A Central Florida woman was sentenced to 12 months in prison for wire fraud “part of a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) out of loan proceeds,” according to a news release.

Asian stock markets are mixed on 2022′s first trading day after Wall Street ended last year with a double-digit gain.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden announced changes Monday to target more federal pandemic assistance to the nation’s smallest businesses and ventures owned by women and people of color. Biden says a lot of these mom and pop businesses “got muscled out of the way” by larger businesses seeking federal money in the early days of the pandemic. "America’s small businesses are hurting, hurting badly and they need help now,” Biden said. Under the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program, the administration is establishing a two-week window, starting Wednesday, in which only businesses with fewer than 20 employees — the overwhelming majority of small businesses — can apply for the forgivable loans. The Biden effort is aimed at correcting disparities in how the program was administered by the Trump administration.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – A 17-year-old was shot in the face during a drive-by shooting Thursday night in Seminole County, sheriff’s officials said. The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of S. Ronald Reagan Blvd. off Lake Mobile Drive near Altamonte Springs, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. AdDeputies said the victim was taken to a hospital and was badly hurt but was in stable condition. Deputies said no arrests have been made in the case and offered no description of the shooter or a possible motive.

ORLANDO, Fla. – We are pinpointing a warmer start across Central Florida as temperatures are in the 40s, rather than the 20s and 30s, Friday morning. Orlando will reach a high in the upper 70s. AdWe will see a front stall out over Central Florida, so there’s a chance we will see rain in Tampa during the Super Bowl. There’s also a chance that the front will wobble farther north and not be as much of an impact on the game. Orlando has a yearly rainfall deficit of 2.13 inches.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Billions of dollars in funds meant to keep Floridians employed during the pandemic went to nearly 100,000 businesses who reported zero employees, according to newly released data by the Small Business Administration. News 6 found Florida businesses received roughly $32 million in PPP loans, meant to support more than 3.3 million jobs. When years of savings were not enough, Voeller, like so many other small business owners, faced the realization she may have to close her 44-year-old child care center. The PPP loan has given us some time, and I am hoping it has given us enough time to get to the other side,” said Voeller. The PPP loan has allowed Aspire to maintain full operations pandemic, without interruption, and to continue providing much needed critical services to the most vulnerable in our community.”GrayRobinson P.A.

Small businesses are in limbo again as the coronavirus outbreak rages and the governments $659 billion relief program draws to a close. Congress is debating further help for small business as part of a broader coronavirus relief package. For example, the 50% requirement will leave out many small businesses, says Sean Kennedy, an executive vice president at the industry group National Restaurant Association. With the economy struggling, Koleas business is still down, and having spent all his loan money, hes hoping for a second loan. Krigman laid off staffers and rehired them when she got a PPP loan, but that money has been spent.

However, none of the four major North American sports leagues the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball were among the businesses that applied, according to the data. The data showed businesses that applied for and received loans, though some may not ultimately have taken the funds. An AP survey completed in May found 32 U.S. Olympic sports organizations about 70% of all federations had applied for PPP loans. With their seasons shut down, more than a dozen minor league baseball teams turned up on the PPP rolls. The Big South Conference, Conference USA, Southland Conference and Big Sky Conference all listed less than two dozen full-time employees, according to the data.

The PPP offered loans up to $10 million to companies with fewer than 500 employees. The most appealing aspect of the program: possible loan forgiveness if most of the money was spent on workers. But when the loans were first proposed, lawmakers described them as a rescue for small businesses and their employees. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin soon said the government would audit loans above $2 million, though some experts have their doubts. Aliera Companies, a private equity firm specializing in healthcare, got a $5 million to $10 million loan.

In the months ahead, Main Street loans may prove a valuable resource for firms that were in sound financial condition prior to the pandemic, Powell said. Companies with up to 15,000 employees or $5 billion in revenue are eligible for Main Street. The Fed has said it will purchase up to $600 billion in Main Street loans from banks. Main Street loans currently have a rate slightly above 3%. Haith, meanwhile, said the interest rate on a Main Street loan is much lower than he would typically expect to pay, even in a healthy economy.