Manning, Rulli Introduce Bill Funding $180 Million for Ohio Small Business Pandemic Relief

COLUMBUS—State Senators Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Michael Rulli (R-Salem) today introduced new legislation providing an additional $300 million of combined state and federal funding to businesses and other entities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Ohio’s economy, and this pandemic relief bill is vitally important to ensuring they receive much needed relief as quickly as possible,” said Manning.

Here is the how the $300 million allocation will be directed:

• $150 million for small businesses who have already been approved for aid but have yet to receive funding due to lack of program funding.
• $20 million for indoor entertainment businesses who lost revenue due to canceled events and closures.
• $10 million for new businesses that opened their doors after January 1, 2020.
• $120M for Ohio's fairs, veterans’ homes and child care services, including:
• $4.7 million for Ohio’s county and independent fairs
• $3 million for Ohio’s two veterans’ homes
• $112.2 million to reimburse child care providers for pandemic-related expenses

“Nothing is more important than ensuring small businesses have the resources necessary for their swift recovery during these unprecedented times,” said Rulli. “I urge my colleagues to act swiftly to get these critical relief dollars into the hands of Ohioans who need it.”

To date, over $2.5 billion in funding has been approved by the General Assembly to be distributed to Ohio’s schools and communities as they continue to battle and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Testimony on Senate Bill 109 begins March 9th in the Senate Finance Committee, and a companion bill will be introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives.