Paycheck Protection Program Expands to ‘Under 20’ Businesses With New 14-Day Application Window

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The Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration are taking steps with the Paycheck Protection Program to further promote equitable relief for America’s mom-and-pop businesses.

Under the PPP changes, the SBA will:

Establish a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period, for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. The PPP loan application period starts today, Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 9 a.m.

Borrowers can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program by downloading the First Draw PPP loan application or Second Draw PPP loan application and working with a participating PPP lender through the SBA Lender Match tool.

Updated PPP information, including forms, guidance, and resources is available at www.sba.gov/ppp and www.treasury.gov/cares.

Unlike the previous round of the PPP, loan guaranty approval is now contingent on passing SBA fraud checks, Treasury’s Do Not Pay database, and public records.

The changes to the PPP program:

  • Will allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants
  • Eliminate an exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions, consistent with a bipartisan congressional proposal
  • Eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make federal student loan payments by eliminating federal student loan debt delinquency and default as disqualifiers to participating in the PPP; and
  • Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the PPP.

For businesses with fewer than 10 employees, the share in the latest round of Paycheck Protection Program funding is up nearly 60%.

For businesses in rural communities, the share of funding is up nearly 30%

“The SBA is a frontline agency working to create an inclusive economy, focused on reaching women-owned, minority-owned, low- and moderate-income, rural, and other underserved communities in meaningful ways,” stated a White House press release.

The policy changes being announced further ensure inclusivity and integrity by increasing access and much-needed aid to Main Street business, says SBA Senior Advisor Michael Roth.

The changes to the PPP will promote transparency and accountability by improving the PPP loan application.

It improves the Emergency Relief Digital Front Door, helping applicants find resources for understanding relief options and completing applications.

Meanwhile, the SBA continues to conduct extensive stakeholder outreach to learn more about challenges and opportunities in the implementation of current emergency relief programs.

It is also deepening its relationship with lenders, increasing opportunities for lenders to provide recommendations to small business owners and address questions and concerns in a more streamlined way.

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