Calista Corporation allocates remaining CARES Act Funds

Provides shareholder benefits through nonprofit partnerships

by Calista Corporation Staff

Calista (cha-LIS-tah) Corporation has coordinated the remaining CARES Act Tribal Relief funds to provide meaningful impact to Shareholders in the YK Region—through food security, ice roads—and to those experiencing homelessness.

In August 2021, Calista received $12.2 million in CARES Act funding, about 2 percent of the funds set aside for Alaska Native Corporations, and had to dedicate the use of these funds by the end of December 2021. The Board directed up to $11.4 million—or 93 percent—to be available for direct financial assistance to Shareholders. The Board also directed $10,000 to purchase fish for distribution to lower Yukon River communities experiencing a salmon disaster.

Each Shareholders who applied and qualified for Calista CARES Act financial assistance by the November 30 deadline received a $325 distribution. Nearly 80 percent of Shareholders applied and qualified by the deadline.

The Board directed Calista staff to determine an appropriate way to spend any CARES Act funds remaining after the financial assistance program ended, meeting strict U.S. Treasury requirements for the use of these funds. As a result, this winter, we entered into agreements with nonprofits for the following projects:

• $17,000 for holiday food distribution for residents in Bethel and surrounding villages via Bethel Community Services Foundation (BCSF)

• $1.6 million for extensive food security program via BCSF

• $185,000 for Kuskokwim ice road via the Native Village of Napaimute

• $500,000 to support purchase of the Sockeye Inn in Anchorage to help those experiencing homelessness, via the Rasmuson Foundation

“Our mission has always been to provide Shareholders with benefits and opportunities. CARES funding has allowed us to provide some additional support to our Shareholders during this ongoing pandemic,” says Andrew Guy, Calista Corp. President/CEO.

YK Food Donations

Calista provided over $17,000 to BCSF to distribute holiday meals—including turkey, ham and other holiday foods—during December. The donation made it possible for families in Bethel and nearby communities to provide holiday meals to their loved ones, after BCSF ran out of turkeys in late November.

Calista provided $1.6 million to BCSF to initiate a food security program. BCSF will work to strengthen the food security safety net in the Region—which is the first step in providing Shareholders with a reliable way to fight hunger.

“We are pleased to partner with Calista. This will bring food to households in the YK Region that need it the most. This effort will bring in partners from businesses and nonprofits to Tribes and schools,” says Michelle DeWitt, BCSF Executive Director.

Kuskokwim Ice Road

Calista provided $185,000 to the Native Village of Napaimute to maintain and extend the Kuskokwim ice road. The donation helped to fill a budget shortfall due to cuts from the state, and it also meant that Tribes or other organizations did not need to be asked for additional ice road funds.

“The plowing took three days from Bethel but went well. Our crew will work on marker installation and making improvements by widening and smoothing the road,” says Mark Leary, Director of Operations for the Native Village of Napaimute.

Sockeye Inn Purchase

Calista provided $500,000 to help fund the purchase of the Sockeye Inn, a former small hotel in Anchorage, to serve as a new shelter for medically fragile people who are experiencing homelessness and are at particularly high risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purchase of the Sockeye Inn is underway through a partnership being led by Rasmuson Foundation, the Municipality of Anchorage and Weidner Apartment Homes, with multiple supporters and funders that include two other Alaska Native corporations, Doyon, Limited and Chugach Alaska Corp. Funds are being held by the Alaska Community Foundation.