Whitefish lodge rebounds after receiving a loan from the paycheck protection program

WHITEFISH — The Paycheck Protection Program through the CARES Act is helping businesses around the Flathead Valley -- including Hidden Moose Lodge in Whitefish.

While restaurants and stores were offering take out and online shopping options during the coronavirus stay at home order, lodge owner Kent Taylor says the hospitality industry couldn't provide anything like that, so the industry took a huge hit.

"The second half of March, April, May we were in lockdown, unable to take reservations and unable to take bookings during that time," said Taylor.

A small 15 bedroom bed and breakfast in Whitefish, Taylor explained that with the lack of reservations because of the coronavirus, the lodge lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue -- and that puts stress on his employees.

"We've had employees, long term employees that I've never laid anybody off until this year," he said.

That's when he applied for the Personal Paycheck Program which is specifically designed through government funding to help small businesses survive during the coronavirus pandemic.

"You can use 25% of it to pay your utilities and your mortgage interest," explained Taylor

With the money, he received from the PPP loan he was able to hire back some employees -- which is crucial to their small business.

"June 1st, we've seen a rise in business but nothing to make up the loss," he said. "But it helped with employees and that's a really beneficial thing."

Taylor says that Hidden Moose Lodge applied for two other state grants -- one to help small businesses and the other to help pay their mortgage.

He's still waiting to hear back to see if his business can receive those funds.

If you're interested in applying for a PPP loan please visit their website.