LAKELAND Hundreds of billions of federal dollars are set to reinvigorate small businesses in the near future, a measure business owners say they sorely need.
In December, President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill that included the allocation of $284 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, overseen by the U.S. Small Business Association. The program kept some local business owners from shutting their doors forever during economic lockdowns in the spring and summer of 2020.
While the money might not be a long-term solution if COVID-19 continues to tank foot traffic and other business performance measures, it could save some businesses on the brink of closure.