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March 18, 2021 – The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is available to more people than ever, and new rules have made it easier for sole proprietors, independent contractors and the self-employed to tap these funds. The Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA), the National Development Council (NDC) and leaders of the Washington Small Business Recovery Working Group are urging these individuals to find a lender and start the PPP application process now while funds are still available.
Because these individuals—including rideshare and delivery drivers—were overlooked in 2020 efforts to target businesses eligible for federal aid, WEDA and its economic development partners are making sure self-employed Washingtonians know that SmallBizHelpWA.com will help them navigate the PPP and other available resources.
Since January 11, 2021, more than 48,000 Washington state small businesses and non-profits have secured more than $4 billion in forgivable PPP loans, and recent changes to PPP eligibility rules will help the self-employed and the smallest of small businesses tap these crucial funds.
Businesses interested in this assistance should:
- Find a lender at SmallBizHelpWA.com
- Identify a local Technical Assistance Provider ready to help
- Read the SBA’s latest PPP FAQ
- Attend an upcoming free webinar to learn more:
- SBA Round 2 COVID-19 Relief: How To Apply – March 25, 9 – 11 a.m.
- Updates to PPP Loan Forgiveness – March 19, 10 – 12:00 p.m.
- Bookmark SmallBizHelpWA.com and track new events added to the calendar
PPP ROUND 2: BY THE NUMBERS
State of Washington:
# of Washington state businesses participating in Round 2 of PPP: 48,738 (1.8% of US total)
Value of PPP funding secured by WA applicants: $4.3 billion (72% of our goal – and 2.4% of US total!)
Nationwide:
# of businesses participating in Round 2 of PPP: 2,739,834
Value of PPP funding secured by applicants: $181.4 billion
Average loan size: $66,000 (Down significantly from the 2020 loan average of $101,000)
“The PPP will provide crucial economic support for independent contractors and the self-employed who were largely left out of federal aid in 2020,” said Mary Jean Ryan, Chair, Washington Small Business Recovery Working Group. “There are nearly half a million one-person firms like these in Washington state, and they are all important to our state’s economy. We want to help them get the aid they need to weather the pandemic and come back strong.”
For more information, please contact: Mike Gilmore, Mike.Gilmore@nyhus.com.
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About the Washington Small Business Recovery Working Group
The Washington Small Business Recovery Working Group is an informal coalition started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which has fostered close connections between the US Small Business Administration and key public and private small business service providers and advocates, particularly economic developers and lenders. The focus of the Working Group is sharing of resources for small businesses, advocating for more and improved resources, and mobilizing to increase the availability of resources for underserved communities.
About the Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA)
As Washington State’s only trade association laser-focused on economic development, WEDA is committed to recovering, retaining, recruiting and expanding jobs and re-investment in Washington State. WEDA members include economic development organizations, cities, counties, ports, tribes, businesses, education and community-based organizations that prioritize economic development.
About the National Development Council (NDC)
NDC’s work focuses on HOMES, JOBS and COMMUNITY. Founded as a national nonprofit in 1969, NDC has worked for over 50 years fulfilling its mission to increase the flow of capital for investment in low-income communities. NDC directs capital to support the development and preservation of affordable housing, the creation of jobs through training and small business lending and the advancement of livable communities through investment in social infrastructure.
