On July 9, ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓsent to House and Senate leadership in support of the Recharge and Empower Local Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fund for Main Street Act (S. 3742/H.R. 6907). The RELIEF for Main Street Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced by Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Reps. Kildee (D-Mich.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.), would provide $50 billion in direct funding to states, cities and counties to help small and minority-owned businesses.

This much-needed funding is intended to ensure that minority-owned small businesses and small businesses in underserved communities have the resources they need to continue operations during the health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. While the Paycheck Protection Program has served as a critical lifeline for many small businesses in the construction industry, ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓremains concerned that efforts to provide funding through the traditional banking system to many of our minority contractors has fallen short, and it is clear that a different approach is needed to assist these impacted businesses in our communities.