REGARDING the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Fisheries Relief program, no payouts have been made to date, said John P. Sanchez, assistant administrator, Office of Grants Management and State Clearinghouse on Wednesday.
The original payout distribution dates for this program were scheduled to begin toward the end of May and run through the middle part of June.
However, in mid-June, the grants office received correspondence from the Pacific State Fisheries Marine Commission requesting taxpayer identification and certification information for each of the applicants.
“The W9 form was never noted in the original application requirement and therefore was never requested from those submitting applications. Our team reached out to the applicants and requested that they submit the additional document,” Sanchez said.
Of the 1,205 applicants, a total of 1,177 have submitted the required documentation.
The forms were collected, verified, and submitted back to the grantor agency as requested.
“The Pacific State Fisheries Marine Commission will make the distribution of payouts. The awards will be mailed directly to the applicants,” Sanchez said.
“We have been receiving inquiries from applicants on a working time frame for the payouts. We ask that they allow the Commission time for review and processing of these payouts, and to also consider delivery time through the postal service.”
There is also the possibility of a second round of relief assistance under the fisheries relief program, Sanchez said.
More information on the program will be forthcoming once the assistance opportunity is confirmed.
