A Chicago-area dentist denied a Paycheck Protection Program loan from the federal government voiced her frustration as chain restaurants receive millions of the aid dollars aimed at saving small business owners, according to CBS Chicago.
Liana Tremmel, DDS, dentist and owner of Palatine, Ill.-based Regency Dental Care, found herself on the losing end of the $349 billion aid package.
Some large chains were awarded multimillion-dollar loans from the program, depleting the funds before many smaller businesses were approved for aid. National burger chain Shake Shack received $10 million in forgivable loans, but announced April 20 that it will return the money after public backlash. Operators of Ruth's Chris Steak House received $20 million in loans from JPMorgan Chase, and Chicago-based sandwich chain Potbelly also received a $10 million loan from the same bank.
"Of course it's not fair, because a big company like that can get other fundings, right?" Dr. Tremmel said. "And $10 million for people like us, it can serve a lot of other small businesses."
When CBS Chicago asked Dr. Tremmel if her office would be able to stay afloat, she said she didn't know.
"This is all that I do," Dr. Tremmel said. "I live and breathe dentistry."