More than 200 Wichita Falls entities received loans from the CARES Act

Deanna Watson
Wichita Falls Times Record News

A hospital, churches, oil companies and auto dealers were among the more than 200 entities in Wichita Falls that received loans from the U.S. government as part of the CARES Act.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) was passed to address economic fallout from the shutdowns and shelters in place imposed earlier this spring. More than $600 billion of the $2 trillion CARES Act was set aside for businesses to protect the jobs on their payroll.

The list, released by the U.S. Treasury, became available this week after several newspapers, including The Washington Post, sued the Small Business Administration to have access to the data. 

In Wichita Falls, six entities received loans between $2 million to $5 million, according to the Treasury Department: The Clinics of North Texas; Helen Farabee Centers; Hospice of Wichita Falls; Kell West Regional Hospital; Patterson Auto Center; and Willowbend Investments Inc., operating in the oil and gas industry.

Kell West Reginal Hospital

The data also includes the number of jobs protected by the loans. For Kell West Regional Hospital, 317 jobs were cited; Helen Farabee, 270; Patterson Auto Center, 256; and Hospice, 213. The number of jobs associated with Clinics of North Texas was not included in the list.

Area banks were cited as the lenders, including First Bank, First National Bank, and American National Bank & Trust.

Another 14 entities received loans between $1 million and $2 million, including Cobra Oil & Gas, Empire Paper, Texhoma Christian Care Center and Falls Tech. 

Sharp Iron, a company purchased with investors by Texas State Rep. James Frank in 2000, also received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in the range of $1 million to $2 million, to protect 96 jobs. On Rep. Frank's "Meet James Frank" website, his biography states he also purchased the California-based company, Transland, in 2007 and moved operations to Wichita Falls. Texas Transland LLC received between $350,000 and $1 million to protect 32 jobs, according to the Treasury.

While Frank's Facebook biography cites him as owner and CEO of Sharp Iron, the representative was not listed on Transland's website as a director.

In the wake of the coronavirus, millions of Americans suffered job losses. By the end of June, according to The Texas Tribune, some 2.7 million Texans had filed for unemployment since March, when shutdowns and shelters-in-place orders were imposed. 

The oil industry, typically a boon for the North Texas economy, was not spared the brunt of the economic downturn. In the early days of the pandemic in the United States, the price of oil dropped below $0 for a short blip, as supply outpaced demand. The price has experienced a bounce as supplies level off and hopes of a vaccine increase.

In Wichita Falls, several oil-related companies received PPP loans in the $350,000 to $1 million range, including Bridwell Oil Co., Burk Royalty Co., Eagle Oil & Gas and Gunn Oil Co. The loans protected scores of jobs locally, according to the Treasury. Medders Oil Co. was listed in the $150,000 to $350,000 range, protecting 13 jobs.

Restaurants, locally owned and franchised, also received PPP loans, including El Tapatio Cafe & Cantina, Parkway Grill Inc., Parkway Grill North and Subway of Wichita Falls, in the $150,000 to $350,000 range.

A number of Wichita Falls churches received payroll protection loans, such as First Baptist Church, $350,000 to $1 million; First Christian Church, $150,000 to $350,000; First Presbyterian Church, $150,000 to $350,000, Faith Baptist, $150,000 to $350,000.

A few private schools were included in the list: Christ Academy, Notre Dame Catholic School and Wichita Christian School. 

In addition to Hospice of Wichita Falls, other nonprofits included in the Treasury's release were The Boys Club of Wichita Falls and the Wichita Area Food Bank, Faith Mission and North Texas Area United Way.

Search the list of Texas Paycheck Protection Program loans

For a complete list of what entities across the state received funds, search the list obtained from the Treasury.

A narrow look of Wichita Falls can be initiated in the top search bar.

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