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THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
TUHSD classrooms closed until Oct. 9
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This Week
NEWS .............. 3 Suspected serial bank robber, 16, arrested
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The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years
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August 5, 2020
PPP pumps $200 million into West Valley BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
In a massive effort to keep employers writing paychecks during the pandemic, the federal government pumped more than $200 million into car dealers, restaurants, churches, private schools, contractors and other West Valley businesses in a loan-forgiveness program. Going out to dairies, car dealers, restaurants, churches and other businesses, the funds were to be used to protect at least 35,000 jobs—and avoid mass layoffs—as the economy reeled during the first months of the COVID-19 shutdowns.
Records released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) earlier this month show details of the funding by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Nationally, the program gushed out $520 billion to 5 million businesses. Businesses who maintain full employment will not have to pay back the loans. According to PPP guidelines: “Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.” And there may be more money head-
ed this way, as the PPP, which launched in April, resumed accepting applications from early July through Saturday, Aug. 8. In the West Valley (Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Tolleson and Tolleson), 199 companies received PPP loans of at least $150,000. Another 1,922 West Valley businesses were granted loans between $44,000 and $147,000. The under-$150,000 category totals $154 million. The SBA did not identify the entities that each borrowed less than $150,000, but
PPP...continued on page 2
Lions and tapirs and birds miss their fans NEWS ............... 4 No swoosh for Goodyear as Nike drops plan
BUSINESS .... 13 New look for barbershops and salons in pandemic
OPINION ...............10 BUSINESS.............. 12 FEATURES ..............14 YOUTH ..................17 OBITUARIES ...........18 CLASSIFIEDS ..........20 SOUTH
BY ERIN BRASSEY
West Valley View Staff Writer
Wildlife World Zoo animals have been adventuring while the public is away, but staff members there say the star attractions miss their visitors. The Litchfield Park zoo, one of the West Valley’s biggest attractions, has been closed during the pandemic but is planning to reopen next month. Kristy Morcom, a spokeswoman for Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park, said the zookeepers have been taking animals through the public walkways to visit other areas of the park. “It’s not only enrichment for those animals, but it’s also enriching for the surrounding animals, because animals in other exhibits might not be used to a warthog walking by or getting a visit from an armadillo,” she said. Morcom said penguins, sea lions and giraffes normally love getting visitors from around the park. “They’re very inquisitive and curious as to what’s going on and what animals are
Where are my people? A young tapir named Dozer takes tentative steps around the Wildlife Zoo. Dozer was born Jan. 11. (Photo courtesy Wildlife World Zoo)
near,” she said. The park’s macaws who are used to greeting families and chatting with kids have become very interested in what their neighbors are up to, she said.
She said most of the macaws in the park are former pets who have been donated, so they really miss having people to interact
Zoo...continued on page 2