Rep. Pappas Meets with Small Business Leaders in Londonderry

LONDONDERRY, NH - On Thursday, August 13, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) visited Moonlight Meadery in Londonderry to discuss to impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on their business, as well as hear from other local business leaders about their experiences with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other small business support programs created through the CARES Act.

Joining Congressman Pappas at the event held outside at the Londonderry, NH meadery was Michael Fairbrother, owner of Moonlight Meadery and Hidden Moon Brewing, Scott Hayward, owner of Tupelo Music Hall, Ashley Haseltine from the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, and Berniece Van Der Berg from Moonlight Meadery and Hidden Moon Brewing.

"Small businesses like Moonlight Meadery and Tupelo Music Hall are the backbone of New Hampshire's economy, and they are continuing to feel the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "The Payroll Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans have been critical lifelines for our Main Street businesses who were able to use the funds to keep their lights on and pay their staff. As the fall and winter months present tremendous uncertainty to local employers, Congress must reach a bipartisan compromise as soon as possible that includes additional small business resources so that New Hampshire can weather this storm."

Moonlight Meadery was one of 14,544 New Hampshire businesses across the first district that received PPP loans, saving 123,130 jobs. Moonlight also participated in the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. Statewide, EIDL has awarded 9,681 loans to New Hampshire small businesses since the pandemic began, totaling $598,696,850.

Congressman Pappas supported the CARES Act, which created the PPP program to get badly needed funds to small business owners who were hit incredibly hard by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Pappas called on House leadership to improve the loan conditions of the PPP and other details of the program based on hundreds of conversations he had with Granite State small businesses. These improvements were included in the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which Pappas advocated for and helped to pass.

Pappas has repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability of the PPP and was part of the Congressional call which resulted in the Treasury Department reversing course and making partial PPP data publicly available.

As the deadline for PPP applications was expiring earlier this summer, leaving billions of dollars still unclaimed, Congressman Pappas called on House leadership to bring up a vote on the application extension before the House adjourned for the 4th of July - the House did take up the bill, which was signed into law by President Trump.

Congressman Pappas supported the Heroes Act, which passed the House in May, which would extend the PPP program so that more small businesses could get the help he needs. He supports another round of PPP targeted towards our smallest businesses.