6.1% of NY total
Avg: $114,505 per loan
$218M outstanding
93.8% forgiveness rate
PPP Program Overview: Buffalo, NY
Between April 2020 and May 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration disbursed approximately 33,469 Paycheck Protection Program loans in the Buffalo metropolitan area, totaling $3.8B. These loans supported approximately 293K jobs in the local economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of these loans, 31,393 (93.8%) were fully forgiven. However, 2,076 loans totaling $218M remain unforgiven and are potentially subject to SBA collection, Treasury offset, or DOJ enforcement action.
Buffalo is part of New York, which has a High enforcement risk classification. The DOJ PPP Strike Force operates nationally, with particular focus on major metropolitan areas where loan volumes and dollar amounts are highest.
Enforcement Risk in Buffalo
Buffalo is in a high-priority enforcement area. Major metro areas with high loan volumes and large average loan sizes attract concentrated DOJ and SBA OIG attention. Multiple qui tam (whistleblower) cases have been filed in federal courts covering the Buffalo area, and the SBA OIG maintains active field offices in the region.
The False Claims Act statute of limitations extends through 2030-2031 for PPP loans. This means new enforcement actions can still be initiated against Buffalo borrowers for several more years.
Buffalo vs. New York Average
Frequently Asked Questions: PPP in Buffalo
How many PPP loans were issued in Buffalo, NY?
Buffalo, New York received approximately 33,469 PPP loans totaling $3.8B between April 2020 and May 2021. The average loan size was $114,505, supporting approximately 293K jobs in the Buffalo metro area.
How many PPP loans in Buffalo were not forgiven?
Approximately 2,076 PPP loans in the Buffalo metro area (6.2% of total) were not forgiven, representing $218M in outstanding obligations. These borrowers may face Treasury collection actions or SBA enforcement.
What is the PPP enforcement risk in Buffalo?
Buffalo is in a "High" enforcement risk area. The DOJ PPP Strike Force and SBA OIG maintain active investigations in major metro areas. Borrowers in Buffalo with unforgiven loans or application discrepancies should be aware of ongoing enforcement activity through 2030-2031.
Can I still face a PPP audit in Buffalo in 2026?
Yes. The False Claims Act has a 6-10 year statute of limitations. Since PPP loans were issued in 2020-2021, enforcement actions can continue through 2030-2031. Buffalo borrowers remain at risk regardless of whether their loan was forgiven.
Are You at Risk?
2,076 Buffalo area borrowers have unforgiven PPP loans. Find out your specific risk level in under 3 minutes.
Other Cities in New York
Data Sources: U.S. Small Business Administration PPP Data Reports, PandemicOversight.gov, U.S. Treasury Department. Metro-area estimates derived from state-level data with population-weighted distribution. Last updated May 2026.