The owners of Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego County agreed on Oct. 22 to pay $5.7 million to settle allegations that they unlawfully received a COVID-19 paycheck protection loan.
The 22nd District Agricultural Association (DAA), which owns the fairgrounds, is governed by a nine-member board, all appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and considered a government-owned operation.
Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to provide emergency financial support to eligible small businesses during the pandemic.
Many businesses were deemed eligible for the forgivable loans, but businesses considered “government-owned,” including the Del Mar Fairgrounds, were not….