Paycheck Protection Program

East St. Louis native Dana Howard is shown here as a linebacker at the University of Illinois.

Metro East football legend, business partners indicted on federal wire fraud charges

Carolyn P. Smith

Dana Howard, a state champion at East St. Louis High School and an All-American linebacker at the University of Illinois before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and playing for the St. Louis Rams, was named in the indictment along with two others.

Kesha Thompson-Warren said small businesses should be able to get loans for lower amounts in order to prevent using payday lenders.

Government, Politics & Issues

Fewer Illinois residents using payday lenders after state capped interest rates

Amy Yee

High-cost consumer loans with interest high as 200% have plummeted since an Illinois law passed in March 2021 put a ceiling on interest rates at 36%.

Economy & Business

St. Louis restaurants fear new COVID wave could push them to the brink

Jane Mather-Glass

Restaurants haven’t seen COVID-19 aid in months. Now, they’re continuing to struggle amid omicron.

St. Louis-area businesses remain closed as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. Weeks of reduced income, or none at all, has stretched small businesses thin.

Economy & Business

St. Louis Groups Offer Free Support For Minority-Owned Businesses Seeking PPP Loans

Corinne Ruff

Small-business consultant Erica Henderson said the federal loan program previously left out many business owners from marginalized groups. She's trying to make sure that doesn't happen again.

Economy & Business

These Missouri Companies Received The Largest Federal Paycheck Protection Loans

Kae M. Petrin

The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Monday released the names of businesses that received more than $150,000 in federal loans through the Paycheck…

Jovita Carranza, head of the Small Business Administration, has urged Congress to appropriate more money for the Paycheck Protection Program as soon as possible.

Small Business Emergency Relief Program Hits $349 Billion Cap In Less Than 2 Weeks

Danielle Kurtzleben

The Paycheck Protection Program, which opened on April 3, has been plagued with delays and technical difficulties. Republicans and Democrats agree on adding more funding, but they disagree on how.