Nearly three years into the pandemic, we can use the experience of these programs to understand what worked and be better prepared for the next health or financial crisis. … READ MORE >
Paycheck Protection Program
The pandemic response: Assessing the Paycheck Protection Program
The American economy was facing an abyss in March 2020, but because of forceful action by the fiscal and monetary authorities, it rebounded faster than expected. … READ MORE >
Comment: Treasury Department moves to end select pandemic-era lending programs
The Treasury Department told the Federal Reserve on Thursday that it would not extend nine of the 13 liquidity and lending programs aimed at easing the effects of the pandemic. … READ MORE >
SBA announces simplified PPP loan forgiveness
Some businesses that accepted financing under the Paycheck Protection Program now have a streamlined path to receiving the promised forgiveness of those loans, under new guidelines released late Thursday. … READ MORE >
Small and medium size firms in crisis: A message from the real economy
The condition of small and medium-size firms implies a potential inflection point in the nascent economic rebound following the near shutdown of the economy last spring. Without further reform and support of the signature Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—which provided a vital lifeline to those firms during the worst of the pandemic—there will be an increase in bankruptcies, followed by another round of job losses, this time tilted toward the permanent elimination of jobs that support the bulk of the American middle and working classes. … READ MORE >
Fintechs helped with the Paycheck Protection Program. Why not the Main Street Lending Program?
Fintechs played an important role in helping the Paycheck Protection Program gain broad acceptance. Now, fintechs could do the same in the Main Street Lending Program — if, that is, the government makes some prudent changes to the program. … READ MORE >
RSM’s exclusive MMBI survey reveals how the Main Street Lending Program can be improved
RSM’s survey for its proprietary Middle Market Business Index for July suggested that the Main Street Lending Program could gain broader participation with targeted changes and greater clarity about the program. … READ MORE >
Without adjustments, Main Street Lending Program is unlikely to be mainstream
Unlike the strong demand for the Paycheck Protection Program, which saw $350 billion in aid snatched up in the 13 days following its debut, interest in the Main Street Lending Program has been more muted; less than $100 million in aid was requested in the program’s first month, according to data from the Federal Reserve. … READ MORE >
What PPP loan data reveals about business and professional services and the economic recovery
The trajectory of the U.S. real economy hinges on the health of business and professional services firms and their ability to continue to employ many Americans. … READ MORE >
The Paycheck Protection Program still has legs after Congress approves extension
The program, which was scheduled to stop accepting new applications on Tuesday even though it had more than $134 billion left to distribute as of June 27, could now be extended through Aug. 8, after the Senate and the House approved the measure. … READ MORE >