Spanberger Hosts Telephone Town Hall Focused on COVID-19’s Effects on Central Virginia Small Businesses & Workers

HENRICO, V.A. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger yesterday hosted a telephone town hall with representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, and the Office of the Governor of Virginia. During the interactive forum, Spanberger and her guests answered questions directly from Central Virginians about the immediate economic impacts of COVID-19 on Central Virginia workers and small businesses, as well as the resources currently available to them.

More than 3,400 Central Virginians tuned in to participate in Spanberger’s telephone town hall. Click here to listen to a full audio recording of the event.

“During last night’s telephone town hall, I heard from small business owners, self-employed individuals, the recently unemployed, and working families who are feeling the immediate sting of the coronavirus’ impacts on our local economy. Their personal stories and concerns are shared by thousands of others across Central Virginia, and their stories need to be matched by a strong response at all levels of our government,” said Spanberger. “I’d like to thank those who participated in last night’s telephone town hall, and I hope additional Central Virginians will reach out to my office if they are experiencing issues with the Small Business Administration or any other federal agency during this challenging time. Our small businesses and workers are the foundation of our economy, and we need to put them on the right footing to weather this crisis, keep their operations afloat, and maintain the capital they need to eventually reopen their doors.”

Spanberger was joined on the call by Carl B. Knoblock, Richmond District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Shalanda Young, Staff Director of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee; and Dr. Megan Healy, Chief Workforce Advisor to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.

Earlier this week, Spanberger released a small businesses resource guide to help Central Virginia small businesses navigate the financial impacts of COVID-19. Click here to download Spanberger’s small businesses resource guide.

Last Friday, Spanberger voted to pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a bipartisan emergency relief package signed into law by President Trump that includes strengthened federal assistance to working families and small businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act includes a provision establishing a Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses to seek loans guaranteed through the SBA. Through this program, Central Virginia small businesses will be able to apply for loan forgiveness related to payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest.

Spanberger has worked to keep Central Virginians informed throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this month, Spanberger hosted a telephone town hall on the coronavirus outbreak with local healthcare experts from the University of Virginia, Virginia Department of Health, and Mary Washington Healthcare. More than 2,000 Central Virginians dialed in to participate in the town hall remotely. Click here to listen to the full telephone town hall.

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