INSIDER
Federal money to help states hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton nears $2 billion
Read full article: Federal money to help states hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton nears $2 billionThe White House says the federal government has approved nearly $2 billion in assistance across six states to help people hit hard by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Small business disaster loan program is out of money until Congress approves new funds
Read full article: Small business disaster loan program is out of money until Congress approves new fundsThe Small Business Administration has run out of money for its disaster assistance loans, delaying much needed relief for people applying for aid in the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Engineers clearing collapsed Baltimore bridge say limited-access channel to port to open in 4 weeks
Read full article: Engineers clearing collapsed Baltimore bridge say limited-access channel to port to open in 4 weeksEngineers working to clear the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore say they expect to be able to restore navigation in and out of the port by the end of this month.
Gov. Whitmer pushes for solutions as record-high winter temps in Michigan impact small businesses
Read full article: Gov. Whitmer pushes for solutions as record-high winter temps in Michigan impact small businessesAs Michigan continues to face record-high winter temperatures, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urges small businesses in the state that were impacted by the lack of snow to apply for federal funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Secret Service recovers $286M in stolen pandemic loans
Read full article: Secret Service recovers $286M in stolen pandemic loansThe U.S. Secret Service said Friday that it has recovered $286 million in fraudulently obtained pandemic loans and is returning the money to the Small Business Administration.
GOP stalls pick who'd be government's highest-ranking Muslim
Read full article: GOP stalls pick who'd be government's highest-ranking MuslimThe nomination of a Pakistani-born businessman who'd be the highest-ranking Muslim in the U.S. government is in jeopardy because Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked his confirmation.
Michigan man sentenced for COVID-19 relief fraud
Read full article: Michigan man sentenced for COVID-19 relief fraudA Michigan man was sentenced today to 32 months in federal prison for fraudulently seeking nearly $1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Senate votes to extend small biz loan program for 2 months
Read full article: Senate votes to extend small biz loan program for 2 monthsWASHINGTON – The Senate passed a bill 92-7 on Thursday to extend the deadline for business owners to apply for forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, giving applicants two more months to apply for federal aid. The bill had already passed the House, so it now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Congress started the loan program last year to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Business groups lobbied lawmakers to keep the program going to help ensure businesses that still need help can get it. The Small Business Administration reports that it has approved nearly 7.9 million loans totaling about $704 billion.
Senate confirms Isabel Guzman to lead small biz agency
Read full article: Senate confirms Isabel Guzman to lead small biz agency(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved President Joe Biden's pick to oversee the Small Business Administration, an agency that has seen its portfolio expand in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Guzman is a former Obama administration SBA official who currently heads California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate. In that role, she oversaw efforts to help that state’s small businesses survive the pandemic. The Small Business Administration oversees loan programs to help businesses recover from natural disasters, enhances access to capital through loan guarantees and provides training and technical assistance. Guzman said she would work to ensure money gets into the hands of the small businesses hurt the most by the pandemic and the economic crisis through no fault of their own.
More coronavirus relief on the way for small businesses
Read full article: More coronavirus relief on the way for small businesses(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)NEW YORK – For Nancy Sinoway, a second coronavirus relief loan would increase the chances that her dressmaking business will survive. The SBA will initially accept only applications submitted by community financial institutions, or CFIs, lenders whose customers are minority-owned and economically disadvantaged businesses. Starting Monday, applications for first-time borrowers submitted by these lenders will be accepted, followed by applications for second loans on Wednesday. As with the first two rounds of the PPP, applications must be submitted online at banks and other SBA-approved lenders. The PPP loan Sheets got in the spring helped tide him over.
Minority-owned companies waited months for loans, data shows
Read full article: Minority-owned companies waited months for loans, data showsCongress has approved a third, $284 billion round of PPP loans. The recent data from the SBA provided a more in-depth look at businesses that received loans than data released on July 6. The AP and other news organizations successfully sued under the Freedom of Information Act to make data on all PPP loans public, leading to the latest release. The SBA did not address the timing of loans to minority-owned businesses when asked for comment by the AP. MBE Capital, a lender focusing on minority-owned companies, received a commitment in mid-May from NBA Hall of Fame member Magic Johnson for funding for $100 million in PPP loans.
Size mattered: Big companies got coronavirus loans first
Read full article: Size mattered: Big companies got coronavirus loans firstThe PPP made very low-interest loans available to any business -- or any franchisee of a business -- with under 500 employees. It was not designed for very small businesses.Its not clear how many small companies have failed because of the pandemic. The data released by the SBA July 6 does show that by June 30, 85% of the PPP loans had been for less than $150,000. Among other big banks, nearly 18% of the 1,185 loans TD Bank made the first week were over $1 million, as were 13% of Truists 7,143 loans. But it may have been too late for who knows how many small businesses, said Karen Kerrigan, president of the advocacy group Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.
House demands coronavirus loan info from Treasury, banks
Read full article: House demands coronavirus loan info from Treasury, banksWASHINGTON A House subcommittee investigating billions of dollars in coronavirus aid is demanding that the Treasury Department, the Small Business Administration and several large banks turn over detailed information about which businesses applied for and received federal loans. The letters ask the banks and the department for a complete list of applicants for loans, whether they were approved and also details on the guidance Treasury has issued. Democrats say they are not receiving enough information about the loan disbursements and fear the Treasury Department has favored large, well-funded companies over smaller businesses in underserved communities. The agency has only provided general information, such as the total amounts of loans awarded in a given time period. The loans can be forgiven if businesses use the money to keep employees on payroll or rehire workers who have been laid off.
Treasury chief refusing to disclose recipients of virus aid
Read full article: Treasury chief refusing to disclose recipients of virus aid(Al Drago/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON Building ramparts of secrecy around a $600 billion-plus coronavirus aid program for small businesses, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has moved from delay to denial in refusing outright to disclose the recipients of taxpayer-funded loans. We believe that thats proprietary information, and in many cases, for sole proprietors and small businesses, is confidential information, Mnuchin said during the hearing by the Senate Small Business Committee. Mnuchin promised in his testimony to give the GAO access to the PPP loan data. Mnuchin's pledge to give the GAO's auditors access to the PPP loan data appeared to satisfy some senators, who didnt press him on public release of the information. Praise for the small-business loan program flowed to Mnuchin and Carranza at the hearing from senators from both parties, who cited the positive economic impact across the country.
Treasury chief refusing to disclose recipients of virus aid
Read full article: Treasury chief refusing to disclose recipients of virus aid(Al Drago/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON Building ramparts of secrecy around a $600 billion-plus coronavirus aid program for small businesses, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has moved from delay to denial in refusing outright to disclose the recipients of taxpayer-funded loans. About 10 weeks after the program was launched, the SBA says it has processed 4.5 million loans worth $511 billion. While the SBA administers the program, Mnuchins Treasury Department has ultimate control over it. We believe that thats proprietary information, and in many cases, for sole proprietors and small businesses, is confidential information, Mnuchin said during the hearing by the Senate Small Business Committee. Praise for the small-business loan program flowed to Mnuchin and Carranza at the hearing from senators from both parties, who cited the positive economic impact across the country.
SBA leaves businesses still hoping for more leeway on loans
Read full article: SBA leaves businesses still hoping for more leeway on loansNEW YORK Small businesses hoping for more leeway in using coronavirus loan money were disappointed as the government released instructions for seeking forgiveness for the loans. According to the instructions, loans can still be forgiven in full only if the money is spent within eight weeks of receiving it. Many small businesses say the eight-week period is too restrictive; loan forgiveness applies only for money spent through June 30. Loan forgiveness was a key factor in many owners seeking the loans. While technically they can do that, they could not get forgiveness on the money spent for unapproved items.
Who got what? Details scant on small-business relief effort
Read full article: Who got what? Details scant on small-business relief effortWASHINGTON A small, overlooked federal agency is shouldering a massive relief effort for the nations small businesses and their workers left reeling by the pandemic. The need for a detailed public accounting of the small-business relief program is amplified by controversy over how it has unfolded since early April. The agency recognizes the need to balance the interests of transparency with the privacy and confidentiality issues release of loan information raises." The SBA did not make the information public. Under the program, companies are required to use the funds exclusively for employee salaries.