PPP Update: Applications are currently closed. On August 4, 2021, the SBA launched a streamlined forgiveness portal to allow borrowers with PPP loans of $150,000 or less apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.
In January 2021, the Federal government re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP initially started in March, 2020 to get funding out to small businesses and nonprofits who were negatively impacted by the Covid-19 shutdown. The PPP ran out of funding in the fall of 2020. Congress passed the Covid-relief legislation in December 2020 and allocated more funding for the PPP and other federal funding for small businesses including the Emergency Injury Disaster Loan Program and a new Shuttered Venue program. The Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department have been issuing new forms, rules and FAQs for this new round of funding. As part of the new funding there were several changes made to improve the programs and ensure that funding goes to under-served communities. Click here for an outline of the new PPP Loan Program.
Suggestions for Getting a PPP Loan:
- Contact your bank/lender. PPP Loans are made through banks/lenders and they have the best information about the application process. Each bank has their own process.
- If you have a banking relationship, talk to your bank about applying for a PPP Loan.
- If you already took out a PPP Loan in 2020 and want to take out a “2nd Draw”, go back to your the lender and ask them to help you process your “2nd Draw Application.
- If you don’t have banker/lender, find one on this WA Lender List.
- Talk to your accountant.
- If you have an accountant, they are the best person to help you with the financial calculations for your PPP Loan or Forgiveness application.
- There are Technical Assistance providers available who are advising small businesses and nonprofits on how to apply for the PPP Loan. See this list for TA resources in WA.
- Communities Rise is available for legal Assistance for questions about program rules through our Covid-19 Small Business and Nonprofit Legal Clinic. Note: Communities Rise does not provide help filling out the PPP Loan application or making financial calculations.
Online Resources:
- Smallbizhelpwa.com – New website for WA small businesses and nonprofits that has up to date 2021 information on the Federal funding programs (PPP, EIDL and Shuttered Venue) and Washington State funding programs for small businesses and nonprofits. Communities Rise recommends this website for up to date information on the federal and state funding programs, PPP Lender list, and a list of technical assistance providers who are helping small businesses and nonprofits complete their PPP Loan applications. This website is hosted by WA Economic Development Association, with support from the SBA and others.
- PPP Updates and Forgiveness Webinar (Jan. 21, 2021) – Communities Rise and WA Nonprofits, featuring Attorney Jeff Liang, Ling & Liang, PLLC. In this webinar, Jeff Liang explains the 2021 changes to the PPP Loan/Grant program that are in effect for this round of PPP Loans (January – March 2021), including the eligibility for 1st draw and 2nd draw PPP Loans.
- SBA.Gov – The SBA website has the most up to date information from the government and it is available in Spanish. The SBA.gov website also has a translation feature via Google Translate that enables the website to be translated into over 100 languages.
- Archived Video:
The video below was developed in April 2020 for the first round of PPP Loans and is now out of date. However, it may be helpful to give you background of what the program requirements were in the spring of 2020, as you learn about the 2021 changes.
This 30 minute instructional video walks you through the PPP application process. Attorney Jeff Liang will give you a brief overview of the PPP and EIDL programs, walk you through the PPP application and show you how to retrieve your business license and corporation documents online. Jeff will also give you tips on preparing for the application, finding a lender, and making the decision of whether the PPP or EIDL loan program is best for your business or nonprofit. CPA Valerie Pickens will show you how to calculate the “Average Monthly Payroll” amount, which is used to determine the PPP loan amount. Note that this video was recorded on April 22, 2020. The landscape keep changing with respect to PPP loans. Please check the PPP Updates and Supplemental Information document for updates since the video was recorded.
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