Paycheck Protection Program spent $320 million in Whatcom County. Here’s where it went

How many jobs the Paycheck Protection Program actually saved is difficult to measure. The federal estimates are based on how many employees were at risk when the company applied for the program, but there are many other factors involved, said Hart Hodges, co-director at Western Washington’s Center for Economic and Business Research.

For example, the Paycheck Protection Program money didn’t put dental hygienists back to work; they couldn’t go back to work until the restrictions were lifted and they could see patients again.

“In short, I know the PPP money did save jobs. It saved businesses. But if you start thinking about it carefully, counting the number of jobs actually saved is very hard, and some jobs are still vulnerable,” Hodges said in an email.