Nearly 330 Small-Business Leaders Call for $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Relief Package

The package includes measures for small business, which has been decimated by the pandemic.

By J. Kaplan | Feb 23, 2021
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Some small business leaders and owners are calling for Congress to pass the American Rescue Plan.

Nearly 330 — including almost 30 leaders from different chambers of commerce — . They’re calling for the passage of the package, which includes several provisions for small businesses.

— “a national coalition of business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government” — . Of the 1,241 respondents, 69% of small business owners support the American Rescue Plan, and over one-third said that, without additional relief, they’ll be able to operate for just a few more months.

That push for additional relief comes amidst a continued grim period for small businesses. In December, the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ optimism index fell by 5.5 points to 95.9. , that was the lowest level since May — and lower than some economists expected.

Since January 2020, . found that of the American businesses that had shut down by August 31 — a total of 163,735 — 60% won’t reopen. That’s 97,966 businesses gone.

But the Paycheck Protection Program has offered some solace for small businesses during the pandemic; . A July study from the Federal Reserve and MIT found that PPP loans saved between .

Biden’s American Rescue Plan would include the continuation of PPP loans, . For the next two, .

Of the small business owners surveyed by Small Business for America’s Future, 60% said that they would primarily use any COVID relief funds to keep workers employed.

“Main Streets across the country need this lifeline — and they need it now. It’s the only way to prevent more businesses from closing and to keep millions of Americans on the job,” the letter from small business owners and leaders said. “The American Rescue Plan meets the urgency of the moment and takes the steps necessary to save small businesses struggling during these difficult times.”

Some small business leaders and owners are calling for Congress to pass the American Rescue Plan.

Nearly 330 — including almost 30 leaders from different chambers of commerce — . They’re calling for the passage of the package, which includes several provisions for small businesses.

— “a national coalition of business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government” — . Of the 1,241 respondents, 69% of small business owners support the American Rescue Plan, and over one-third said that, without additional relief, they’ll be able to operate for just a few more months.

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