Shaheen Meets with Epping Small Business Owners to Discuss Paycheck Protection Program & Need for Continued Relief Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Senator Shaheen meets with Popovers owners John Tinios and Steve James at their Epping restaurant to learn more about their experience with the Paycheck Protection Program.

**Earlier, Shaheen Visits Pease Runway Project to Observe Runway Construction Progress & Highlights Importance of Investments in Transportation and Infrastructure**

Shaheen visits Portsmouth International Airport at Pease where she toured the runway reconstruction project being led by Pike Industries.

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, met with Popovers owners John Tinios and Steve James at their Epping restaurant today to learn more about their experience with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their small business. Shaheen 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 successful effort on the Senate floor to extend the PPP deadline until August 8th, 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 is continuing 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. 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,” said Shaheen. “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. Congress must act to help small businesses get through the duration of this crisis today and have the ability to recover in the long term.”

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.

“Airports play an important part in our local and state economies, which is why this runway reconstruction project at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease is a real benefit to the Seacoast region,” said Shaheen. “This specific investment will not only improve airport safety and efficiency, but will also boost our state’s role in support of our national defense, with the runway improvements ensuring continued operations of the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s mission with the KC-46 refueling tankers. It was helpful to see how the project is moving along and how Pike Industries and everyone involved have implemented necessary safety procedures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the health and well-being of all staff and personnel. I appreciated the opportunity to see how this construction project is advancing and how our companies like Pike Industries are rising to the challenges presented by this crisis.”