Sec. 37.17.590. - Implementation of BIDCO capitalization loan program.
(a) The department shall implement the program for making BIDCO capitalization loans under AS 37.17.500 - 37.17.690 in a manner designed to encourage financing assistance by BIDCOs to businesses throughout the state. Through the use of one or more formulas designed under AS 37.17.580 , the department shall provide special incentives to encourage the financing of businesses located in distressed areas, including distressed rural areas, and the financing of minority-owned businesses. In this subsection,
(1) "member of a minority" includes a person who is black, Hispanic, or Alaska Native;
(2) "minority-owned business" means a business that is owned, controlled, and operated by an individual who is a member of a minority and in which more than 50 percent of the net profit or loss attributable to the business accrues to a member of a minority.
(b) When determining under (a) of this section whether an area is distressed or how distressed an area is, the department may use, individually or in combination, factors that may include unemployment, poverty, lack of access to the state highway system, lack of access to a marine transportation system, or other factors the department determines to be appropriate.