Small Businesses, Leaders Call On Congress To Replenish Federal Program
Apr 17, 2020, 11:13 PM | Updated: 11:15 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – State leaders joined small business owners and called on Congress to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program one day after its funds ran dry.
“You just don’t know. It’s just all so uncertain,” said Trisha Bennion, owner of Nailed! Boutique in Salt Lake City. “It is hard walking into an empty building.”
This is typically the most profitable time of the year at Bennion’s two salons, where she employes 52 employees. Instead, she was wondering how to keep her business alive on Friday, one month after she closed her doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.
About two weeks ago, Bennion jumped at the chance to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program, a potentially forgivable federal loan to cover your payroll and operating costs.
Nailed Boutique shut its doors March 18. A month later they still don’t know when they’ll be able to open. The industry isn’t exactly made for #SocialDistancing. And the #PaycheckProtectionProgram running dry is making matters worse. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/FgC1bWJEE0
— Matt Rascon (@MattRasconNews) April 18, 2020
Things were looking up for Bennion until Thursday, when she learned with the rest of the country that the $350 billion program had run out of money.
“I’m not a crier but I curled up in bed and cried,” Bennion said. “I’ve been guaranteeing these girls I’ll bring them on as soon as I get that PPP loan. And I’ve been telling them just wait. It’ll be any day. You know, it’ll be any day.”
“Through no cause of their own. They run a successful business. It’s not their problem,” Governor Gary Herbert said, standing at a podium set up outside Bennion’s boutique. “We still have an economy that’s functioning. It’s just got one hand tied behind its back right now.”
State and business leaders urged members of Congress to replenish the program that’s already approved 21,000 loans in Utah totaling $3.7 billion.
“Financial institutions across the state have worked frantically to process these applications on behalf of their small business customers,” said Howard Hedley, president of the Utah Bankers Association. “Funding for this critical program is needed now.”
Another 18,000 businesses have turned in applications, including Bennion’s, but can do little more than wait and hope that things return the normal we’re used to.
“I feel so much responsibility for them,” Bennion said of her employees. “And I’m just really worried that if this next package doesn’t come through, I don’t know what I’ll tell them.”
Coronavirus Resources
For more on how Utah is combating the coronavirus, go to coronavirus.utah.gov.
To find a COVID-19 testing location near you, go to coronavirus.utah.gov/testing-locations.
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- What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
- What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
- Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
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- Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?
How Do I Prevent It?
The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
How To Get Help
If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.
Additional Resources
If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.
