So on Fridays I share interesting links I came across on the World Wide Web and this week, the most interesting link I stumbled upon, by far, is the ProPublica database of Paycheck Protection Program loan recipients.
To see the Guam PPP recipients, go to ProPublica's database and search "Guam."
I also tried searching by industry and Guam, I searched names, I searched by lending institution. It’s pretty interesting.
Last July, the Guam Daily Post wrote about SBA listing businesses on Guam that received PPP loans. SBA.com, which is not SBA’s official website, also has a "loan amount range" for the Guam recipients. But ProPublica's database shows more businesses than SBA.com and the exact amounts.
From the July 2020 Guam Daily Post article: "The SBA list of Guam businesses that received the most money from the PPP includes seven that got $2 million to $5 million each:
Bayview LLC
City Hill Co. (Guam) Ltd.
Global Food Services LLC
Guam Reef Hotel Inc.
Haevichi Hospitality Guam Inc.
LeoPalace Guam Corp.
Tanota Development LLC"
According to ProPublica’s database, the following amounts were approved for those above seven businesses:
Bayview II LLC:
$2,310,100 Date approved: April 27 2020
$1,995,798 Date approved: March 12, 2021
City Hill Co. (Guam) Ltd.:
$2,615,000 Date approved: April 27, 2020
Global Food Services LLC
$3,543,445 Date approved: April 16, 2020
Guam Reef Hotel Inc.
$1,306,813 Date approved: April 30, 2020
$1,047,494 Date approved: Feb. 19, 2021
Haevichi Hospitality Guam Inc.
$1,816,383 Date approved: April 30, 2020
LeoPalace Guam Corp.
$2,200,242 Date approved: June 10, 2020
Tanota Development LLC
$3,340,100 Date approved: April 27, 2020
What was more interesting to me was looking through the other smaller businesses and non-profit organizations that received PPP loans. The database also gives me a better sense of how many were impacted by the pandemic.
It's one thing to read the total number of Guam businesses (3,310)1 and the total amounts but it's another thing to read "Guam Peeps" or "Watabe Guam Inc" or "Crowns Guam LLC" and know they received funds because their livelihood was disrupted. It puts it into perspective for me.
I spent a good amount of time just searching the ProPublica database. I thought it was worth a share.
Other interesting links🔗
BIG DEAL DOT COM
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the GovGuam vs US Navy dump lawsuit this past week. The Supreme Court is notoriously picky and so it's pretty badass that they agreed to hear this case.
The issue? GovGuam is like hey Navy you're responsible for some of the cost of this literal dump and the feds are like no, no, no. You're too late to even bring this up bro. But GovGuam is like WAIT A DAMN MINUTE the law says this and this and we need Mom (SCOTUS) to settle this.
For a more accurate retelling of what was said here's the article from the PDN. I know Steve Limtiaco has been covering this issue for years. Here's the article from the Guam Daily Post. And here's an article from Courthouse News.
CHUUKESE GODDESS TEACHES US HOW TO MAKE COCONUT OIL
You know I stan Chuukese Goddess and she made this video showing us how to make coconut oil at home! I don’t know if I ever will but at least I can refer to this video if I feel so emboldened.
YOUR NEW FAVORITE DRESS SHOP
One of my favorite people, Haidee, created a new boutique! Follow and Like her store on Facebook and buy from her!
GVB VLOGS
Guam Visitors Bureau has a new project: A six-part series giving a preview of the ways Guam will reopen for visitors. Tourism is a major pillar of the local economy and...you know...safely opening the island to visitors is important because of The Virus™️, girl. I adore Josh Tyquiengco so any time I can see him even in GVB vlogs, it is a good time for me.
Here's a synopsis of the series, from GVB: A group of coworkers explore Guam’s efforts to revitalize the island’s tourism industry at the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chatime is coming to Palau
And finally, to ease you into the weekend here’s one of my favorites, Tay, singing.
Have a great weekend!
Thank you for reading. Write to you again soon.
Cheers,
Jasmine
According to ProPublica