November 22, 2022
**Earlier: Shaheen delivers remarks at Families in Transition’s annual Thanksgiving breakfast & participates in the 37th Annual Toys for Tots Campaign Kickoff**
Shaheen stopped by Laconia small businesses ahead of Small Business Saturday.
Shaheen delivered remarks at Families in Transition’s annual Thanksgiving breakfast.
Shaheen at the 37th Annual Toys for Tots Campaign Kickoff.
(Laconia, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) stopped by Laconia small businesses ahead of Small Business Saturday. Held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to support community retailers during the holiday season. Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, joined New Hampshire Small Business Administration (SBA) and local officials to discuss the importance of supporting small businesses and stopped by the Colonial Theatre, Wayfarer Coffee Roasters, NH Vintage Vinyl and Piedmont Print and Frame.
“Small businesses are the heart of our communities and drive economic growth across our state, and it was great to hear directly from small businesses owners today in Laconia. Small Business Saturday is always an important opportunity to show our appreciation for the small business community by visiting staple local institutions and shopping at our favorite local stores during the holidays,” said Shaheen. “I’ll continue working in the Senate to ensure small business owners have the support they need to innovate and grow.”
As a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and as a former small business owner, Senator Shaheen is a fierce advocate for New Hampshire’s small business community. Her bipartisan bill, The One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act, was recently signed into law to require the SBA to create a centralized website that houses compliance guides pertaining to federal regulations impacting small businesses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shaheen worked to provide small businesses with the resources they needed to weather and recover from the economic impact, leading negotiations on provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and expanded the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, both of which were lifelines for businesses throughout New Hampshire and the country.
This morning, Senator Shaheen stopped by Families in Transition’s annual Thanksgiving breakfast in Manchester. She delivered remarks on homelessness and food insecurity. Families in Transition operates more than 25 facilities in New Hampshire, the largest adult emergency shelter in the state, two family emergency shelters and a substance misuse treatment center. In 2020, Families in Transition opened a food pantry in Manchester to address food insecurity during the pandemic, which as of October 2022, served 1,000 households.
“The housing crisis is at a historic high in New Hampshire, and particularly as winter approaches, we need an all-hands-deck approach to help families find a safe place to call home. I’m grateful for organizations like Families in Transition working on the frontlines to support vulnerable Granite Staters. I’m committed to delivering the resources needed to help families in need and ensure every Granite Stater has a roof over their head and food on the table,” said Shaheen.
Senator Shaheen is a leader in the Senate working to combat homelessness and help vulnerable Granite Staters. She recently led the delegation in announcing additional rental assistance from the U.S. Treasury through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. These funds were authorized by congressional Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act and signed into law by President Biden, assisting New Hampshire renters with rent and other housing expenses, including energy and utility costs. She’s also led legislation to ensure that thousands of low-income tenants in rural areas are able to maintain access to safe and affordable housing. Shaheen has fought to protect New Hampshire homeowners and renters left vulnerable by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The American Rescue Plan, passed in March 2021, included nearly $50 billion for housing, including support for vulnerable renters and homeowners. This is in addition to the emergency COVID-19 relief legislation signed into law in December 2020, which provided $25 billion in emergency rental assistance.
Also this morning, Shaheen delivered remarks at the 37th Annual Toys for Tots Campaign Kickoff at the Mall of New Hampshire. This event marks the start of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s drive for the upcoming holiday season, which is sponsored by the Bravo Co., 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment based in Londonderry.
“I always love joining the Toys for Tots Campaign Kickoff, which marks the start of the holiday giving season. I’m grateful to the U.S. Marine Corps and local retail community that make this drive possible so every child can experience joy and feels included in holiday celebrations. This wonderful program embodies the true spirit of this season,” said Shaheen.
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