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<title>Risch, Little Recognize Idaho Resilience during National Small Business Week</title>
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<p><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Contact:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
<br>
<a href="mailto:Marty_Cozza@risch.senate.gov"><span style="color:#2C6497">Marty Cozza</span></a> (Risch)
<br>
<a href="mailto:Emily.Callihan@gov.idaho.gov"><span style="color:#2C6497">Emily Callihan</span></a> (Little)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong>
<br>
<strong>September 21, 2020</strong><o:p></o:p></p>
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<h1 align="center" style="text-align:center">Risch, Little Recognize Idaho Resilience during National Small Business Week
<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">WASHINGTON</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> – During a year that’s been unlike any other, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Idaho Governor
Brad Little hailed the kick-off of </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#2C6497">National Small Business Week</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
and the strength and tenacity of Idaho’s small business owners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This year’s National Small Business Week, which will be hosted online by the U.S. Small Business Administration, seeks to celebrate the small businesses who have persevered through the pandemic
while supporting their employees and communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Idaho’s small businesses have shown tremendous determination as they’ve hustled and scraped each day to serve their customers and keep their doors open,”
<b>said Risch.</b> “This year’s National Small Business Week is an opportunity to recognize the resilience and courage of small businesses throughout the Gem State and encourage Idahoans to lend their support to the local shops, restaurants, and businesses
that make our communities great.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they need all the support we can offer, especially during the pandemic. At the state level, we have prioritized resources for small
businesses in our COVID-19 response. On a personal level, we can all support small businesses with our dollars,”
<b>Little said.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Senator Risch and Governor Little have prioritized supporting the economic recovery of Idaho’s small businesses throughout this pandemic. This spring, Risch, Little, and the Idaho Department
of Commerce partnered to create the successful </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/4/risch-and-idaho-commerce-announce-event-to-support-small-businesses-during-the-covid-19-outbreak"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#2C6497">Support
Local Gems</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> campaign that encouraged Idahoans to support their favorite local businesses through low- and no-contact means. The one-day show of support, which Idaho Commerce
spun into a 10-week campaign, translated into a surge in sales for small businesses throughout Idaho.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the U.S. Senate, Risch has advocated for Idaho small businesses, working to craft and pass the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to help small businesses keep their workers on payroll.
Earlier this month, </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/risch-crapo-vote-to-support-targeted-relief"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#2C6497">Risch voted
in favor of a bill</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> that would have given small businesses a second round of the PPP and will continue to strongly support providing additional aid to the small businesses
who are struggling due to the pandemic. Risch also serves on the </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/4/risch-crapo-to-serve-on-opening-up-america-again-congressional-group"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#2C6497">President’s
task force</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> to support small businesses and reopen the economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Idaho took several steps to support small businesses in the coronavirus response, including Idaho Rebound cash grants, supplies of personal protective equipment, and Return to Work incentives.
Idaho kept taxes low for Idaho businesses by taking steps to keep the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund solvent and continues to take steps to roll back regulations so small businesses can succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Small businesses wishing to participate in the National Small Business Week 3-Day virtual conference, hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, can register online by visiting
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#2C6497">sba.gov/NSBW</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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