Which SLO County businesses got PPP loans? Dozens received more than $1 million
Construction companies, wineries, and law firms. Restaurants and churches. Hardware stores and car dealers.
These are the types of local businesses that benefited the most from federal loans meant to offset the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on small businesses.
Data released this week by President Donald Trump’s administration shows that more than 700 businesses in San Luis Obispo County received at least $217 million through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Businesses and nonprofit organizations in the city of in San Luis Obispo received far more money than those in other communities, with 300 businesses collecting at least $103.25 million in financial assistance.
Paso Robles was No. 2 on the list, with 120 businesses there collecting at least $38.55 million.
Monetary figures are not exact due to the way the federal government has released the controversial data.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Small Business Administration were sued in May by media organizations after the agency declined to release the identities of loan recipients.
This week, the Trump administration made available a list of the thousands of businesses, nonprofits and others that received at least $150,000. The exact amounts of the loans weren’t disclosed, but amounts are categorized in increments of $150,000 to $350,000; $350,000 to $1 million; $1 million to $2 milion and $2 million to $5 million.
Many of the San Luis Obispo County businesses and groups that made the list in are familiar names. Other companies are listed by their limited liability company or incorporated name — not necessarily their business names — making tracking down the actual recipients difficult.
The figures released by the federal government reflect loans issued as of June 15.
Roughly 715 San Luis Obispo County companies that benefited from the program. About 40% of those companies are located in the city of San Luis Obispo, followed by Paso Robles with about 16%, Arroyo Grande with roughly 9%, and Atascadero with approximately 8%.
Loans are supposedly based on payroll figures during the most recent quarter of the fiscal year. They will be forgiven if businesses meet specific operating criteria.
Which SLO County businesses received PPP loans?
The recipients of the largest loans awarded in the county include Papich Construction in Arroyo Grande, which reported having almost 200 employees, and MGE Underground, Inc. in Paso Robles, which reported 274 employees. Both received at least $5 million in loans.
A total of 18 local companies collected at least $2 million, including Miner’s Ace Hardware, which reported more than 350 employees, and Thoma Electric, which reported 66 employees.
That category also included Rantec Power Systems in Los Osos, with 181 employees; Daou Vineyards in Paso Robles, with 160 employees, and RRM Design Group in San Luis Obispo, which claimed 166 employees.
In the $1 million to $2 million category, Talley Farms and Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande got a combined $1.15 million.
In San Luis Obispo, the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo received at least $1 million, as did Meathead Movers, San Luis Ambulance and Wilshire Health & Community Services, all based in San Luis Obispo.
Approximately 30% of PPP recipients received between $350,000 and $1 million. They include the companies that own McPhee’s Grill in Templeton, Tobin James Cellars in Paso Robles, Street Side Ale in Atascadero and Vina Robles Winery and Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles.
San Luis Obispo-based recipients in that category include SLO Brew, Firestone Grill, and Stalwork Construction and the nonprofit Transitions-Mental Health Association.
Roughly 61% of the borrowers received loans of at least $150,000.
Some notable names include Lemos Feed and Pet Supply, headquartered in Arroyo Grande; various San Luis Obispo County bars and restaurants that operate under the ASH Management umbrella, and a host of churches including Grace Central Coast in San Luis Obispo and New Life in Pismo Beach.
Correction: This article has been updated. A company was originally listed as owned by Atascadero businessman David Weyrich. The company, Weyrick Companies, Inc., is co-owned by Colin Weyrick, and received $350,000 to $1 million in loans.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 3:47 PM.
