BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Club, a private city club that has operated for more than 150 years, has agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve claims that it falsely represented its eligibility to receive a loan during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the club applied for and was given Paycheck Protection Program loan, a program that began in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. The club applied for the loan in March 2021 and then sought and received forgiveness for the entire loan.
The Small Business Administration has long said that private clubs and businesses that limit memberships for reasons other than capacity are not eligible to receive loans through the government agency. The restriction also applies to the PPP loans. The settlement, however, did not include are determination or admission of liability…