Seacoast Online
July 8, 2020

EPPING – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen met with Popovers owners John Tinios and Steve James Tuesday to learn more about their experience with the Paycheck Protection Program and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their small restaurant.

Shaheen, who is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, helped negotiate the small business relief programs, including the PPP, that were established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Shaheen’s visit follows her effort on the Senate floor to extend the PPP deadline until August 8, which has been a lifeline for small businesses in New Hampshire, with over $2.5 billion in assistance disbursed to more than 22,000 businesses across the state. However, many small businesses, particularly those in the restaurant and hospitality industries, have already received a PPP loan but are still struggling.

Shaheen said she will continue to call for the passage of the Prioritized Paycheck Protection Program (P4) Act, legislation she introduced that would allow these small businesses to access a second round of PPP loans.

“John and Steve are two of the thousands of Granite State small business owners who’ve accessed the Paycheck Protection Program to keep their business afloat during this public health and economic crisis,” Shaheen said. “I appreciated the opportunity to visit Popovers and hear directly about their PPP experience and the full scope of the economic impact they’re facing. We are a small business state and small businesses urgently need more relief. That’s why I’ll keep fighting to pass my legislation that would fund a second round of the PPP.”

Earlier in the day, Shaheen visited the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease where she toured the runway reconstruction project being led by Pike Industries. The runway project is a major component of the airport’s ongoing renovations to increase passenger capacity and improve safety and security. During the tour, Shaheen and Pike Industries representatives discussed the safety measures that Pike Industries has put in place to protect workers from COVID-19, while continuing to make progress on the project. They also addressed the importance of investing in New Hampshire’s airports and other important transportation infrastructure projects.