Our very own Hickory River Smokehouse owner, Dan Davis, sat down with Congressman Warren Davidson of Ohio's 8th District to discuss the details and concerns regarding EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) and PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans. Not one to be idle when there's a problem, Dan reached out to several Ohio congressmen and congresswomen to express his concerns about the new financial struggles small business owners, specifically, restaurateurs, were facing to comply with the new Covid-19 regulations.

Dan received feedback via letters, but last week, Congressman Davidson made a special trip to the 8th District to visit various businesses, including Hickory River Smokehouse. Congressman Davidson is part of a presidential task force to reopen the American economy while balancing both health and economic concerns. Congressman Davidson recently tweeted, "The need for the flexibility for States and Localities Act will become more apparent as governments look at their balance sheets. Budgets took a hit as a result of Covid-19. We should empower states to use the money they already have more effectively." No stranger to owning a business, Congressman Davidson, originally from Sidney, came back to the area after his military service and led his family's business in the Ohio manufacturing industry until entering public service.

Dan and Congressman Warren Davidson sat down and had a casual conversation about the specific problems affecting restaurants. The costs for restaurants are quickly adding up, from supply chain issues to the expenses of newly implemented and required disposables. The EIDL loans and PPP loans are a lifeline to keep business afloat during these trying new times as we all make changes in our lives and our businesses to adapt to living with the Covid-19 virus. Although these loan programs had stopped accepting applications at the end of April, on June 15th, an additional $10 billion was allotted through the CARES Act to pay EIDL applicants an advance on their loans.

Dan said their meeting went well and that Congressman Davidson was very informed about what was going on in the industry. Dan has worked hard to keep his talented family of employees covered to provide our community with the delicious comfort food Hickory River Smokehouse is known for, keeping customers and employees safe. He also feels confident that recent changes for EIDL and PPP loans allow more flexibility for business owners, which has given him more confidence in moving forward. Hickory River Smokehouse continues to work closely with our local health department and the federal guidelines to ensure customers and employees are both healthy and well-fed!



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Posted by Hickory River on Jun 22, 2020