Bill would ensure that small businesses impacted by low snowfall are eligible for disaster assistance.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Winter Recreation Small Business Recovery Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure businesses that rely on winter weather can get disaster assistance during winters that do not produce enough snow to meet the needs of their business.
“Snow droughts pose a significant threat to Maine’s winter businesses, whose financial stability are often dependent on natural snowfall levels,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would add snow droughts to the list of recognized disasters under the Small Business Act, providing winter businesses a new tool to manage these unpredictable and costly seasons.”
The Winter Recreation Small Business Recovery Act would ensure that during winters with a snow drought, small businesses are eligible for disaster relief through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Injury Disaster Loans. This existing loan program at SBA is designed to provide small businesses with the funds they need to operate while they recover from a natural or other disaster. Under current law, qualifying disasters include droughts and ice storms or blizzards, but do not include snow droughts.
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