By Tom Scanlon | West Valley View
In a massive effort to keep employers writing paychecks during the pandemic, the federal government pumped more than $200 million into car dealers, restaurants, churches, private schools, contractors and other West Valley businesses in a loan-forgiveness program.
Going out to dairies, car dealers, restaurants, churches and other businesses, the funds were to be used to protect at least 35,000 jobs—and avoid mass layoffs—as the economy reeled during the first months of the COVID-19 shutdowns.
Records released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) earlier this month show details of the funding by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Nationally, the program gushed out $520 billion to 5 million businesses.
