Senate Unanimously Passes Manning, Rulli Bill Funding $180 Million for Ohio Small Business Pandemic Relief

COLUMBUS—State Senators Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Michael Rulli (R-Salem) today announced the Senate's unanimous passage of Senate Bill 109, providing an additional $300 million of combined state and federal funding to businesses and other entities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses.

“This pandemic relief bill is vitally important to ensuring our small businesses receive much needed relief as quickly as possible,” said Manning.

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

• $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.
• $150 million for small businesses who have already been approved for aid but have yet to receive funding due to lack of program funding
• $120M for Ohio's fairs, veterans’ homes and child care services, including:
• $4.7 million for Ohio’s county and independent fairs
• $3.7 million for Ohio’s two Veterans’ homes
• $112.2 million to reimburse child care providers for pandemic-related expenses

“I am proud to sponsor this important bill, which will ensure our businesses, who have greatly suffered this year, have all the available resources to recover in a timely fashion," added Rulli.

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

Senate Bill 109 will now be sent to the House for further consideration.