One-quarter of small-business borrowers anticipate needing additional help
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Riley Johnson, Montana State Director, [email protected]
or Tony Malandra, Regional Media Manager, [email protected]
HELENA, Mont., May 21, 2020—As applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans slow, the nation’s leading small-business association today released the results of a comprehensive survey of its members about how these loans are being used, the effect they’re having, and challenges owners face in maximizing loan forgiveness.
“The only thing you can say for certain is that we’re right in the middle of a national uncertainty as to how things are going to work out for Main Street, mom-and-pop enterprises,” said Riley Johnson, Montana state director NFIB, which sampled a cross-section of its 300,000 members on May 18. “Will the PPP have done the trick of staving off massive small-business closures or will another federally backed financial shot in the arm be needed? I believe the poll we released today presents the best start for the debate to begin.”
From Holly Wade, NFIB Director of Research and Policy Analysis
“Small businesses continue to face many challenges in operating their business in these difficult times. Congress and the Administration have the authority to further lighten the burden for many of their immediate concerns, especially in offering more flexibility for PPP loans.”
According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, as of May 16, 21,703 Montana businesses have been approved for PPP loans worth a total value of $1,732,243,726. The NFIB poll released today, which is not broken down by state, found 54% of its members expecting 100 percent of the loan to be forgiven after the eight-week forgiveness period. The SBA posted its loan forgiveness application May 15.
Other highlights from the poll show:
- “The 75% payroll rule is difficult for 38% of small business borrowers to manage as 14% find it very difficult and 24% find it somewhat difficult.”
- “Almost one-quarter of those who have taken out one or both loans [PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)] anticipate they will need additional support and another 54% do not know yet. Only 20% of borrowers do not anticipate needing additional support.”
- “One-quarter of small business owners report that business operations are severely negatively impacted by the crisis. Thirty-three percent of small business owners report the crisis has significantly impacted their business and another 34% report a somewhat negative impact on business operation. Just 6% have not been impacted and 3% have been positively impacted.”
Click here to read the full report, which includes bar graphs on ‘When Borrowers Received PPP Loan,’ ‘Complying with PPP Loan Terms and Conditions,’ and a pie chart on ‘Percent of PPP Loan Expenses Expected to be Forgiven.’
Keep up with the latest on Montana small business at www.nfib.com/MT or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_MT
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For more than 76 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.
National Federation of Independent Business/Montana
491 South Park Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
406-443-3797
www.nfib.com/montana
Twitter: @NFIB_MT
