EIDL Loan Program Enhanced to Aid Small Businesses Challenged by COVID

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 9, 2021) – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced major enhancements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal disaster relief loan designed to better serve and support our small business communities still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels. The SBA … Continued

Porcari Named Port Envoy to Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 27, 2021) – The White House announced on Friday that John D. Porcari will be the Port Envoy to the Biden-Harris Administration Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. The Task Force was established in June to address supply and demand mismatches that emerged in several sectors as the economy reawakened following the Administration’s historic vaccination … Continued

SBA Opening Paycheck Protection Program Direct Forgiveness Portal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 30, 2021) – The  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.      “The SBA’s new streamlined application portal will simplify forgiveness for millions of our smallest businesses – including … Continued

Report: Small Businesses Continue Struggling to Fill Job Openings

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 3, 2021) – A record-high 48% of small business owners in May reported unfilled job openings (seasonally adjusted), according to National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly jobs report. May is the fourth consecutive month of record-high readings for unfilled job openings and is 26 points higher than the 48-year historical reading of 22%. “Small … Continued

Winter Sports Market Announces Show Changes

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (June 14, 2021) – For over 25 years, Winter Sports Market has served the winter sports community of specialty retailers and manufacturers.  In that time, many things have changed in our industry – supply chain lead times, the arrival of the internet, consolidation of national trade shows and the evolution of … Continued

SBA Looks Back at Paycheck Protection Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 1, 2021) – U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman issued the following statement on the closure of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to new loan guaranty applications, which has provided over $798 billon in economic relief to small businesses and nonprofits across the nation, keeping employees employed and helping businesses come back stronger than ever.   “The … Continued

Irwin Broh Study: Exercise In Gyms May Be On Upswing

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (April 9, 2021) – Consumers have not reported an increase in active gym memberships since September, but the percentage who consider themselves non-members has declined, according to the latest wave of a survey by Irwin Broh Research exploring the shift in consumers’ fitness habits and future purchase behaviors from the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, … Continued

PPP Loan Deadline Extended to May 31

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 30, 2021) – As President Joe Biden signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021 into law, extending the Paycheck Protection Program an additional two months to May 31, 2021, and then providing an additional 30-day period for the SBA to process applications that are still pending, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, … Continued