NASE in the News

NASE Statement on Small Business Support in Bipartisan COVID Relief Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 22, 2020
CONTACT:  Kristofer Eisenla, LUNA+EISENLA media
kristofer@lunaeisenlamedia.com | 202-670-5747 (mobile)

COVID RELIEF BILL – Small Biz Reaction

Millions of Dollars Slated for Additional Loans for Small Businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association for the Self-Employed, the nation's leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, today released the following statement from Keith Hall, president and CEO, commenting on the small business support included in the bipartisan COVID relief bill calling it “critical holiday relief”:

“This is critical holiday relief for the struggling small business community, relief desperately needed and a down payment on what will be necessary in the future to keep millions of Mom-and-Pop businesses throughout the country from shutting their doors for good.

“The small business community has been devastated from the impact of COVID and unfortunately have had to shoulder the brunt without continued support from the federal government to keep doors open, pay employees and serve customers.

“The small business financial support included in this measure will provide millions of dollars in additional loan opportunities through the Paycheck Protection Act for countless small businesses who are depending on it as a life-line.  In addition to these critical small business funds, this bill also includes a vital extension in unemployment benefits for millions of out of work Americans, along with direct payments that will help those who continue to struggle.

“While we applaud our elected leaders for coming together to work in a bipartisan way to help America’s small businesses, we must learn from the lessons of 2008 ensuring our long-term economic recovery is enacted swiftly and includes small businesses along Main Street.

“This COVID relief bill can’t be the end! Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are going to need continued support throughout 2021 and beyond if entrepreneurship is to survive as a great American ideal.”

Earlier this year, NASE – along with other major small business groups and their allies – sent a letter calling on Congress to pass a standalone small business relief package that would assist the most fragile small businesses and their employees ranging from an additional loan program to expedited loan forgiveness.

Hall penned an op-ed for the Small Business Recovery campaign, a project of MediaPlanet and USA Today, outlining its support for the small business community.   NASE also has developed a COVID-19 Resource Page for the small business community offering supportive resources and information.

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The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, offering a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy.

The NASE Next Biz Thing helps identify and connect our nation’s smallest businesses. Need small business help? Check out NASE’s Ask the Experts for advice or the NASE Minute for small business support.

The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association's website at NASE.org