Talkeetna Chamber discusses COVID-19 impacts on tourist season

The Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce held their regularly scheduled monthly meeting via Zoom this week.  The topic of discussion revolved around what kind of tourist environment might be expected in Talkeetna later this summer and what types of remedies are available to local businesses.

Many local businesses are grappling with the recent news that Princess and Holland America Cruise lines have cancelled their 2020 Alaskan cruises, but the Chamber as a whole is upbeat about later summer tourism and the independent traveler market.  They agreed that working on a marketing plan, which includes healthy social distancing guidelines is a top priority.

Speaking at the meeting was Julie Nolan, Mat-Su Regional Director of the Small Business Development Association.  She updated the Chamber on some of the challenges with the new PPP or Paycheck, Protection Program.  Because the PPP involves applying at a local bank, local banking institutions have been overwhelmed.  Ms. Nolan relayed that Wells Fargo stopped taking applications very early in the program.  Other local banks have been processing applications, but they are also quickly becoming overwhelmed.  Ms. Nolan suggested using Intuit, for those who use Quickbooks or Turbo Tax, or Bank of America, especially for those who hold the Alaska Airlines Credit Card, as alternative places to file for the PPP if local banks can’t process the application.

Ms. Nolan also urged businesses to check out their website AKSBDC.org for current information.  They have a Covid-19 Resource Center Tab that is being updated daily as new information becomes available.

Ms Nolan disclosed that, while the Paycheck Protection Program helps with current payroll protection, it currently does little to aid seasonal summer businesses, whose payroll typically begins in late May.  However, a representative from Senator Dan Sullivan’s office responded during the meeting, that both Senator Sullivan and Senator Murkowski are working on this issue and that they hope to provide a version of the PPP that will address seasonal business soon.

Ms. Nolan also recommended those who are self employed to keep checking the State of Alaska Unemployment Website for updates that will allow them to apply for unemployment under the newly revised guidelines.

Ms. Nolan concluded her presentation by cautioning the group to be on the lookout for fraud.  She emphasized that any legitimate links to SBA loan programs should end in .gov and that any website that ends in .help, is not legitimate.