Paycheck Protection Program Updates: What Small Businesses Need to Know
The CARES Act created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide forgivable loans to help small businesses pay workers, rent, mortgage interest, and utilities. Since the funds became available in early April, over 11,000 Vermont businesses have received a total of $1.2 billion. However, the program has fallen short in many ways. The initial federal guidance about loan forgiveness was unclear, leaving many Vermont business owners confused and wondering if they should apply. Many businesses that did receive funds were concerned their loans would not be forgiven, leaving them with debt they might not be able to pay back.