Congress is working through the Budget process and attempting to move forward a very large reconciliation bill. The Center for Rural Affairs is pleased loan funding is included in that package for rural small businesses. Center Policy Director Johnathan Hladik says the pandemic aid that went through the Small Business Administration did not reach small businesses as they depended on USDA funding so this measure is badly needed in Rural America.

He says those small rural businesses have been under a lot of financial pressure lately with the impacts of the pandemic on top of several years of low commodity prices.

Hladik says this is only the beginning of the budgeting process so there’s a long way to go to get this needed rural small business funding over the finish line.

Hladik says while they’ve gotten great support from Representatives Cindy Axne of Iowa and Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, the Senate’s been more of a challenge having to work with non rural Senators.