As the U.S. economy stared into the pandemic abyss in March 2020, Congress passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package that included the Paycheck Protection Program to quickly get forgivable loans to small businesses to keep workers on payrolls.
Axios Re:Capdigs into the formation and roll out of the PPP, from multi-day negotiations and late-night phone calls to estimates of how many businesses the program helped, with former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Plus, a conversation about pandemic survival with Dayna Frank, CEO of legendary Minneapolis music club First Avenue.
Almost 1 out of 2 Americans have had their first dose of vaccination against COVID-19. Compare that to 1 in 10 for the rest of the world. In the U.K. where second doses have been delayed, a newer variant is starting to outpace others.
Plus, President Biden plans to meet with Vladimir Putin.
And, new polling on how Americans view the fight for racial justice.
George Floyd's murder, one year ago today, and the subsequent surge of support for Black-owned small businesses "had an unprecedented impact," according to Shelly Bell, CEO of Black Girl Ventures.
Axios Re:Cap speaks with Bell in the second of a six-part series, America's Business Comeback, about what 2020 meant for Black-owned small businesses and where things stand now. We also share the first of our conversations with proprietors of some of America's most iconic small businesses.
Today marks one year since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. His death galvanized a nation -- and reminded us of how many other names there are, of victims killed by police. Many of the families left behind are struggling to recover, years and decades later.
Plus, some schools won’t offer remote learning come fall.
