As of Friday, 17,500 small business owners across the country had applied for the new payroll relief program, championed by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
According to Collins' office, as of Sunday, 1,026 Maine employers had received $291.9 million in Paycheck Protection Plan loans. One of them is Igor Sikorsky, who runs Bradford Camps fishing lodge in Piscataquis County.
"It's a great phone call for me to have made to my employees."
Sikorsky says he's relieved that he may not have to lay off any of his five employees this season, despite travel bans and lodging closures. He says he will likely clear the books for most, if not all, of May. He doesn't know what to expect for June.
“We will be asking everybody who is reserved for June, if you can, stick it out.. lets move your dates to later in the season.”
Sikorsky says he'll be able to keep his staff for at least eight weeks. The closures and restrictions are extraordinary for his industry, he says, but vital for public health and safety. He says he feels 'fairly confident' his business will survive, but he says a number of other lodges may face permanent closure if things don't rebound.
Business owners may apply for the payroll protection program until June 30.
U.S. lawmakers have set aside $350 billion to fund the program, but has the option of increasing the amount. As of Friday, the program had spent more than $5 billion of its allocation.
