November 25, 2023
Dear Friends,
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with loved ones and filled with happiness, delicious food, and holiday spirit! With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season is officially underway. And as the holiday shopping season kicks off, I’m proud to support the local businesses and entrepreneurs that help make our Capital Region a better, brighter place.
This Small Business Saturday and every day, I’m focused on highlighting the importance of shopping small and on making certain our local businesses have the resources they need to thrive. Our Capital Region’s small businesses form the backbone of our local economy, delivering good jobs, economic opportunities, and top-notch products across our communities. This week, I was thrilled to stop by some of these local favorites and learn more about what they have to offer. My visits included:
- A tour of The Schenectady Trading Company, a one-stop shop that features a wide variety of goods sourced from local producers and entrepreneurs in Schenectady County. Founded in 2019 and inspired by the growth and creativity of the Mohawk River community, this store is helping locals and visitors alike discover what Schenectady has to offer.
- A stop at The Sugar Fairy Bakes, a locally owned bakery that sources its ingredients from Capital Region suppliers and local family farms. Now with two Saratoga County locations in Malta and Mechanicville, The Sugar Fairy is delivering homemade happiness and delicious, sweet treats across our communities!
While Small Business Saturday provides a wonderful opportunity for our communities to celebrate our local businesses, I’m working year-round to ensure their continued success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was proud to help lead the charge in Congress on several measures that helped small businesses stay afloat during tough times. I worked hard to fix urgent issues with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that prevented many small businesses from applying for badly needed assistance, eventually securing more than $625 million in PPP loans for our local businesses. I pushed to deliver federal dollars from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) as part of the American Rescue Plan, which kept hundreds of Capital Region restaurants up and running with more than $70 million in assistance. And through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, I helped bring more than $41 million to our region to support dozens of local venues.
Last Congress, I was proud to follow up on our COVID rescue bills with transformative legislation that is already benefiting businesses and communities here in our Capital Region and across the nation. Last week, we celebrated the two-year anniversary of the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, an unprecedented investment in the roads, bridges, water infrastructure, and high-speed internet upon which our local businesses rely every day. And the Inflation Reduction Act is already slowing the price hikes that have hurt consumers and businesses alike, all while creating good jobs and expanding economic opportunities. Going forward, I’m eager to continue my efforts in Washington to ensure that our Capital Region’s small businesses keep up their powerful work as engines of our local economy.
But while this federal support is vital to the health of our small businesses, it is also critical that we in the community do our part by patronizing these beloved local establishments, both today and throughout the year. By shopping small, you’ll be making a smart investment in our communities that directly benefits everyone in our Capital Region. In fact, studies show that every dollar spent at a locally owned business has three times the economic impact on our community as a dollar spent at a national chain.
So please join me today in thanking the incredible small business owners and entrepreneurs who bring vibrancy to our region and help foster our shared sense of community. As the holiday season continues, I encourage everyone to celebrate the spirit of giving and shop local!
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- Ahead of the upcoming holiday travel season, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has announced reduced passport processing times!
- Routine Processing times have dropped from 8 to 11 weeks to 7 to 10 weeks, and Expedited Processing times have been reduced from 5 to 7 weeks to 3 to 5 weeks.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: these updated timelines do not include shipping times.
- If you have international travel plans, check your passport expiration date now. Many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months after your planned departure date.
- To renew your passport, apply for a new one, or get important travel information, you can visit Travel.state.gov/passport.
- If you are experiencing issues or delays with receiving your passport, please feel free to contact my office at 518-465-0700 so one of our Constituent Representatives may be able to assist you.
