Senator Murray toured small businesses in downtown Bellingham who received federal COVID-19 aid and discussed ongoing revitalization efforts; Murray visited a rural broadband project site and discussed her continued efforts to expand rural broadband access and funding she secured for projects like this
***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL OF THE EVENT HERE***
Whatcom County, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Mike Fong, Director of the Washington State Department of Commerce, to visit three small businesses in downtown Bellingham that received federal COVID-19 relief, and later, to see a rural broadband installation project in Everson, Washington, and discuss federal funding Senator Murray helped secure to expand broadband access in Washington state.
First, Senator Murray and Director Fong joined Guy Occhiogrosso, CEO of the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington Hospitality Association to visit three small businesses in downtown Bellingham that received federal COVID-19 aid Senator Murray helped secure in the American Rescue Plan to keep their businesses afloat. Senator Murray visited Jalapeños Mexican Restaurant, Wild Buffalo House of Music, and The Shakedown where Murray heard about how the pandemic impacted their businesses and how federal funds have helped them recover. The visit comes as the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce and local officials and stakeholders develop plans for the revitalization and continued growth of downtown Bellingham.
“Small businesses were hit really hard when the pandemic arrived, which is why I acted as quickly as I could to make sure small businesses in Washington state—including restaurants and performance venues—could keep their doors open and their employees on payroll,” said Senator Murray. “It was great to visit some phenomenal local businesses in downtown Bellingham today and meet with their owners, who were able to keep their businesses running because of the federal dollars we secured in the American Rescue Plan. These recovery funds made a real difference for our communities in a critical moment, which is a lesson for the future—and I’m going to keep working in the Other Washington to make sure that small businesses across our state not only survive, but thrive.”
“Many small businesses in the Bellingham area are family owned, providing a key pathway to building generational wealth,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “Today, even as pressure from the direct financial impact of the pandemic is easing, small business owners must adapt to new business models and uncertainties around workforce, supply chain disruptions, and other challenging economic conditions. Beyond this much-needed relief funding, our team is proud to provide a spectrum of programs and services that help small business owners and entrepreneurs in every stage of business, from planning and startup resources to export assistance and equitable access to working capital to grow.”
“The pandemic relief federal funding opportunities were critical in the resilience and recovery of our business community, in particular to those service industry employers in our commercial cores,” said Guy Ochigrosso, President and CEO of the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce. “The vibrancy of our Bellingham community was truly able to be sustained due to these efforts.”
“The pandemic hit the hospitality industry particularly hard, and many mom-and-pop operations pushed to the very brink. We have heard from so many of our members that COVID relief funds made the difference between their staying afloat and closing their doors for good,” said Anthony Anton, President and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association. “The Washington Hospitality Association is so appreciative of the efforts of Senator Patty Murray, the Washington Legislature, and the Washington Department of Commerce for securing, appropriating, and distributing these funds and giving small businesses a vital lifeline to weather this unprecedented storm.”
Next, Senator Murray and Director Fong joined Mark Vasconi, Director of Washington State Broadband Office, and representatives from the Whatcom County Public Utility District and the Port of Bellingham to see of a rural broadband project in Everson, Washington. During the visit, Senator Murray was able to see the installation and splicing process firsthand and discussed how major federal funding she secured over the past few years—including inher Digital Equity Act and other programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as in the American Rescue Plan—for projects like this are expanding access to high-speed internet in rural communities.
“In the 21st century, having reliable internet is a necessity, period. Whether you live in a city or a rural community like here in Everson, families need high-speed broadband to run their businesses, access health care, stay in touch with loved ones, and so much more,” said Senator Murray. “That’s why I worked hard to make sure getting everyone high-speed internet was a priority in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—it’s great to see how those federal dollars, and those from the American Rescue Plan, will be put to work right here to expand access to high-speed internet in Whatcom County. As Chair of the Appropriations Committee, you can be sure I’m going to keep working to get the funds for more projects like this across Washington state.”
“Digital equity is the top priority for our Statewide Broadband Office,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “Through our Internet for All in Washington initiative, we are engaging community members and public and private sector partners directly in planning to guide historic federal investments in infrastructure, like this one in rural Whatcom County. Additionally, we are investing in digital literacy. Expanding access to computers, and the knowledge and skills needed to effectively and securely use the internet, opens a world of new possibilities for people to live, thrive and do business anywhere in our great State of Washington.”
“This project delivers high quality, affordable broadband access to remote areas of Whatcom County” said Port of Bellingham Executive Director Rob Fix. “A huge thank you to Senator Murray for her tireless efforts to expand broadband access and make the delivery of essential infrastructure a priority for our federal government. High-speed internet is critical for education, health care, public safety and job opportunities and makes a real difference in people’s lives.”
A longtime advocate for expanding broadband access, Senator Murray worked hard to include $65 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure that every family in America has access to reliable, high speed internet. From the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, Washington state will receive $1.2 billion. Notably, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also included Senator Murray’s Digital Equity Act to help close the digital divide by funding activities that provide individuals and communities with the skills and technologies necessary to take full advantage of internet connection. Washington state also received over $195 million from the Capital Projects Fund, funded by the American Rescue Plan, to connect approximately 33,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet.
Senator Murray has been a champion of Washington state’s restaurants and small businesses, fighting for important funding to support small business owners in Washington State throughout the pandemic. Last year, Murray pushed for the Small Business COVID Relief Act, a bipartisan bill to provide $48 billion to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) and provide relief to small businesses in other industries that have experienced significant declines in revenue, including gyms, minor league sports, buses and ferries, among others. Murray also introduced the Restaurant Revitalization Tax Credit Act, which would create a special tax credit available to businesses that applied for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) program but were unable to receive a grant because the program ran out of funding. Murray also helped secure provisions from the RESTAURANTS Act in 2020, including more than $28 billion to create a Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and other small business relief in federal aid packages, including the American Rescue Plan. Overall, Washington state businesses received more than $9 billion in federal relief since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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