Opinion: Sumter Bar creates committee of lawyers to help answer questions about financial program

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The Sumter County Bar Association has established an ad hoc committee of volunteer Sumter lawyers to provide advice and assistance on a pro bono basis to local businesses, religious organizations and 501(c)(3) organizations about financial relief provisions of laws passed in response to the COVID-19 crisis. While the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act reached its funding limit in mid-April, supplemental legislation (known as the PPP and Health Care Enhancement Act) was signed into law on April 24, 2020, to provide additional funds for small businesses and churches.

There will inevitably be many questions about adherence to PPP loan terms, as well as about the process and evidence necessary for forgiveness of PPP loans. There will also be questions about other parts of the CARES Act and tax law changes made in response to the pandemic. We have asked Archie Parnell to chair the Sumter County Bar's COVID-19 Help Committee. He can be reached for this purpose at the following email address: SumterBarCOVID19.Help@gmail.com.

This letter is being sent to the editor of The Sumter Item so that members of the Sumter community who are engaged in business, religious, civic or educational activities can be made aware of this Sumter County Bar effort. We hope the COVID-19 pandemic and, in turn, the committee will be short lived; however, the Sumter County Bar would like to be helpful while pandemic lasts. In the meantime, please contact Archie Parnell by email at SumterBarCOVID19.Help@gmail.com if you have questions.

KENNETH HAMILTON

President, Sumter County Bar Association