Rep. Adams Calls on SBA Support Gov. Cooper’s Request for a Federal Disaster Declaration

CHARLOTTE – On Wednesday, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) sent a letter to Jovita Carranza, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, in support of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s March 13 request for an economic injury declaration for the State of North Carolina as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Adams wrote, “North Carolina is home to more than 833,000 small businesses that employ roughly 1.6 million individuals. Many small business owners, employees, and vendors are already experiencing economic hardship in the form of layoffs, lost wages, lost revenues, and difficulty paying their lease.”

Adams added that people in her district and across the state are “suffering, and low-margin industries like service and hospitality are some of the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

“If we don’t provide resources to soften the blow of mandatory business closures it will make the recovery after the crisis exponentially harder. I fully support Gov. Cooper’s request for SBA assistance and the access to low-interest loans that our businesses need immediately. Additionally, I will continue to work in Congress for an economic stimulus that, among other measures, will put emergency cash in the pockets of the workers who need it most, including those who just found out they are out of a job.”