Skokie PPP Loans: Where The Coronavirus Relief Money Went

SKOKIE, IL — The U.S. Treasury Department and Small Business Administration issued a list of businesses that received approval for more a half-trillion dollars in loans as part of the federal Paycheck Protection Program created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.

There were nearly 300 Skokie-based businesses approved to receive federal loans greater than $150,000 among the nearly 5 million PPP loans made since early April. Those local businesses retained a total of 15,583 jobs as a result of the loans, according to the federal agencies.

After initially refusing to disclose the data, the agencies relented following lawsuits from media organizations and provided the names of all businesses that borrowed more than $150,000, accounting for about three quarters of the money distributed.

“Today’s release of loan data strikes the appropriate balance of providing the American people with transparency, while protecting sensitive payroll and personal income information of small businesses, sole proprietors, and independent contractors,” Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Monday in a statement.

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The program was established to offer forgivable loans to small businesses to cover the cost of continuing to keeping workers on the payroll. That has preserved more than 50 million jobs that would otherwise have been eliminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Small Business Administration, or SBA.

SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza said the data shows that all types of small businesses benefited from the unprecedented economic relief program.

“The PPP is an indisputable success for small businesses, especially to the communities in which these employers serve as the main job creators,” Carranza said in a release. “In three months, this Administration was able to act quickly to get funding into the hands of those who faced enormous obstacles as a result of the pandemic.”

Mnuchin said the program has provided support to more than 80 percent of all small business in the country.

“We are particularly pleased that 27 percent of the program’s reach in low and moderate income communities which is in proportion to percentage of population in these areas," he said. " The average loan size is approximately $100,000, demonstrating that the program is serving the smallest of businesses."

The release includes business names, addresses, business type, limited demographic data, names of lender, jobs retained and loan amount ranges. Some Skokie businesses began receiving loans as early as April 4.

Find below a map showing different colors for different loan sizes followed by a list of Skokie businesses that were approved to receive at least $1 million each.

Two Skokie-based businesses were approved for loans of between $5 million and $10 million: Georgia Nut Company, which reported the money allowed it to retain 500 jobs, and Maron Electric Company, which said it was able to keep 175 jobs.

Eight local companies were approved for loans between $2 million and $5 million: Skokie Motor Sales, CIC Plus, Lanzatech, Meccor Industries, Double P Corporation, Lakeshore Employement, Covenant Living Communities and Services and United Hospice Management.

Twenty-eight other Skokie businesses received loans of $1 million to $2 million, according to the data:

• Cagan Management Group
• Raw Thrills
• Malko Communication Services
• Arie Crown Hebrew Day School
• Block Industries
• Medical Express Ambulance Service
• Lifeline Ambulance
• Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
• Best Cutting Die Company
• Construction Technology
• Computer Systems Institute
• Eco Brite Linens
• Palos Hills Healthcare
• Paragon Marketing Group
• Admiral Security Services
• Enhance Rehabilitation
• Schroeder and Schroeder
• Hester Decorating Company
• Trn Milwaukee
• Elettric 80
• CCC of Pewaukee
• The Manor of Kenosha
• Parc Joliet Nursing
• Norridge Gardens
• North Shore Senior Services
• Rex Therapeutics
• Hebrew Theological College
• Skokie Skilled Nursing Facility