Posted: | March 30, 2020 12:37 PM |
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From: | Representative Joe Ciresi and Rep. Pam Snyder |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | COVID-19 Grant Program for Ultra-Small Businesses |
As of noon on March 30, 2020, there are a total of 4,087 positive cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, and that number will only continue to grow in the coming days and weeks. Governor Wolf has enacted stay-at-home orders for 22 counties and has required all non-life sustaining businesses to close, his top priority being “to save Pennsylvania lives, then save their livelihoods.” While this protects our citizens from contracting or spreading COVID-19, many of Pennsylvania’s small businesses have been the hardest hit, impacting not only their livelihoods but also the livelihoods of their workers. To provide those small businesses with additional and needed relief for the hard times that they are facing during this outbreak, we are introducing legislation to create a $50 million grant program for our smallest businesses, which make no more than $3 million in gross annual receipts or employ up to 30 full-time employees. Small businesses are the backbone of many of our communities throughout Pennsylvania, and we feel it is essential that the Commonwealth put extra support towards ensuring they can continue once life returns to normal. As we wait to see how the federal stimulus bill provisions aid our residents and businesses, we must remain mindful toward not just our large employers, but also our small. Please join me in co-sponsoring legislation that will further protect and provide for our small businesses. |
Introduced as HB2452