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The pandemic forced small businesses to evolve. PPP loans helped many of them do it.

Aug 30, 2022
More than two years after the program kicked off, Marketplace checked in with a few PPP recipients to see how business has been going.
Though PPP program helped many small businesses stay afloat and pivot during the pandemic, some business owners are still anxious about the future.
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As the expanded child tax credit draws to a close, yet another study highlights its positive impact

Apr 20, 2022
It's been especially important to low-income families and families of color.
Studies show that many parents have used the expanded child tax credit to purchase healthier food and household necessities.  
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How can the U.S. government better distribute funding to tribal governments?

Nov 4, 2021
A Harvard policy paper out this week on the government's pandemic relief effort calls on the Treasury Department to create a dedicated tribal affairs office.
The U.S. Treasury was widely criticized for how it distributed COVID relief funds to tribal governments.
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Pause in federal student loan payments has been a "game changer"

Aug 9, 2021
The Biden administration has extended the moratorium on payments and interest accrual into next year.
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Tribes plan for COVID relief spending, brace for challenges

Jun 7, 2021
The American Rescue Plan provides $20 billion in aid, but problems with the previous CARES Act rollout have made tribes vigilant.
The American Rescue Plan includes $20 billion for tribal governments. But hitches in the aid provided by the CARES Act in 2020 prevented full and effective use of the funds.
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As another month's rent comes due, appropriated relief is finally making its way to tenants

May 28, 2021
More than 400 programs are in place to distribute nearly $50 billion in aid to tenants who've fallen behind.
After more than a year of this pandemic, many tenants have fallen behind and are struggling to pay rent.
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When should pandemic benefits end if there's no neat end to the pandemic?

May 12, 2021
Withdrawing support too soon could inflict damage. Leaving it in place too long could also have drawbacks.
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For public good, not for profit.

March retail sales soar 9.8% thanks to relief payments

Apr 15, 2021
Newly vaccinated and armed with $1,400 stimulus checks, Americans went on a spending spree last month.
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How recipients will spend COVID relief payments depends on their income

Mar 26, 2021
The worst off are likely to use them to fend off economic disaster. The best off may well splurge.
Middle-income households may increase their spending a bit, and pay down debt. But Camilla Yanushevsky at CFRA Research said some of them may hold back, because they’re worried.
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Many will see $1,400 COVID payments hit bank accounts today

Mar 17, 2021
Tens of millions of taxpayers will get the direct payments Wednesday if the IRS has their direct deposit information.
There was some initial confusion because the IRS said that it began processing payments on Friday. People were online on Monday wondering where their deposits were.
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