Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1467601
wbjournal.com | May 16, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 11 The immigrant experience Jose Zuniga, who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and runs the Auburn restaurant Tacos Mexico, was unable to secure any money from the first round of PPP funding, due to the amount of paperwork involved and the timing. "Information wasn't out there," Zuniga said. "Everyone applied at once, and it was really hard to get. It was taking a long time with my application, and when they got back to me, they told me I didn't apply on time." He eventually received funding during the second round of loans, obtaining $10,000. Zuniga said among other immi- grant-owned businesses he talked to, the process was more or less the same. "At the beginning, people weren't ready for it. ere was so much paper- work, and things like that," he said. Guardiola said SBA has put measures in place to ensure more equitable dis- tribution. Later initiatives by the federal government, such as the Restaurant Re- vitalization Fund, put more priority for women and minority-owned businesses. "ey would be much more prepared now to reach out to smaller businesses," said Guardiola. "If there ever was to be another wave, there would be some con- tingencies on that going forward." Plus two 1 8 7 0 – 2 0 2 2 of service YEARS Celebrating a 152 year legacy of service to the Central Massachusetts communit y. Member FDIC/Member DIF Equal Housing Lender · NMLS #583135 Visit www.unibank.com, call 800.578.4270, or stop by our 24 Gold Star Boulevard branch in Worcester. We're dedicated to the community and are here to support all your banking needs. W S M A L L B U S I N E S S F O C U S Worcester County total PPP loans, by community City Total PPP loans Ashburnham $4,968,918 Athol $14,262,364 Auburn $66,986,392 Barre $7,098,384 Berlin $6,930,867 Blackstone $8,333,150 Bolton $18,088,959 Boylston $12,105,553 Brookfield $2,457,754 Charlton $30,742,435 Charlton City $565,104 Charlton Depot $23,800 Cherry Valley $2,222,542 Clinton $15,913,304 Devens $8,245,063 Douglas $7,199,012 Dudley $18,958,177 East Templeton $2,119,049 East Brookfield $3,586,298 Fayville $5,872,562 Fiskdale $7,412,517 Fitchburg $67,477,744 Gardner $41,391,894 Gilbertville $534,966 Grafton $5,613,487 Hardwick $4,727,878 Harvard $14,375,433 City Total PPP loans Holden $27,037,260 Hopedale $26,828,040 Hubbardston $2,623,817 Jefferson $1,829,290 Lancaster $24,613,822 Leicester $5,785,409 Leominster $104,225,557 Linwood $736,233 Lunenburg $15,858,182 Manchaug $354,814 Mendon $18,675,034 Milford $91,182,573 Millbury $26,804,907 Millville $740,459 New Braintree $1,239,309 Newtonville $859,877 North Brookfield $3,122,698 North Grafton $12,146,447 North Oxford $10,178,640 North Uxbridge $387,423 Northborough $53,391,160 Northbridge $6,237,242 Oakham $1,084,716 Oxford $23,465,426 Paxton $5,670,616 Petersham $355,645 Princeton $6,866,701 City Total PPP loans Rochdale $5,133,488 Royalston $375,824 Rutland $7,079,012 Shrewsbury $80,373,390 South Grafton $2,932,459 South Lancaster $1,178,035 Southborough $47,733,817 Southbridge $25,453,626 Spencer $20,814,436 Sterling $25,843,961 Still River $156,500 Sturbridge $20,769,822 Sutton $25,438,194 Templeton $5,897,305 Upton $9,928,922 Uxbridge $25,301,701 Warren $1,470,499 Webster $24,574,224 West Boylston $22,273,252 West Brookfield $6,036,587 West Warren $486,872 Westborough $133,137,629 Westminster $10,959,347 Wheelwright $163,561 Whitinsville $27,996,885 Winchendon $7,840,452 Worcester $449,888,846 Source: U.S. Small Business Administration