Washington, Feb 22 (AFP/APP): Aiming to help the smallest businesses that have been overlooked amid the pandemic, US President Joe Biden wasdue to unveil reforms to a vital aid program on Monday. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been a key lifeline to businesses amid the Covid-19 crisis, but the smallest among them, those least likely to have relationships with banks, often missed out. The government will open a two-week window starting on Wednesday where only firms with less than 20 employees will be able to apply for relief, the White House announced. That 14-day period will give banks and lenders to target the 98 percent of the smallest businesses that fall in that category, to receive loans that in most cases are forgiven. “They are Main Street businesses that anchor our neighborhoods and help families build wealth,” the White House said in a statement, noting that “these businesses often struggle more than larger businesses to collect the necessary paperwork and secure relief from a lender.” Many of those are owned by women and people of color, especially shops where the owner is the sole employee. Biden is due to hold an event at the White House to announce the changes later Monday. The changes … Continue reading Joe Biden aims to help the smallest of businesses overlooked amid the pandemic