Small businesses are waiting days to apply for federal help and some are not sure how much longer they can hold on for.

Sky Mercede, owner of Forever Sweet Bakery in Norwalk, says he has spent a week applying for an emergency loan just to stay open.

The new Paycheck Protection Plan applies to most small businesses. You can borrow more than twice your payroll and even use some of the money for rent and utilities.

But banks are struggling to keep up with a mountain of applications and they say federal red tape is slowing the process down.

The Small Business Administration is in charge of the money. They admit to some hiccups but say money is starting to flow.

Mercede says he is running out of time to keep workers on the job.

"We hope we're going to get some help, because otherwise, close the door.," said Mercede.