Real Concerns About Small Business
By Doug La Rocque
With all but a handful of states having issued stay at home orders as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on business, especially those considered non-essential and completely shut down, has in some cases, been devastating for all concerned and fiscally challenging.
While large corporations may well adjust, it is the small and micro businesses that 19th Congressional District Representative Antonio Delgado is most worried about, and in particular, those in rural areas.
The Congressman consented to a brief phone interview with The Eastwick Press on Tuesday, April 14, where he urged business owners to take advantage of the many loan programs that are available, such as from the Small Business Administration and the Paycheck Protection Plan, among others. More information on the Cares Act for small business is available at SBA.Gov/coronavirus.
Congressman Degado, who represents the 8th most rural district in the country, said the recently approved CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, “provided stabilization funds for states and larger communities, but capped localities ability to receive direct support at those with populations of over 500,000. This excludes towns, cities, and rural counties that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. Mid and small-sized municipalities and rural communities, like the cities across upstate New York were overlooked for direct funds.”
The Congressman is a co-sponsor of legislation currently before the House of Representatives, called The Coronavirus Community Relief Act, which he says “will ensure that small and mid-sized communities can directly access stabilization funds in response to COVID-19. The bill provides $250 billion in direct funds exclusively to local governments with a population of 500,000 or less.”
Mr. Delgado expressed concern as well about the lack of solid broadband services in his district, noting the COVID-19 crisis has only helped to further emphasize the need for increased federal funding, citing the difficulties some are experiencing with the need for telemedicine, and students ability to connect with their schools and instructors in this day of distance learning.
The Congressman also held a teleconference with the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, where small business woes were also the main topic of discussion. Following the session, Chamber President Kate Manley told The Eastwick Press “We’re fortunate to live in a community where we have direct access to strong business advocates like Congressman Delgado. We applaud the Congressman and his team for taking the time to meet with our Board of Directors as we voiced the concerns of our membership. Congressman Delgado was incredibly receptive to our feedback and expressed a desire to be a resource in protecting our local business community – particularly the small businesses who have been most affected at this time. Providing them with the necessary help to maintain and sustain their operations will be critical for the long-term vitality of our regional economy.”