CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt are hoping West Virginia Farmers affected by COVID-19 will apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. On Wednesday, February 24, President Joe Biden ordered the Small Business Administration to establish a 14-day, exclusive PPP Loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. Businesses have until March 9 to apply.

“We want folks who have been affected by this terrible pandemic to get the help they need. In the past, most agriculture operations were not able to apply for these types of assistance. We do not want farmers to miss this opportunity because they were unaware of these changes,” said Commissioner Leonhardt.

Farmers are eligible for PPP loans through the SBA, and loans are facilitated through lending institutions with established relationships with the SBA. According to the 2017 West Virginia Census of Agriculture, 93 percent of farms in West Virginia are family-owned and may qualify for these specific PPP loans.

To apply: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program

For more information from the WVDA, contact Leslie Boggess at lboggess@wvda.us or 304-558-2210.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials who sits on the Board of Public Works.