Dear Friends,
Our small businesses are vital to our communities. Our local businesses employ countless people in central Arkansas and provide us with the goods and services that we need to go about our daily lives.
Small businesses are particularly hard-hit by the recent COVID-19 outbreak and need support from individuals, state and local governments, as well as the federal government to weather this national public health crisis.
Last week, I was proud to support both bills that Congress passed to address this emergency. Both offer support during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak to small businesses by subsidizing $1 billion in loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture producers, and nonprofit organizations which have been severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, enabling the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide an estimated $7 billion in loans to qualifying businesses, and providing assistance for paid sick leave to businesses.
The SBA is offering qualifying small business low-interest loans of up to $2 million as a part of their Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. These loans can be used to pay employees, rent, new inventory, and other bills that are out of reach without customers and revenue coming in.
SBA has been coordinating with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and is processing Arkansas' Disaster Request for the state of Arkansas.
Yesterday I, along with the Arkansas Congressional Delegation, wrote to Tanya N. Garfield, the Director of the Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West Small, asking her to support Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s request for an SBA disaster declaration for economic injury as a result of the novel coronavirus.
To apply for one of these loans once the declaration has been made official, visit the SBA website HERE. If you are not a small business owner but would like to help, please share this information with your friends, family, and the local businesses that you frequent.
The president has also specifically instructed the SBA to offer loans to small businesses that are suffering because of the loss of revenue due to the new measures that federal, state, and local governments have implemented to keep us all healthy.
Additionally, yesterday Governor Hutchinson announced that the state of Arkansas is making at least $16 million available to help businesses stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the press conference HERE or by clicking on the image below.
All of these measures will help our local businesses make it through to the other side of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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| Local business stepping up |
| Rock Town Distillery Making Hand Sanitizer |
It is terrific to see one of our local central Arkansas small businesses, Rock Town Distillery, stepping up to help the entire community. With the current hand sanitizer shortage, my office reached out to see if there was a way to utilize their ability to make alcohol.
As a result, and thanks to their efforts, Rock Town Distillery is converting their stills and ramping up production to create 70% alcohol hand sanitizer, available to area residents for free.
Today, I went and got a bottle of my own to make sure that my hands are clean and virus-free.
For more information, click HERE or on the image below.
| VETERANS benefits administration OFFICES CLOSING to the public |
| Services Still Available Online or By Phone |
The (VBA) regional offices will be closed to the public starting today, March 19 to protect our older central Arkansas Veterans and those with underlying medical conditions.
Offices will still be open but are no longer accepting walk-ins for claims assistance, scheduled appointments, counseling, and other in-person services. Veterans can continue to use these services by visiting their website at www.va.gov. If you have a claims specific question you can request information with the Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS) or by calling 1-800-827-1000.
As always, if you or someone you know needs help with the Department of Veterans Affairs, contact my office at Hill.House.gov or call my Little Rock office at (501) 324-5941.
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| COMMUNICATING WITH OUR HOSPITALS |
| Ensuring Arkansas is Prepared |
Remaining connected to our local officials and central Arkansas hospitals is vital for me to make informed policy decisions as your representative in Congress. This week, I have spent most of my time in direct contact with our state and local officials, as well as stakeholders who have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak such as small businesses and restaurants, and our healthcare workers.
Last night, the Arkansas congressional delegation and I led a conference call with the Arkansas Hospital Association.
We spoke with representatives from Arkansas Hospice, Ashley County Medical Center, Baptist Health, Bradley County Medical Center, CHI St. Vincent, CrossRidge Community Hospital, Delta County Memorial Hospital, Drew Memorial Health System, McGehee Hospital, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Piggott Community Hospital, Saint Marys Regional Medical Center, St. Bernards Healthcare, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Great River Medical Center, Lawrence Memorial Health Foundation, Inc., and Ouachita County Medical Center about the impact of COVID-19 on our hospitals.
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POSTPONE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS
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Department of State Upgrades Travel Warning |
Today, the State Department is expected to announce a Level 4 travel advisory which will apply to all international travel. This is the State Department's highest warning and indicates that Americans should not travel abroad, and Americans abroad should shelter in place for safety. As the cases of COVID-19 around the world continue to rise, it is important that we take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our citizens. For more information, click HERE or on the image below. For the latest travel warnings, visit the State Department's webpage at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
Representative French Hill
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