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Senator Ragan says American Rescue Plan is “Good for small businesses and Iowans’ pocketbooks”

Senator Amanda Ragan

The following is a legislative update from State Senator Amanda Ragan, representing portions of Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties:

Small businesses and their employees have taken a harder hit from the COVID-19 pandemic than almost any other sector of the economy. Fortunately, the American Rescue Plan is bringing help. Signed into law March 11, it’s a big, bold package that will help save lives, livelihoods and Main Street businesses.

The ARP will get overdue relief to nonprofits, restaurants, bars and other small businesses, including:

*   $25 billion in new grants for restaurants and bars that have lost revenue because of the pandemic.

*   An additional $7.25 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program and expanded eligibility to include more nonprofits.

*   $15 billion to provide $10,000 grants to small businesses in low-income communities that have been most affected by COVID.

*   $1.25 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, which begins accepting applications April 8.

This $50 billion in aid builds on the $1 trillion in COVID-19 small business funding approved by Congress in 2020.

Our local small businesses and their employees—and our entire economy—will also get a boost from the ARP’s investment in vaccinating more Iowans, which will allow them to get out in their communities and safely shop in person once again.

At the state level, we too should turn our attention to helping Iowa’s small businesses and their employees recover from an unprecedented year.

The Legislature should not take a hands-off approach to boosting economic opportunities and putting money into Iowans’ pocketbooks during the pandemic. We should be ready to build on the American Rescue Plan by:

*   Using budget surplus and economic emergency funds to support struggling small businesses on Main Street with direct grants (SF 325<https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF325>).

*   Expanding funding and local access to preschool and affordable child care

(SF 437<https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF437>,

SF 177<https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF177>,

SF 189<https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF189>,

SF 65<https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF65>,

SF 186<https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF186>).

I’ll continue digging into other features of the American Rescue Plan—and how the  COVID Recovery Plan<http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/2021/01/our-covid-recovery-plan/> can enhance it—in my newsletters over the coming months.

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