Top Headlines: Auto industry faces uncertain road, Tourists flock to beaches

BBVA USA says it provided $3.3 billion in small business loans
BBVA USA said it has funded 10 years-worth of small business loans in less than two months as part of a federal program to manage the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic. The bank said this week it has processed and approved more than 22,000 applications to the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program loan, facilitating about $3.3 billion in small business loans over 60 days’ time. And the program is taking applications. – AL.com

Beyond pandemic, Alabama auto industry faces uncertain road
Hyundai normally runs its Montgomery assembly line 24 hours a day, five days a week, rolling out the company’s most popular vehicles and sending them to dealers across North America. That didn’t happen right away when the plant reopened after a nearly two-month production shutdown. The plant started building cars on May 4, but only for about seven hours a day. The Daimler AG Mercedes Benz plant in Vance restarted its assembly line April 27 but shut it down again three weeks later. With Mexico reluctant to reopen its manufacturing plants, Alabama’s automakers weren’t able to get enough parts to keep running. – Montgomery Advertiser

Pent-up demand fueling massive tourist return to beach
Beaches in coastal Alabama are filling up again. The roads are so choked with tourists that weekend traffic has become fully gridlocked. Restaurants, still at limited capacity for dining in, have lines of eager customers—and sometimes an hour wait or longer. “It’s been crazy,” said Ike Williams, the founder of the equipment rental company Ike’s Beach Service. “This was the busiest Memorial Day weekend I’ve probably ever had. We didn’t think people would be vacationing the way they are—it’s a lot better than what I feared.” – Slate

Alabama hospitals work to reopen safely during pandemic
Most Alabama hospitals and other health care providers started accepting patients for non-emergency procedures in May. But if you need to go to the hospital over the next few months, you should be prepared for some changes. How many changes, and for how long, depends on the hospital. – Montgomery Advertiser

Wind Creek casinos, resorts to fully reopen June 8
The casinos and resorts of Alabama’s only federally recognized Indian Tribe will fully reopen to the public Monday, June 8. Wind Creek Hospitality said all three of its Alabama-based resort properties will first reopen to small groups of invited guests June 4, followed by a public opening of the full operation the following Monday. – AL.com

- Sponsor -

The latest Alabama business news delivered to your inbox