From: PA06.SmallBusinesses@mail.house.gov <PA06.SmallBusiness@mail.house.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 3:29 PM
Subject: Updates and Information for Small Businesses
Good afternoon,
We write to provide the latest updates on the federal and state government responses to COVID-19.
From the Federal Government
Yesterday, the SBA re-opened the EIDL application portal and began accepting applications from agricultural producers only. Although agricultural producers became eligible for EIDL in the most recent COVID-19 legislation, the SBA was not accepting new applications, leaving farmers without the assistance they desperately need. Last week, Rep. Houlahan joined bipartisan colleagues in calling for the SBA to allow agricultural producers to immediately access EIDL loans, and we are pleased to see the SBA’s quick action to support our farmers. See the letter here.
If you are an agricultural business with fewer than 500 employees, you may now apply online for EIDL here. For agricultural businesses that submitted an EIDL loan application through the streamlined application portal prior to the legislative change, the SBA will move forward and process these applications without the need for re-applying. All other EIDL loan applications that were submitted before SBA stopped accepting new applications on April 15th will continue to be processed on a first-in, first-out basis.
Attached is the most recent public data available from the SBA on the number of PPP loans that have been approved since Congress appropriated additional funding on April 23rd. In this second round of applications, more than 71,000 PPP loans have been approved for Pennsylvanians totaling over $5 billion. The SBA continues to process PPP loans on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please contact your lender with questions about the status of your application.
From the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Chester County Economic Development Council is now offering grants for businesses in Chester County who were not approved for funding through PPP, EIDL, and PA CWCA. You can find more information and apply online for the Chester County Main Street Preservation Grant Program here.
Governor Wolf released additional guidance for businesses in Pennsylvania that details procedures businesses must follow to conduct in-person operations in counties slated to move to the yellow phase of reopening on May 8th. You can find that guidance online here.
Please let us know if you have any questions. As always, please continue to check our website for updates and send questions to our various COVID-19 email addresses:
Attachments: PPP Data 05.01.2020
Sincerely,
The Office of U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan
Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District
(202) 225-4315
PA06.SmallBusiness@mail.house.gov
Visit us at: https://houlahan.house.gov/services/small-businesses/
From: PA06.SmallBusinesses@mail.house.gov <PA06.SmallBusiness@mail.house.gov>
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2020 8:25 PM
Subject: Updates and Information for Small Businesses
Good evening,
We write to provide updates on the federal and state responses to COVID-19.
From the Federal Government:
As you know, on Monday the SBA began accepting a second round of applications for the PPP. The SBA announced that more than $2 billion of the first round of PPP loans was declined and that the declined funding will be made available for the second round. The SBA will also fully audit loan applications for more than $2 million in an effort to ensure our small businesses are getting the assistance intended for them.
Despite the additional funding provided last week, the SBA is still not accepting new applications for the EIDL program. The SBA is processing applications that were submitted prior to the lapse in funding on a first-come, first-serve basis and will begin accepting new applications once they have processed those already in the queue. We recognize that this prevents agricultural producers—who are newly eligible for the program—from applying as soon as possible. Rep. Houlahan is urging the SBA to ensure that farmers have equal access to this new funding.
The SBA, in coordination with iHeartRadio, is hosting a webinar on Monday, May 4th at 11am to answer your questions about PPP and EIDL. Register HERE.
The Federal Reserve announced yesterday that it is expanding the scope of eligibility for its Main Street Lending Program for small and medium-sized businesses. Find more information here.
The Department of Labor is hosting a national online dialogue, Opening America’s Workplaces Again, about the challenges that may be faced as businesses reopen and how best to help employers and workers safely reopen America’s workplaces. Submit your ideas online about reopening businesses: https://OpeningWorkplaces.ideascale.com.
From the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
Governor Wolf announced today the plan for reopening 24 counties on May 8th. Read the announcement here.
Last week, the PA Department of Community and Economic Development announced that new funding is available to help technology-based companies impacted by the novel coronavirus. You can find more information here.
Please let us know if you have any questions. As always, please continue to check our website for updates and send questions to our various COVID-19 email addresses:
Sincerely,
The Office of U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan
Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District
(202) 225-4315
PA06.SmallBusiness@mail.house.gov
Visit us at: https://houlahan.house.gov/services/small-businesses/