Frank Pina
PPP Alert – Senate Agrees to Extend PPP Loan Program to August 8th
The Senate passed a bill to extend the filing deadline for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans late on June 30th, just hours before the Small Business Administration (SBA) was set to stop accepting applications. However, unless and until the House of Representatives approves the language, the SBA will stop accepting PPP applications. The PPP provides…
The Main Street Lending Program: An Alternative to the PPP
The lender portal for the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) has opened as the alternative to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Unlike the PPP, the Main Street Lending Program’s loans are not forgivable, although they are at low interest rates. The program is being offered through the Federal Reserve rather than the SBA…
PPP Loan Alert – SBA & Treasury Issue Guidance on PPP Flexibility & Updated Applications
On June 10, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury Department issued an interim final rule to address changes made by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA). Streamlined PPP loan application forms for borrowers and lenders for loans made on or after June 5, 2020 were also updated and published. The interim final…
Changes to PPP – What Should You Know?
On June 5, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (PPPFA). The PPPFA provides flexibility to borrowers attempting to maximize the benefits provided by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) established under the CARES Act. For existing PPP loans, the PPPFA provides the following: Extends the period for PPP…
SBA Interim Final Rules on PPP Loan Forgiveness & Borrower/Lender Responsibilities
On May 22, 2020, new interim final rules were released by the Small Business Administration (SBA) providing guidance to borrowers and lenders regarding the SBA’s review process under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including the loan forgiveness calculation and eligibility. Highlights from the May 22, 2020 interim final rules are as follows: The SBA review…
Important Business Considerations for the New Normal
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the issuance of stay at home orders and business shutdowns eight weeks ago, there have been many Federal and State moratoriums, executive orders and updates to governmental guidelines to lessen the impacts of the pandemic. Businesses grappling with decisions made, or to be made, will need to…
New PPP Guidance from the SBA Regarding Good Faith Need Certification
On May 13, the SBA released new guidance regarding the required good faith certification of need by PPP loan applicants, providing safe harbor to all recipients of less than $2 million in loan proceeds. This guidance also speaks to ramifications for borrowers with loans of more than $2 million that are determined to have lacked…
The Role of the Board During Crisis
Whether it’s a cyber-attack, an executive’s misconduct or the health and economic crisis resulting from COVID-19, the Board of Directors plays an important role in helping its organization navigate and survive the challenges ahead. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain government-mandated restrictions and limitations have triggered sudden and profound economic impacts that have forced…
Managing Director Frank Pina Co-Authors Article for Fraud Magazine
Managing Director Frank Pina, CPA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, Co-Chair of Mercadien’s Forensic & Litigation Support Group, authored an article on Drexel University’s Fraud & Internal Control Case Competition with Barbara Murray Grein, CPA, Associate Professor & Head of the Accounting Department at Drexel University, for the May/June issue of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners…
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Implementation Guide
The PPP Loan Program Evolution Owners of numerous small businesses, including those who are self-employed, applied for potentially forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This program was designed to incentivize employers to maintain payroll and employee headcount throughout the COVID-19…