Posts by Sarah Perez

In the coming weeks, banks will once again start accepting applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans — and most of Tampa Bay’s biggest lenders will be back for more. The program, which is administered by the Small Business Administration, first launched in early April last year. Funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security…

From the opening bell on April 3 to the last call on Aug. 8, more than 80,000 Tampa Bay businesses applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan. In total, more than $6.6 billion came to the region through the loans, a decent chunk of the $31 billion that passed through Florida and of the $525…

The Greenhouse, a small business assistance center in St. Petersburg, has launched an interactive map displaying small businesses city-wide. The map is one of several initiatives underway for St. Pete Small Business Week, a week-long event to celebrate local business growth and the diverse voices in entrepreneurship. The map shows the name of the business,…

TAMPA, FL., October 19, 2020 – First Citrus Bancorporation, Inc. (OTC Markets: FCIT), the parent bank holding company for First Citrus Bank, has released its financial results for the third quarter of 2020. September 30, 2020, YTD earnings were the highest on record after the third quarter produced the strongest quarterly earnings performance in company…

Any hope for imminent assistance from Congress on Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness is dwindling. Several attempts to pass additional stimulus have been bogged down in Congress in the months leading up the election; earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he was halting any further discussion of a stimulus package until after the election…

It looks like the Paycheck Protection Program is finished — for now. The program, which was administered through the Small Business Administration, provided loans to small businesses that could be totally forgiven if a certain percentage of the funds were spent on payroll-related costs. The PPP proved immensely popular when it was first launched in…

The demand for Paycheck Protection Program loans may not look robust at the moment, but several lenders who spoke with the Tampa Bay Business Journal said that another round could be needed. Demand was explosive when the Small Business Administration launched the program in April, which allows loans to be completely forgiven if a certain…

In April, businesses sought money. In August, they’ll be seeking forgiveness.On Aug. 10, the Small Business Administration will begin accepting applications for forgiveness of loans granted through the Paycheck Protection Program. The PPP, which was administered through the SBA, provided loans up to $10 million for businesses with less than 500 employees. About three months…

First Citrus (OTCQB:FCIT) reported second-quarter earnings on July 20, with another record quarter. These results were primarily fueled by PPP loans and COVID-19 re-positioning. The company’s valuation has taken a hit since February and is now at a level not seen since 2018. Second-Quarter Earnings The company reported quarterly earnings per share of $0.63, a…