Alaska Seafood Processors Pandemic Response Relief Program

The State of Alaska was allocated $30.6 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program. The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) has been designated to distribute these funds to seafood processors, including at-sea processors, through the Alaska Seafood Processors Pandemic Response Relief Program. With this funding, DCCED will issue grants to owners of seafood processing facilities and processing vessels to reimburse for costs preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The application period for this program closed in May 2022. Grant awards have been distributed.

Application Process:

Review our Alaska Seafood Processors Grant Program Application Instructions. These Instructions walk you step-by-step through the application.

Applications must be submitted online through the MyAlaska system. You will need a MyAlaska account. For help with your MyAlaska account, visit MyAlaska's Help Page or call 1-866-377-0126.

Access your submitted application through the Alaska Seafood Processors Grant Application Portal.  For assistance with your application, you can email ced.seafoodprocessors@alaska.gov or call (907) 269-8100. Please be sure to review the Program Application Instructions first.

The Alaska Seafood Processors Pandemic Response Relief Program is not a first-come, first-served grant opportunity. Applicants will have the option to save their progress and return to complete their application later within this application period. Award amounts will be determined after all applications have been received and evaluated on demonstrated need. Grants will not be awarded until the end of the application period and after all applications have been reviewed. Qualification does not guarantee award, and proration of final awards may be necessary due to demand.

Businesses that hold multiple eligible Alaska Seafood or Shellfish Processing Permits may combine expenses for multiple operations into a single application. Permits must have shared ownership in order to be included in the same application. A corporation may file as a whole, or its subsidiaries may apply separately. But a corporation and one or more of its subsidiaries may not both apply.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Businesses must have held at least one of the following Seafood or Shellfish Processing Permits issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in 2020 or 2021:
  • PL-1 Land-Based Processing less than 5000 lbs/day
  • PL-2 Land-Based Processing 5000 or more lbs/day
  • PT-1 Thermal Processing less than 5000 lbs/day
  • PT-2 Thermal Processing 5000 or more lbs/day
  • PV-1 Processing Vessel less than 5000 lbs/day
  • PV-2 Processing Vessel 5000 or more lbs/day
  • SP - Shellfish Shucker-Packer
• Expenses submitted for reimbursement must be related to Alaska operations - either for a plant located in Alaska or for an at-sea processing vessel with landings in Alaska.
• Expenses must have been incurred between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2021 in order to be eligible for reimbursement.
• Business must have a DUNS Number or a Unique Entity ID. For guidance on obtaining a DUNS Number or Unique Entity ID, refer to our Unique Identifier & SAM.gov Registration Guide.
• A corporation may file as a whole, or its subsidiaries may apply separately. But a corporation and one or more of its subsidiaries may not both apply.
• Applicants must self-certify that, barring unforeseen circumstances, they intend to remain in operation indefinitely.

Ineligible Businesses:

• Business that did not hold at least one of the following Seafood or Shellfish Processing Permits issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in 2020 or 2021:
  • PL-1 Land-Based Processing less than 5000 lbs/day
  • PL-2 Land-Based Processing 5000 or more lbs/day
  • PT-1 Thermal Processing less than 5000 lbs/day
  • PT-2 Thermal Processing 5000 or more lbs/day
  • PV-1 Processing Vessel less than 5000 lbs/day
  • PV-2 Processing Vessel 5000 or more lbs/day
  • SP - Shellfish Shucker-Packer
• Business that has permanently closed.
• Business that is presently suspended, debarred, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, voluntarily excluded from participation in a grant program by any Federal department or agency, or presently a debtor in any pending bankruptcy.
• A corporation and one of its subsidiaries may not both apply.

Documentation Needed:

The following documentation is required for a complete application.

• Copies of Seafood or Shellfish Processing Permits applicant is applying under. Copy of permit must be provided for same time frame(s) as expenses (i.e. if applicant is submitting expenses incurred in 2020 and 2021, copies of valid annual Seafood or Shellfish Processing Permits need to be provided for both 2020 and 2021).
• Supporting documentation for each expense for which applicant is seeking reimbursement. Acceptable documentation includes official bank/credit card statements, invoices, receipts, purchase orders, payroll expense reports, accounts payable, etc.
• Voided Check or Deposit Slip (will be used to verify bank account information).
• A Signatory Authority Form will be required for submissions made by anyone other than the owner or officer of the applicant business.
• Valid government photo identification for the filer and, if applicable, the official authorizing the Signatory Authority Form.
• Proof of active status in SAM.gov, or proof that the SAM.gov registration process has been initiated. This can be provided as a screenshot.

Eligible Expenses:

Any portion of expenses that have been paid by other COVID relief funding are not eligible. Applicant will be required to list any COVID relief funding received from all sources. Expenses eligible for reimbursement under this program include:

• Medical: Costs of providing health services to protect workers against COVID-19. This includes, but is not limited to, costs incurred offering or providing COVID-19 screening, testing, vaccinations, healthcare treatment of infected employees, and medical personnel costs (only over and above traditional personnel costs). This also includes wages for workers on paid leave due to COVID-19 infection, in entry quarantine prior to work, or in quarantine due to potential infection.
• Retrofitting Facilities: Costs to retrofit facilities or vessels only to protect workers and consumers against COVID-19. This includes, but is not limited to, materials and labor to install protective barriers made of plexiglass or plastic sheeting and retrofits needed to maximize open-air activities such as walk up windows, heat lamps/heaters, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables, chairs, and lighting.
• Transportation: Additional transportation services for workers in order to maintain social distancing and worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID-19. This includes, but is not limited to, ground transportation and airfare, including charter flights. All transportation costs, including charter flight costs, must only be the difference over traditional costs of commercial travel.
• Worker Housing: Additional worker housing costs incurred to protect workers against COVID-19, maintain social distancing, and to allow for quarantining of new or exposed workers. This includes, but is not limited to, hotel, lodging, and food for workers in quarantine, and security services for monitored quarantine or closed seafood processing campuses. Housing and security costs must only be the difference over traditional (non-COVID-related) housing and security services.
• Workplace Safety Measures: Workplace safety measures implemented to protect workers against COVID-19. This includes, but is not limited to, personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitizer, hand washing stations, air filters, thermometers, cleaning supplies, or similar items.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):