New portal will allow small businesses to apply directly for PPP loan forgiveness
CBSN
Millions of small businesses could soon see a simplified loan forgiveness application process after receiving funds to keep paying workers and stay afloat amid the COVID pandemic.
The Small Business Administration announced Wednesday that it's launching a new portal for small businesses to apply directly for Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness through the agency. This comes as only about half of the $800 billion in so-called PPP distributed amid the pandemic has been forgiven so far. The direct portal, which will open for applications starting August 4, will be available for businesses that had PPP loans of $150,000 or less. Previously, businesses were only able to apply for PPP forgiveness through their lender.Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.