My experience regarding the PPP plan:
We are a small structural engineering firm with 12 employees. We stopped performing inspections in mid March when the CDC and White House announced what was then “the 15 day plan”, but before shutdowns became mandatory.
In late March, emergency orders in our state, county and city were issued to close non-essential businesses.
By the order, engineers are “essential”, but even so, we did not want to put our employees, families, contractors or people we’d meet at potential risk by performing what we felt were non-essential services.
Further, as an owner and licensed P.E., I felt “essential” in the structural realm would be anything that would involve a safety issue or could create one if a critical inspection was delayed. There were no immediate building safety concerns that needed addressing, so we stopped doing inspections and evaluations. (For example among other things, we were still looking at things classified as Hurricane Irma damages; sorry it’s been 2-1/2 years, it can wait)
On top of that, of course we would be forced to drive the state and find gas stations, food, restrooms to use, etc: the structures don’t come to us and we can’t video conference an inspection. Every site inspection can involve a lot of interaction variables.
(Way easier to stay the @#$& home)
Obviously not doing inspections has greatly affected revenue. We have some reserves but it’s not infinite and certainly can’t keep paying people when no revenue is being generated. We decided to pay our staff in full through April and then have developed a graduated salary reduction plan through June assuming the status quo remains in effect. Our employees understand.
We applied for the PPP (which only will cover 8 weeks and we already at 4 weeks since stopping operations) and we were informed almost as soon as we submitted the paperwork that the funds were gone, but we would remain in the queue in case things changed. We were told we could apply at a different bank, but basically banks are giving PPP to clients they have a relationship with. We only have one bank and have been at the same place for 20 years; it didn’t matter.
Anyway, the instant PPP shutout reminded me of what some people have described about trying to get Pinburgh tickets. We are on a waitlist.
Not complaining, just reporting what’s happening.
Stay safe and healthy and play em if you got em 
