At least 26 businesses and nonprofits in Wilton Manors received more than $150,000 in Payment Protection Program loans from the Federal Government for coronavirus relief.
“We used the money to keep our staff employed ever since the pandemic started,” said Victor Warren, the chair of the board of SunServe, one of the recipients. “We didn’t have to furlough anyone. Otherwise we would have had to lay people off.”
SunServe received close to $300,000, Warren said. He said the money ran out a couple of weeks ago.
The largest such loan in Wilton Manors went to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese who received between $2 and $5 million which covered 385 jobs. Two other businesses and nonprofits received more than $1 million in loans, which included Kids in Distress and Southeast Moving Solutions.
The PPP is a $669 billion business loan program established earlier this year under the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). The PPP loans were designed to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the coronavirus crisis and are eligible to be forgiven.
“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 60% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll],” reads the Small Business Administration’s website.
The maximum amount an applicant could receive is approximately equal to 2.5 times the average monthly payroll costs for the business or nonprofit.
Only those businesses and nonprofits who received more than $150,000 are listed and searchable.
Glen Weinzimer, co-owner of Bona Italian Restaurant on Wilton Drive, received $112,000 under his PPP loan.
“That’s what kept us open,” he said. He also said the money is close to running out and he’s worried about the future of the business. “We went ahead and took out a Small Business Administration loan even though I did not want to.”
His biggest concern is if there’s another shutdown.
“The virus is out of control,” he said.
Weinzimer said he supports another shutdown as long as there is a mandate for everyone to shutdown.
When businesses were allowed to reopen he attempted to keep his dining room closed in order to keep his staff safe, but in those first two weeks his takeout and delivery business plummeted forcing him to open in order to stay in business.
“Those were the worst two weeks of the crisis while everyone else was open,” he said.
If there is a second shutdown he believes he could stay in business for a while as long as his takeout and delivery business stays strong, even though it’s not quite break even.
The PPP started accepting new applications on July 6. The new deadline is August 8.
ProPublica created a searchable database of the businesses and nonprofits who received $150,000 or more in loans. Here is a complete list from the website for businesses that have addresses in Wilton Manors.
Ethos Wilton Manors ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained – 39
Kids In Distress ($1-2 Million)
Jobs Retained - 151
The Pride Center at Equality Park ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained – 15
SunServe ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 38
Access Insurance Underwriter ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained – 23
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese Of Miami ($2-5 Million)
Jobs Retained - 385
United Cargo and Freight ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 98
A Brand New Start ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 26
Gregory B. Taylor, PA ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 14
South Florida Symphony Orchestra ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 275
Spartacus Night Club (Eagle Wilton Manors) ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained – Blank
Trivia ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained – 9
Horton/Jones Electrical Contractors ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 0
Imperial Cleaning Corporation ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 152
The Poverello Center ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 15
Arbor Pet Hospital ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 18
Allied Home Improvement ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 63
Southeast Moving Solutions ($1-2 Million)
Jobs Retained - 110
Cubas Enterprise ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 32
Insurance Made Simple ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 52
Turnkey Property Management Investments ($350,000-1 Million)
Jobs Retained - 96
AXIS Medical Education ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 8
Graphics Unit ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 6
Millionaire Group (Tee Jay Thai Sushi) ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 29
Top Cat Cleaning Service ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 42
South Florida Institute on Aging ($150,000-350,000)
Jobs Retained - 16
