(MURFREESBORO)  Running a small business is a challenge. Main Street's Executive Director Sarah Callender has some news that will hopefully make the pandemic friendlier for small businesses. 

Have You Signed-Up for the latest PPP?

You know that PPP stands for paycheckl protection plan. 

Come Learn About the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) First and Second Draw Loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Covid-19. There will be free webinars on Monday, February 1, 2021 and again next Friday, February 5, 2021.  CLICK HERE to register.  Again, it's free!

Other Help for Small Businesses

You have heard that the majority of U.S. workers are employed in small businesses. That is definitely true, and that is why the government is doing everything it can to help America's small businesses make it through the pandemic. 

As we await SBA regulations and guidelines on implementing the Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) grants, I wanted to share the following important news:

SBA Shuttered Venues Website. Please check the SBA website’s SVO section on a daily basis as they are posting new and corrected information by the minute at www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant.

SVO Priority Awards. The SBA website modified its original preliminary guidelines to be more in line with the Congressional intent of the newly passed law. SBA is no longer limiting the first two priority distributions to shuttered venues with only 50 employees or fewer. While there is still a set aside of $2 billion for this category of small venues, the early distribution awards are for any size organization with 90 or 70 percent revenue loss (still not clear if this is gross or earned revenue). The SBA statement on their website now reads:

“On January 20, 2021, SBA updated the proposed plan for issuing Shuttered Venue Operators Grants during the first and second priority periods. To clarify, priority awardees will not need to satisfy the small employer set-aside. During the first 59 days of opening the SVO Grants, SBA will reserve no less than $2 billion of program funding for grants to entities that have no more than 50 employees."

To learn more about these GRANTS, please CHECK HERE.