Rep. Brown, Sen. Brown, Business Owners Discuss American Rescue Plan’s Impact on Ohio Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11) joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Invest in America, and Small Business for America’s Future for a press conference call with Ohio small business owners aided by the American Rescue Plan. Signed into law last March, the Rescue Plan included several programs designed to support small businesses, including the Paycheck Protection Program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and Shuttered Venue Operators grants.

“Amid the depths of the pandemic last year, the American Rescue Plan delivered desperately-needed relief to workers, families, and small businesses in Northeast Ohio,” said Rep. Brown. “The Rescue Plan kept restaurants and live venues afloat, ensured workers could support their families, and laid the foundation for the historic economic growth of the last year. We are stronger this year than we were last year thanks to the American Rescue Plan. And we will be stronger next year than we are this year thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

“I know that Ohio’s small businesses – mom and pop stores, restaurants, arts venues – have taken some of the hardest hits in the past two years. These businesses are the backbone of Ohio’s economy. That’s why I’ve been fighting so hard to make sure they get the support they need,” said Sen. Brown. “Small businesses employ nearly half of all Ohioans, and they’re anchors in so many vibrant neighborhoods, supporting other jobs. Saving these small businesses doesn’t just help each individual business or worker – supporting small, local businesses supports our communities.” 

Two Ohio business owners, Anne Zimmerman, Founder and Owner of Zimmerman & Co CPAs Inc. which has offices in Cleveland and Cincinnati, and Todd Hamblin, CEO and Owner of Global Aerospace Design Corp. in Cincinnati, shared their stories of how the government helped small businesses keep their doors open. 

"My business serves the global commercial aviation industry. When the pandemic started, our business came to a standstill. In order to stay afloat, we took advantage of the programs offered as part of the American Rescue Plan like PPP funding and Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans. The first round of PPP stabilized our business throughout 2020 while the second round helped us retain what was left of our workforce in 2021," saidTodd Hamblin, President and CEO of Global Aerospace Design Corp based in Cincinnati and Small Business for America's Future Small Business Council Member. "All together, the PPP, EIDL and vaccine efforts funded by the American Rescue Plan are instrumental in my company still being in existence. I feel this can also be said for many other small businesses in Ohio."

"When the pandemic began, a third of small businesses answering a national Small Business for America's Future survey said they would only last a few months without some sort of support. There are 980,000 in Ohio, employing 2.2 million people. Losing a third of those businesses in a matter of months would have been devastating," said Small Business for America's Future Co-Chair Anne Zimmerman, owner of Zimmerman & Co. CPAs in Cincinnati and Cleveland. "I can tell you without a doubt many of my customers would not be here today if it weren’t for the programs in the American Rescue Plan like the Paycheck Protection Program and EIDL loans that gave them a lifeline."

Invest in America participated in today’s call. It’s a national rapid response operation that advocates for public investment to rescue the economy from the COVID crisis and create prosperity for the future.

Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. 

Following the call, Invest in America released its Ohio small business report showing how the American Rescue Plan helped businesses survive the pandemic. It can be found here.

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