or “dividend”) payments. So, BY LAW Tribal Members CANNOT receive DIRECT payments from the CARES Act.
The Native Village of Paimiut does not pay “dividends” to Tribal Members anyway.  (We are a Tribal Government and we are a tribal service provider.) Per capita payments may lead to an investigation by the Inspector General for the tribal government and an IRS audit of the recipient tribal members.
There may be other qualifying factors imposed by federal law.
If you have any questions, please contact the Native Village of Paimiut directly.
(907) 561-0304
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