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Rep. Slotkin Holds Virtual Summit for Small Businesses to Help Address COVID-19 needs

March 20, 2020

HOLLY, Mich. — U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) today held a virtual summit, bringing together over 200 small business owners and advocates to help address the needs of a vital sector of the 8th District's economy as it copes with the COVID-19 crisis.

Slotkin was joined by representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to discuss loan and grant programs for small businesses, unemployment insurance issues, the needs of small businesses and family farms for over an hour-long teleconference.

"Small businesses are the heart of our communities across the 8th District, and this crisis is hitting them especially hard," Slotkin said. "Business leaders are showing remarkable resilience in the face of tough times, and it is my job to help connect them with the resources they need to weather this unprecedented period."

This week, the Small Business Administration approved Michigan's eligibility for disaster assistance loans, a designation that Slotkin pushed for in a letter this week to Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza, after Congress approved over $1 billion in SBA loans to support businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Slotkin has previously offered recommendations to small businesses to help prepare to apply for these loans.

Experts on the call addressed how to apply for Small Business Administration "disaster loans" as well as loan and grant programs administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; how self-employed workers can seek unemployment benefits; and assistance for farms and other agri-businesses.