PPP Loan Data: Tennessee
Paycheck Protection Program statistics for Tennessee. 192,847 loans disbursed, 10,028 unforgiven and potentially subject to enforcement.
Medium Enforcement Risk1.7% of national total
Avg: $89,194 per loan
$894M outstanding
94.8% forgiveness rate
PPP Program Overview: Tennessee
Between April 2020 and May 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration disbursed 192,847 Paycheck Protection Program loans in Tennessee, totaling $17.2B. These loans supported approximately 1.5M jobs across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of these loans, 182,819 (94.8%) were fully forgiven. However, 10,028 loans totaling $894M remain unforgiven and are potentially subject to SBA collection, Treasury offset, or DOJ enforcement action.
This state has moderate DOJ PPP enforcement activity with active SBA OIG presence.
Enforcement Risk in Tennessee
Tennessee has moderate PPP enforcement activity. While not among the highest-priority states, the DOJ and SBA OIG maintain active investigations here. Borrowers with loans over $150,000 or those with discrepancies in their applications should be particularly vigilant about potential enforcement actions.
The False Claims Act statute of limitations extends through 2030-2031 for PPP loans. This means new enforcement actions can still be initiated against Tennessee borrowers for several more years. The 10,028 unforgiven loans in Tennessee represent the most immediate enforcement targets.
Tennessee vs. National Average
Frequently Asked Questions: PPP in Tennessee
How many PPP loans were issued in Tennessee?
Tennessee received 192,847 PPP loans totaling $17.2B between April 2020 and May 2021. The average loan size was $89,194, supporting approximately 1.5M jobs.
How many PPP loans in Tennessee were not forgiven?
Approximately 10,028 PPP loans in Tennessee (5.2% of total) were not forgiven, representing $894M in outstanding obligations. These borrowers may face Treasury collection actions or SBA enforcement.
What is the PPP audit risk level in Tennessee?
Tennessee is classified as "Medium" enforcement risk. This state has moderate DOJ PPP enforcement activity with active SBA OIG presence. Borrowers in Tennessee with unforgiven loans or discrepancies in their applications should be aware of ongoing DOJ and SBA OIG enforcement activity.
Can I still face a PPP audit in Tennessee 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. Tennessee borrowers remain at risk regardless of whether their loan was forgiven.
Are You at Risk?
10,028 Tennessee borrowers have unforgiven PPP loans. Find out your specific risk level in under 3 minutes.
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Data Sources: U.S. Small Business Administration PPP Data Reports, PandemicOversight.gov, U.S. Treasury Department. Data reflects the full PPP program period (April 2020 – May 2021). Last updated May 2026.