But Reveal’s analysis shows that the aid was also misallocated when it comes to where the crisis is most acute. Not only did businesses in states without shelter-in-place orders get federal small-business dollars at far higher rates than those in states hit hard by the pandemic, but worker by worker, those states did better as well. North Dakota small businesses got about $8,000 in aid per worker, on average, while California businesses received $4,600 per worker and those in New York, $5,000 per worker. Those coastal states also have a higher average pay and cost of living.