Pillen businesses returned bulk of $7 million in pandemic loans

LINCOLN — Farms and businesses associated with Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen received federally funded pandemic loans totaling $7.8 million last year — about $5 million of which was returned to the government.

The loans were provided through the Paycheck Protection Program, a federal program created to help farms, ranches, small businesses and nonprofits weather the economic storms created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

All told, Nebraska entities got 114,684 PPP loans during two five-month periods in 2020 and 2021. Statewide, the loans totaled $5.39 billion.

Sixteen businesses affiliated with the Columbus-based Pillen Family Farms got loans to support 1,057 jobs, according to records released by the Small Business Administration. The loans ranged from $1.9 million for Platte Center West, a hog farming operation, to $63,025 for Pillen Family Farms Vet Services.

Read more: https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/pillen-businesses-returned-bulk-of-7-million-in-pandemic-loans/article_84881658-3dae-11ec-b083-ebe73b1bb2ee.html