UMATILLA COUNTY — Thirty-five Umatilla County businesses have received Paycheck Protection Loans through Umpqua Bank so far.

The bank reported Friday that the forgivable federal loans, authorized through the stimulus package known as the CARES Act, has allowed about 300 workers in the county to either keep their jobs or return to them.

Pendleton businesses received a majority of the bank’s loans within the county, with $1.54 million through 20 loans. Statewide, Umpqua helped businesses secure $750 million in loans to help them continue paying employees during COVID-19.

Umpqua is one of several lenders in Umatilla County that qualified to process Paycheck Protection Loans. According to the Small Business Administration, which administers the loans, the second round of the PPP handed out more than $3.8 billion to 18,732 business in Oregon, while the first round handed awarded more than $3 billion to 31,119 Oregon businesses.