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Native Village of Kotzebue - COVID 19 Response
Responsibility To Tribe
Kotzebue Covid-19 Response Update - November 2020
Letter From the Council
The Native Village of Kotzebue (NVK) is working to keep you and our surrounding community as safe as possible as we respond to the COVID-19 virus. The Tribe would like to announce the receipt of $7.8 million dollars from the Federal Treasury to support the Tribe and community during the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds were based on our Tribal enrollment as of April 1, 2020. There were stipulations upon acceptance of the funds as to how the funds could be spent. The Council has worked to ensure the Tribe is in compliance with the requirements which eliminates any potential risk that will keep us in a position to be eligible for any future funds that may become available.
The Council has been meeting weekly since March 24th and is unified in maximizing the use of the funds for the benefit of the Tribe. Community partnerships are being developed to ensure leveraging of the funds to stretch the dollars. The Council has selected several initiatives:
1 1
Emergency COVID Financial Relief
A Tribal grant program to provide emergency financial assistance to Tribal members and families impacted by the loss of income due to COVID-19. This would include rent, mortgage, utility bills and food expenses. This program allows for each Tribal member to receive up to $1,200.
Example 1: A family of five who are all enrolled Tribal members would be eligible for $6,000.
Example 2: A family of five with only two of the five being enrolled tribal members would be eligible for $2,400.
Qualifications: Tribal member as of April 1, 2020.
To Apply:Â Complete an eligibility application and W-9 which can be found on our website at www.qiracovid.org or pick up an application at the Native Village of Kotzebue office.
Process:
- NVK will verify enrollment and confirm the member is not dual enrolled in another tribe and has a complete enrollment record.
- Deadline to submit a complete application is on Friday, August 14, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
- Distribution will be made within 10 days of receiving a complete application.
Tribal members will receive a Form 1099 and will need to report the financial benefit on their 2020 tax return. If families desire to share the tax burden they will need to provide multiple applications.
NOTE: Tribal members with incomplete information may experience a delay in payment.
2 2
Distribution of Cleaning Supplies
Each household in Kotzebue is eligible to receive a designated amount of cleaning supplies. You apply for those supplies using the Supply Relief Application found in relief applications section of the website.
3 3
Iglut Senior Facility Improvements
Respecting Elders is a core value and this safety and security measure was therefore added as an initiative.
4 4
Community Clean Up
This six-week program will support various clean-up projects in Kotzebue and will also supply jobs in the community.
Value added Partnerships are also creating benefit. AC and USDA are supplying weekly produce and dairy boxes for Elders and those most in need. The shipments of dairy and produce will go out weekly, for eight weeks, and will be rotated through our Elders and those in most need.
We will continue to assess the needs of Tribal members and work to create maximum benefits with the available funds. We look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions and we encourage you to check out our website at www.qiracovid.org for more information.
Stay safe, lets all do our part to prepare, prevent and respond to COVID-19.
Native Village of Kotzebue Tribal Council
Gia Hanna
Chair
York Mendenhall
Vice Chair
Wanda Baltazar
Member
Paula Octuck
Member
Guy Adams
Member
Cyrus Harris
Member
Thomas Baker
Member
Pearl Greist
Elder Representative
Rebecca Jones
Youth Representative
Puyuk Joule
Executive Director
Paulette Schuerch
Cares Act and COVID Response Project Manager
Partners
![teck_logo_RGB_K[1]-2](https://qiracovid.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/teck_logo_RGB_K1-2.png){kind=logo}
Mailing Address
Post Office Box 296
Kotzebue, Alaska 99752-0296
Kotzebue, Alaska 99752-0296
Phone
Main: (907) 442-5317
