On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) published its 28th Interim Final Rule (Forgiveness IFR) covering the loan forgiveness requirements and review procedures for the Paycheck Protection Program, as reauthorized and amended by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (the Economic Aid Act), and as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the enactment of the Economic Aid Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, applicable federal regulations and interpretive guidance issued by the SBA and U.S. Department of Treasury (the CARES Act)).
Continue Reading New Interim Final Rules Re: PPP Loan Forgiveness Requirements and Review Procedures as Amended by Economic Aid Act

*This post was updated on July 10, 2020.

Below please find a link to the Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (Sheppard Mullin) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Estimator Workbook (the Workbook), which was created by and is the property of Sheppard Mullin.
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program: Loan Forgiveness Estimator Workbook

On May 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued the Loan Forgiveness Application for borrowers to complete in order to apply for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including, without limitation, by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, applicable federal regulations and interpretive guidance issued by the SBA and Treasury, the CARES Act).  The Loan Forgiveness Application includes a loan forgiveness calculation form and related Schedule A worksheet as well as an optional PPP borrower demographic information form.

Highlights of what we believe to be material new guidance or clarification of existing guidance regarding PPP loan forgiveness are as follows:
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program: Key Features of the Loan Forgiveness Application

On May 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an updated Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet (FAQ)[1], which provides interpretative guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).[2]
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program: SBA Issues Further Guidance on its Review of the Economic Uncertainty Certification made by PPP Borrowers

The U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued further interpretative guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), via (i) an updated Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet (FAQ)[1], which was last published on May 6, 2020 and (ii) the distribution of the Eighth Interim Final Rule[2] on May 5, 2020.[3]
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program: SBA Extends Prepayment Safe Harbor To May 14, 2020 and Issues Further Interpretive Guidance on Employee Head Count and Affiliation

On April 24, 2020, the U.S. President signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PPP Enhancement Act), which appropriates an additional $321 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  The $321 billion infusion under the PPP Enhancement Act replenishes the PPP after the program utilized the entire $349 billion commitment that was originally authorized under the CARES Act.  Of the $321 billion, the SBA is obligated to set aside and guarantee $30 billion for (i) insured depository institutions with consolidated assets between $10 billion and $50 billion and (ii) credit unions with consolidated assets between $10 billion and $50 billion, and another $30 billion for (i) community financial institutions, (ii) insured depository institutions with consolidated assets of less than $10 billion and (iii) credit unions with consolidated assets of less than $10 billion.
Continue Reading Enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program And Healthcare Enhancement Act and Further Interpretive Guidance on The Economic Uncertainty Certification And PPP Eligibility

On April 7, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released a 4/7/2020 Frequently Asked Questions sheet (FAQ)[1] with respect to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The FAQ is supplemental to the (i) First Interim Final Rule issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on April 2, 2020, (ii) Second Interim Final Rule issued by the SBA on April 4, 2020 and (iii) Treasury’s Applicable Affiliation Rules fact sheet that was issued on April 4, 2020.
Continue Reading Expansion of Eligibility and Additional Guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (Title I of the CARES Act)

On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released its Interim Final Rule[1], which provides further guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. On April 2, 2020 the SBA also issued an updated sample application form.

The SBA’s Interim Final Rule clarifies, contradicts and provides additional interpretative guidance related to the CARES Act.  We highlight the following:
Continue Reading Updates on the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act: The SBA’s April 2, 2020 Interim Final Rule

Tribal leaders and federal officials this week will begin the task of implementing the economic relief programs of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (or “Act”) passed by Congress on March 27, 2020.  The U.S. Department of the Interior will host the first consultations  with Tribes to discuss funding formulas and eligibility rules of the $8 billion Tribal Stabilization Fund through a teleconference on Thursday, April 2, and on Thursday, April 9. The Tribal Stabilization Fund is one of three programs in the Act that Tribes might use to mitigate the downtown of their economic enterprises. Highlights of the three programs and how they might help your Tribe and Tribal businesses follow:

U.S. Department of Treasury Tribal Stabilization Fund[1]:

  • Sets aside $8 billion of the Coronavirus Relief Fund for payments to Tribal governments for increased expenditures of the Tribal government or a tribally controlled entity of the Tribal government;
  • Payments may be used to cover costs that (i) are necessary expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency; (ii) were not accounted for in the most recently approved budget of the Tribal government or tribally controlled entity; and (iii) were incurred from March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020.

Continue Reading How Can the CARES Act Help My Tribe? A Briefing on Economic Stimulus for Tribes

Major economic stabilization funds are made available to U.S. businesses (including nonprofits), states and municipalities under Title IV of the CARES Act. Title IV itself is titled the “Coronavirus Economic Stabilization Act of 2020” (referred to in this summary as “CESA”).[1]
Continue Reading Funds Available to Businesses Under the Coronavirus Economic Stabilization Act (CARES ACT Title IV)