LI small business owners desperate for help after being shut out of federal loan program

Many Long Island business owners are now desperate for financial help after being shut out of the federal money the first time around.

News 12 Staff

Apr 20, 2020, 3:49 PM

Updated 1,487 days ago

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Many Long Island business owners are now desperate for financial help after being shut out of federal money the first time around.
There's a lot of frustration, anger and concern for owners of small businesses who say they never got a shot at getting federal help during the first round of loans.
A lot of the complaints came from businesses owners who deal with larger, commercial banks. They say they were so backlogged that they weren't even able to get through.
Some smaller banks had more success. Bridgehampton National Bank says it processed 2,500 loans by basically working around the clock.
"We worked overnight on many nights," says Kevin O'Connor, president of Bridgehampton National Bank. "The SBA system was slow during the day. We found at three o'clock in the morning there was a lot greater access to it."
The definition of a small business in the eyes of the federal government is a company with fewer than 500 employees. Many businesses across Long Island have only a fraction of that, but the loan money was gobbled up quickly.
Longtime restaurant and pub owner Jeff Egan echoed the feelings of disappointment coming from a lot of Long Island small business owners
"I literally started the process an hour after they said we could put in applications," says Egan. "I have not received a dime. It's very tough just to even get the banks to call back to tell you if they've gotten your applications."
Sal's Auto Body, which has been in Smithtown for 50 years, also failed to get a loan and says the situation is becoming desperate for them.
"I'd say we have about two weeks left before we start really panicking," says Laura Jacobellis.
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