5.8.20 Good, bad and very annoying news (freeze warning)

I’ll start with the very annoying news because you can perhaps do something about it – Freeze warning for parts of NYS – and snow.  What you might be able to do is bring plants in.  Unfortunately there are a lot of buds out there at prime time for frost of freeze damage.

 

The good news – The Small Business Administration’s EIDL loans are prioritizing agriculture.  If you haven’t applied (and you meet the criteria), do!  https://www.sba.gov/page/disaster-loan-applications

 

The bad news –  like much of officialdom there are rules and they aren’t always clear.  The Paycheck Protection Program funds have rules that must be followed to change them from loans to grants.  Make sure you understand how the money must be spent to get it as a grant.  Check with your bank.

The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will also be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.

Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program#section-header-2

Keep on doing your usual good work!  I am always impressed by NYS’s ornamental producers!