The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was designed to help small businesses stay afloat and keep paying employees during the coronavirus pandemic. Some businesses who received a PPP loan are even eligible for loan forgiveness. KPCC is now examining data to get a better look at how the loans were distributed and the equity gaps when it comes to disbursement. 

Studies are showing there are disparities. Last summer, data from the Small Business Administration showed that L.A. County's wealthy, whiter Westside received far more Paycheck Protection Program loans than lower-income areas of the county where residents are primarily people of color. Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with KPCC correspondent Sharon McNary who’s working on the project. Sharon will explain how the project will work, and she also wants to hear from you. Are you a business owner who applied for a PPP loan? Did you get it? Were you denied? What was your overall experience going through the process? Join the conversation and become part of the project by calling 866-893-5722.

With files from LAist. Read more here. 

GUEST:

Sharon McNary, KPCC/LAist correspondent who’s working with a team on an investigative project looking at distribution and equity surrounding the Paycheck Protection Program; she tweets @KPCCsharon