GBHCW Opens Loan Repayment Program Applications for 2021

The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce is now accepting applications for its service-cancelable loan repayment programs for the 2021 cycle. Available for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses, these programs pay debt incurred toward the completion of educational degrees for practitioners who agree to practice or who are already practicing full-time in an underserved, rural county in Georgia with a population of 50,000 or less according to data from the most recent U.S. Census.

“The Board is proud to administer these important programs and assist rural practitioners,” GBHCW Executive Director LaSharn Hughes said. “Since the physician program’s inception almost 30 years ago, the retention rate for recipients who continue to practice in rural areas after completion in this program hovers around 74 percent, so the Board believes these programs play a vital role in attracting and retaining practitioners to rural Georgia.”

Physician and dentist recipients are eligible for $25,000 per year up to four years, while PA and APRN recipients are awarded $10,000 per year up to four years. The recipient must agree to a 12-month commitment for each year of the award with at least 40 hours per week of clinical practice.

In 2020, the Board awarded loan repayments to 40 physicians, 12 dentists, 20 PAs, and 20 APRNs. In all, these awards provided 52 different rural Georgia counties with improved access to care.

To download the application materials and eligibility maps, click on the links below.

Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program (DRAA)

• Application for DRAA
• Deadline: Nov. 1
• Eligibility Map for DRAA

To ensure the Board can evaluate applications thoroughly, all application materials must be received by the deadlines listed above. All applications collected will be reviewed by the Board at its quarterly meeting in January 2021. Submit all completed paperwork to the Board by mail:

Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
Attn: Loan Repayment Programs
2 Peachtree Street NW
6th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

If anyone has questions about the program, please reach out to the Board at GBHCW@dch.ga.gov.

Apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans

As part of the Stimulus Packages signed by President Trump,  there is additional funding for SBA loans for business owners negatively impacted by COVID-19. 

GDA has created a resource to provide more information about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), the Emergency Economic Injury Grant, the Express Bridge Loan (EBL) Pilot Program, the Paycheck Protection Program, and the Small Business Debt Relief Program. Please ​download the document below. 

Members also may wish to contact Georgia SBA District Office for more information at 404-331-0100.

Paycheck Protection Program Applications Open Today! 

The Paycheck Protection Program provides forgivable SBA loans to cover payroll costs, mortgage interest, rents, and utility costs and provides a way to keep employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Applications for small businesses and sole proprietorships open today. To access the application, please click the link below.

Paycheck Protection Application

For more information about the Paycheck Protection Program or other SBA loans, please click the link below.

More Info

SBA Releases PPP Loan Forgiveness Application  

The Small Business Administration (SBA) released the application borrowers who received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan must use to determine the amount of the loan that may be forgiven by their lender, including the expenses used for payroll, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities that were spent within the 8-week period after receiving the loan. For access to the form along with detailed instructions on how to fill out the form, please click here: 

Download the application

Attention: GDA Members Who are In-Network Delta Dental Providers

 Delta Dental of California, its affiliate companies, and Lendeavor are offering $200 million through a loan assistance program to provide economic assistance and post-COVID-19 pandemic relief for dentists who are in-network Delta Dental providers in 15 states, including Georgia.

The loan assistance program includes:

• First 12 months of interest on refinance and working capital loans covered by Delta Dental
• Second 12 months of interest on working capital loans arranged by Delta Dental and covered by Lendeavor
• Deferred payments for 6 months
• Working capital up to 15% of previous year’s collections (capped at $200,000)
• Up to a 126-month term

 To be eligible to apply for the loan assistance program, you must own a private practice without venture capital or corporate support. Applications will be accepted starting on Friday, April 30, 2020.

Application
Delta Dental Lendeavor Economic Aid Program Info

Resources from GDA Endorsed Partner, Bank of America

GDA is working diligently with our endorsed partners to keep members informed on issues related to COVID-19. Below is information from GDA Endorsed Partner Bank of America on financial assistance for small business clients, including documentation a member may need to apply for the 7A loan through the CARES Act. 

SBA Tells ADA Dentists Can Apply For Both Economic Injury Disaster Loans And Paycheck Protection Program Loans

The ADA News (4/6, Garvin) reports that the Small Business Administration told the ADA on April 6 that “dentists can apply for both Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program 7(a) loans.” The article said that the ADA shared the news with members in an Issues Alert from ADA President Chad P. Gehani that said, “We are happy to report that our ADA Washington Office received a call this morning from the Small Business Administration indicating that eligible entities can apply for and receive both the [Economic Injury Disaster Loans] and [Paycheck Protection Program 7(a)] regardless of when the entity received their EIDL loan dollars,” and “we expect written confirmation to follow.”

Visit ADA.org/virus for the latest information on COVID-19.