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Paycheck Protection Program

Congressman fields questions in virtual town hall

May 12, 2020 By B.C. Manion

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis held a series of virtual town hall meetings recently, to field questions and share information regarding assistance available amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bilirakis took part in a Zoom session with members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber on May 5.  He also had other sessions scheduled with other organizations, including The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis has been hosting virtual town halls meetings with local organizations to field questions and concerns about government assistance programs, in the midst of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (File)

The congressman offered practical suggestions, and expressed empathy for the frustrations that local business owners and individuals are experiencing — in the wake of health concerns and  the financial meltdown caused by COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 1.3 million positive cases nationally and nearly 79,000 deaths.

Bilirakis told those participating in the virtual town hall that he has heard complaints about the process used for government assistance.

“Since the establishment of the Paycheck Protection Program, I’ve heard from countless small-town constituent business owners that the application process was difficult to navigate and that many lenders were not receptive to their needs. This is what we’ve been hearing, folks.

“It’s very frustrating to know that many well-known business chains received millions of dollars in program funds and that those applications may have been prioritized by lending institutions.  I emphasize ‘may,’” Bilirakis said.

He also noted that he has worked to have money specifically set aside in the PPP program to provide help for truly small businesses — those having 25 or fewer employees.

“Our nation’s family owned businesses, mom and pops, and self-proprietors are already competing with national and international competitors — particularly during good times, particularly with the Internet now. So they need the help,” Bilirakis said.

The set-aside, “was a reflection of my work,” the congressman said.

He’s also heard from small businesses who want greater flexibility on the forgiveness side of the loan.

“Some of the businesses haven’t been able to open, obviously, because of the executive order, plus it might not be safe to do so. So, there should be flexibility with that seven or eight weeks,” Bilirakis said.

“As we move forward, we need to find even better ways to ensure that our local businesses get the help they need in this or any future crisis,” Bilirakis said.

The nation needs to be prepared, in case the virus reoccurs in the fall, Bilirakis said.

Bilirakis also noted that he will be introducing legislation “that will do even more to provide direct support to the small businesses.”

“You know, you employ more than 50% of the employees. You create the jobs. You’re the innovators,” he told those listening in.

“Through no fault of your own, you’re not getting business. It’s because of the virus,” Bilirakis said.

“In these times, sometimes you throw out the playbook because people are desperate.

“They’ve invested a lot of their own money in these businesses. We want to save these mom-and-pop businesses, in particular.”

The congressman added: “I think in the next couple of weeks, we’ll have an additional package. What it’s going to look like? We’ll see.”

Bilirakis also addressed a concern that has been expressed about workers being reluctant to go to work because the government is providing a $600 a week federal payment, on top of state unemployment benefits.

He noted: “If you write the letter asking them to come back, then they’re not eligible for further unemployment.”

Summer Robertson, the congressman’s deputy chief of staff, elaborated: “If the employer puts the request for their employee to return to work in writing and the employee refuses it, and the employees continues to claim unemployment, that will be considered fraud and they will be prosecuting fraud.”

She said employers “need to have their employees understand that.”

Others taking part in the town hall expressed concerns about not being able to negotiate with their landlords for temporary relief on their lease payments. Bilirakis suggested they call his office to see if the office can help them find solutions to that problem.

Robertson also touched on the importance of testing to secure data that’s needed to help get the nation reopened.

“The No. 1 thing that the health professionals keep telling us on these calls is that best way that we can help save lives is by identifying who might be impacted.

“The more people who get it, the better criteria that we have, the better decisions we can make, based upon that data,” she said.

Robertson also said: “Just today, Pfizer announced that it is moving into human trials for its possible vaccine for COVID. That process has been ramped up.

“When you have the vaccine available, you’re better to contain the death count,” Robertson said.

Bilirakis also addressed the problems that the state of Florida has been having with its unemployment system.

He noted it’s a state issue, not a federal matter.

But, he added: “It is a huge problem. The governor has recognized that, and there’s an ongoing investigation.”

Although it is a state issue, Bilirakis said his office is helping people by trying to find out the status of specific cases, he said.

Robertson added: “There are a lot of people in terrible situations — haven’t received income in two months, and we’re doing the best we can to communicate those frustrations and those concerns with the state.”

She also said that people who need information on the government’s stimulus checks can go to .

If you’d like additional information about government loans or assistance programs, or have other questions, you can reach Bilirakis’ office at (727) 232-2921.

Published May 13, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19, Gus Bilirakis, Paycheck Protection Program, Pfizer, Summer Robertson, The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce

Businesses seek help during pandemic

April 7, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The economy has been flattened by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and businesses are seeking a way to continue operating or to reopen their doors.

A $2 trillion stimulus package— the largest in the nation’s history — is called the CARES Act, which stands for Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security.

Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., offered guidance to help businesses seeking to secure financing to recover from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (File)

Part of that package is specifically aimed at assisting companies with fewer than 500 employees, said Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

“It’s intended to assist small business owners in whatever needs that they have right now. So, once it’s implemented, there’s going to be lots of resources for small business, as well as some nonprofits and also some other types of employers,” said Cronin, who helps recruit and build business growth through the nonprofit economic development agency he leads.

Cronin and Eileen Rodriguez, regional director for the Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida, participated in a Zoom video conferencing session on April 1, with Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore.

“This particular pandemic, has really, I think, taken a lot of people by surprise,” Rodriguez said. “The scope and magnitude of it is so much more than just our normal disasters, which you know, we’re used to the hurricanes. This is a completely different animal. It’s just so huge.”

While various assistance programs are available, getting through the process can be difficult, Cronin said.

“It is confusing, even for us as practitioners, between state, federal and local programs. So, I can’t imagine what it’s like sometimes, as business people, trying to navigate all of these different resources — in a time when it’s challenging enough as it is, with all of these external pressures,” Cronin said.

Mainstreet Billiards, in downtown Zephyrhills, is complying with the state-mandated shutdown. A posting over the weekend on its Facebook Page says “we will get back to it as soon as we can.” It ends the posting with this message by saying, “Help your neighbor if you can! And shop local small businesses to help out your Zephyrhills family. We will get through this together.” (B.C. Manion)

He outlined some of the programs available to help businesses.

“The most popular program that I think most of you are going to be interested in is called the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. It is designed for companies that employ fewer than 500 workers,” he said.

In essence, the loan is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.

Rodriguez talked about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program .

“We help small business owners who are currently navigating the loan process.

“We don’t actually make decisions on which loans get approved or denied, but we do work with the independent Emergency Bridge Loan committee that makes those decisions,” she said.

“The team at the SBDC — the entire team — is really working as fast as we can to process all these inquiries and applications that have come in.

“Right now, we’re probably hovering around 4,000, just to give you a sense of the type of volume that we’re looking at,” she said.

“Everybody is trying to move as quickly as possible, to help all of the small businesses that have been affected, which frankly, has been pretty much everybody in the state of Florida, and of course, across the nation.”

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a brutal effect on the economy. Here is a look at the lack of activity in downtown Zephyrhills, on the Saturday after Gov. Ron DeSantis imposed a Stay-at-Home order for the state of Florida. (B.C. Manion)

Information is changing constantly, Rodriguez added. “Changes occur daily, and I might even say, hourly.”

“What I’m saying right this minute could possibly change in an hour, two hours, this afternoon, tomorrow,” she said.

It’s essential to check officials websites for up-to-the-minute information, she said.

The Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program was activated on March 16 by the governor’s office.

“They released $50 million for that program. Small businesses can qualify for up to $50,000 in most cases. These are interest-free, short-term loans. And, by short-term, I mean 12 months,” she said.

“Let’s say you would be awarded a loan today. You would have 12 months to pay it off. It’s interest-free for those 12 months. At 12 months and 1 day, if that loan is not paid off, you will have to start paying interest and that interest will be retroactive, back to Day 1.

“This loan does not convert to a long-term loan at that point. It’s still a short-term loan and for all intents and purposes, you will be in default of your loan on that 366th day,” she said.

To apply for this loan, go to FloridaJobs.org, which is the Department of Economic Opportunity’s website. Applications are now being accepted directly through their portal, which was activated on March 23.

Business owners can qualify for both the short-term and long-term loans, she said.

The Small Business Administration also offers an economic injury disaster loan. It allows loans of up to $2 million, and self-employed workers are eligible.

The interest rate is 3.75% for for-profit companies; 2.75% for nonprofit companies.

“This is pretty much considered a working capital loan, again, to help with payroll, with fixed debt, accounts payable, any other bills,” Rodriguez said.

“You don’t have to go through a bank to apply for it. This loan is directly with the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance program,” she said.

Rodriguez said she has no idea how long it will take for loans to be processed.

“I will tell you that they are overwhelmed, because, again, this is not just a Florida program. That’s a national program, a federal program. They’ve had over 1 million — 1 million — inquiries and applications already.

Pasco Chairman Moore offered some words of support to the small business community.

“You will continue to be the heartbeat in Pasco County,” Moore said.

“We want to see you all get out of this, we want to see you succeed. We want to see everybody working.

“We’re going to get through this,” Moore said. “We’re going to get through this together.”

For more information visit DisasterLoan.sba.gov; SBDCtampabay.com/coronavirus; and, Pasco.edc.com.

Published April 08, 2020

Filed Under: Business Digest, Local News Tagged With: Bill Cronin, CARES Act, coronavirus, COVID-19, Eileen Rodriguez, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program, Florida SBDC, Mike Moore, Pasco Economic Development Council, Paycheck Protection Program, Small Business Administration, University of South Florida

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03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer “Foodie Feast: Apple Pie Bombs” on March 5. Participants can learn how to make tasty, apple pie bombs. Watch the prerecorded video between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., online at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

03/06/2021 – Pancakes and trains

The Grand Concourse Railroad, 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills, will offer a Pancake Breakfast and Unlimited Train Rides event on March 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. For information, visit Grand Concourse Railroad on Facebook. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Pancakes and trains

03/08/2021 – Tomato garden

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a video on how to grow a tomato garden. Those interested can view the video at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary, all day, on March 8. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email . … [Read More...] about 03/08/2021 – Tomato garden

03/09/2021 – Grilled cheese

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a video on how to make green grilled cheese on March 9 at 4:30 p.m., for grades four to seven. To view the video, visit the Library Cooperative on Facebook or Instagram. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Grilled cheese

03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a virtual poetry discussion group on “Female Power!” on March 9 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older, via Zoom. Participants can share a favorite poem or take part in discussions on poems about women or written by women poets. Themed poems will be sent out to help with the session. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or . … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

03/09/2021 – Technology Tuesday

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a Technology Tuesday: Robots & Machines on March 9, through a curbside pickup activity. The kit will help kids learn more about technology, from robots to coding, through online and hands-on activities. The pickup is limited to 35 participants and must be reserved ahead of time. A book bundle can be included. Kits must be picked up between March 9 at 10 a.m., and March 13 at 5 p.m. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Technology Tuesday

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