The CARES Act establishes a new $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program. The program will provide much-needed relief to millions of small businesses so they can sustain their businesses and keep their workers employed.
This legislation provides small businesses job retention loans to provide eight weeks of payroll and certain overhead to keep workers employed. The Small Business Administration expects to have this program up and running by April 3rd so that businesses can go to a participating SBA 7 (a) lender, bank, or credit union, apply for a loan, and be approved on the same day. The loans will be forgiven as long as the funds are used to keep employees on the payroll and for certain other expenses.
The new loan program will help small businesses with their payroll and other business operating expenses. It will provide critical capital to businesses without collateral requirements, personal guarantees, or SBA fees--all with a 100% guarantee from SBA. All loan payments will be deferred for six months. Most importantly, the SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest. The new loan program will be available retroactive from Feb. 15, 2020, so employers can rehire their recently laid-off employees through June 30, 2020.More information is available at SBA.gov/Coronavirus and at the CEDC website columbia.com.
Addendum: Gossips has been advised that the definition of a small business under the CARES Act is very broad, to include self-employed and gig workers.
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