SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans

Yes, the program will be open for both first-time borrowers and borrowers looking for a second loan. Please note that the requirements for first-time borrowers and second-time borrowers are different. Continue reading below for a non-exhaustive list of eligibility requirements and other helpful information. Please be advised that qualifying as an eligible business does not guarantee a PPP loan will be offered.

• Institute a 14-day period, starting Wednesday 2/25/2021, during which only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for relief through the Program.
• Help sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals receive more financial support.
• Allow small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions ability to apply for the PPP loan.
• Allow small business owners who are delinquent on their federal student loans the ability to apply and be approved for the PPP loan.
• Allow non-US Citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to apply and be approved for the PPP loan.
• Allow small business owners who are delinquent on their federal student loans the ability to apply and be approved for the PPP loan.
• Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed business owners to be approved using gross income, opposed to net income as provided the 2019/2020 tax returns.

As of 2/24/2021 the Biden Administration has made changes to the PPP Program. If you are a sole proprietor, independent contractor or self-employed, the SBA will use your gross income instead of your net income to calculate your PPP loan amount.

As of Wednesday, February 24 at 9AM ET, the SBA has mandated a two-week freeze, ending on March 10, on the processing of PPP applications for businesses with 20 or more employees. During this period, applicants with 20 or more employees may still fill out and submit their application through us, but these applications will not be approved by the SBA until the mandated freeze has expired and the loan has had time to be processed by the SBA. Employee count is based on the total number of employees, including full-time, part-time and seasonal employees.

Yes, the program will be open for both first-time borrowers and borrowers looking for a second loan. Please note that the requirements for first-time borrowers and second-time borrowers are different. Continue reading below for a non-exhaustive list of eligibility requirements and other helpful information. Please be advised that qualifying as an eligible business does not guarantee a PPP loan will be offered.

In addition to the businesses that were eligible in the initial round of the PPP, during this round the program includes entities that are 501(c)(6)s, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), housing cooperatives, newspapers, broadcasters, and radio stations. Additionally, for first-time borrowers to qualify for eligibility, the entity may employ no more than 500 employees.

In order to be eligible for a loan, first-time businesses must have been in operation on February 15, 2020.

The absolute maximum cap on loans (both first-time applicants and second draw borrowers) for the PPP is $2,000,000. In your application you will be requested to submit certain documentation as proof of eligibility that will determine the amount your business is eligible for under the program. Please be advised that borrowers are not guaranteed the full amount requested in their application.

In addition to the expenses that were eligible under the previous round (payroll, rent and utilities), both first-time applicants and borrowers applying for a second draw may also use their PPP loan to cover the following expenses: covered operations (software, cloud computing, and other human resources and accounting needs); property damage costs due to public disturbances that occurred during 2020 that are not covered by insurance; covered supplier costs; and covered worker protection expenditures (PPE) as determined by state governments, the CDC, OSHA and HHS.

Eligible businesses that received a prior loan must:

1. Have 300 or fewer employees,
2. Have sustained a 25 percent drop in revenue in any quarter of 2020 when compared to the same quarter in 2019, and
3. A borrower must have used the full amount of its first PPP loan to apply for a second.

Yes, seasonal employers are eligible for PPP loans. Seasonal employers are defined as businesses that do not operate for more than seven months in a calendar year or earned no more than one-third of their receipts in any six months in the prior calendar year.

The following businesses are not eligible to receive PPP loans:

1. Entities listed in 13 C.F.R. 120.110 and subsequent regulations except for entities from that regulation which have otherwise been made eligible by statute or guidance, and except for nonprofits and religious organizations;

2. Entities involved in political and lobbying activities including engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public document;

3. Entities affiliated with entities in the People’s Republic of China;

4. Registrants under the Foreign Agents Registration Act; and

5. Entities that receive a grant under the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program.