This week, U.S. Rep. Ross Spano, R-Fla., turned his attention to how coronavirus will impact small businesses across the nation and in the Sunshine State.
Spano, a member of the U.S. House Small Business Committee, took part in a hearing entitled “The Impact of Coronavirus on America’s Small Business.” The Central Florida congressman’s pointed to the large impact coronavirus had already had.
“On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over the coronavirus. Since then, the virus has since impacted over 116,000 individuals and killed over 4,000 worldwide. This has caused global supply-chain disruptions and impacted small businesses in numerous ways,” the congressman’s office noted.
“Given our strategic location, desirable tourism destination, and aging population, Florida is at the forefront of the coronavirus in America,” said Spano on Tuesday after the hearing. “We need to ensure our small businesses, particularly those in the tourism industry, are adequately prepared to deal with this situation without negative long-term effects.”
Spano asked experts on how coronavirus will impact small businesses and consumers while his office noted it could have a major impact on his district.
“Florida 15th Congressional District is home to the critical I-4 corridor, connecting Tampa to Orlando,” Spano’s office pointed out. “This portion of I-4 is a key component for many small businesses in the tourism, trade, commerce and logistics sectors of our economy.”
Earlier this month, Spano led the Florida delegation in sending a letter to the White House asking for federal funds to help the Sunshine State deal with coronavirus. Spano has also backed efforts to let small businesses impacted by coronavirus be elegivle for disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
