PPP money almost half gone, new measures underway to get funding to smallest businesses

The 2021 round of the Paycheck Protection Program’s first five days were constructed to help very small businesses, ensuring that — unlike the 2020 launch — these underserved companies hardest hit by the pandemic had the best opportunity to apply for the forgivable loans before it opened to larger firms and big lenders. Now, the initiative, which is due to expire on March 31, is circling back with the funding half gone. The Biden administration on Monday announced several changes to make…