U.S. Rep Chris Pappas

MANCHESTER – U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the bipartisan House Small Business Caucus and Senator Maggie Hassan joined Small Business Administration Isabel Guzman for a downtown walk in Derry to meet with local businesses who received support through SBA programs during the pandemic funded through legislation crafted and supported by Pappas and Hassan. Later, Pappas hosted Administrator Guzman at a small business forum in Manchester with Queen City small business owners.

Pappas, Hassan, and Guzman visited the Derry Opera House, which received support from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program and stopped into the Grind Rail Trail Cafe, which received support through the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Pappas then hosted a small business forum in Manchester with local Queen City businesses to share with Administrator Guzman how vital federal funding through SBA was to weathering the storm of the pandemic and ensuring Manchester’s Main Street survived. Pappas and Guzman were joined by Mayor Joyce Craig, SBA Region 1 Administrator Mike Vlacich, SBA NH District Director Amy Bassett, SBA NH Deputy District Director Rachael Roderick, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Mike Skelton, and several Manchester business owners.

“In New Hampshire, small business is our big business,” said Congressman Pappas. “Small businesses aren’t just bricks and walls and sales receipts, they are part of the very fabric of our state and our community. That is why it was so critical that Congress act as quickly as possible to provide support for Main Street in New Hampshire. Programs like the Paycheck Protection Program, the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program, and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund were lifelines for Granite State small businesses and that’s why I was pleased to welcome Administrator Guzman to New Hampshire to hear from our small businesses and listen to their stories. I thank her for the work she has done to support our small businesses, and I remain committed to ensuring New Hampshire’s small business community has the resources and support they need.”

“Derry is filled with wonderful small businesses that help make the community unique and drive our economy forward,” said Senator Hassan. “Throughout the pandemic, I have worked on a bipartisan basis to ensure that our small businesses have the support that they need to get through this difficult time – and to thrive beyond it – and the Small Business Administration has been a fantastic partner in that effort. I encourage all Granite State small businesses to learn more about the programs and resources that are available to them through the Small Business Administration and know that our office is always here to help.”

In total, New Hampshire small businesses have received $4.9 billion in funds through programs administered through the Small Business Administration. The Paycheck Protection Program made 41,358 loans to small businesses totaling $3.7 billion saving over 210,000 jobs statewide. The Restaurant Relief Fund provided $61,799,697 to 236 restaurants in the First District, and the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants provided $19,138,914 to 31 venues in the First District,

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