- Friday 03 September / 10h01 (Paris)
| Tuesday, March 17, 2009 | 10:58 |
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Company NewsNational Restaurant Association Welcomes President Obama's Proposals to Aid Small Business
National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Beth Johnson today issued the following statement after attending the White House for President Barack Obama’s announcement of proposals to aid small business:
“We welcome President Obama’s focus on small businesses, which create a majority of new jobs in the country and are key to our nation’s economic strength and recovery. Our members are telling us they need credit, especially those looking to expand and create new positions. The President’s proposals should help restaurateurs and small-business owners across the nation succeed in this very challenging economy.
“We are especially pleased to see the Administration moving forward to purchase securities backed by SBA loans to unfreeze the credit market for small businesses, issue guidance on the expanded net operating loss carry-back period for small businesses, and reduce the cost of lending for borrowers and lenders. As an industry that is comprised mainly of small, independent businesses, restaurants have historically been among the largest users of SBA programs. More than 98 percent of restaurant firms are classified as a small business under the SBA definition, and it is for this reason that expanding access to SBA-guaranteed loans is of particular importance for the restaurant industry.
“Expanding the flow of capital to the restaurant industry is a critical component of job creation and preservation. Like small-business owners in other industries, many restaurant operators are struggling through their most challenging environment in decades, as households continue to hold back on spending. However, the restaurant industry differs from many other industries in that it is extremely labor-intensive, which means a larger number of employees are needed in restaurants to generate a certain amount a sales. Expanding access to capital will help restaurant operators meet their day-to-day payroll needs, thereby preserving thousands of jobs that would otherwise be lost if restaurants were forced to downsize operations or close their doors completely during the current recession.
“In the past decade, restaurants created two million jobs, and the restaurant industry can do so again with the right economic, regulatory, and tax policies in place. The measures announced today are a very positive step in that direction. We thank President Obama for his leadership and look forward to working with the Administration to help get our economy moving again.”
Contact
| E-mail: media@dineout.org |
| Web: http://www.restaurant.org |
| Company: National Restaurant Association |
| Address: 1200 17th St., NW - 20036 Washington DC |
| Country: UNITED STATES |
| Phone: +1 (202)-973-3677 |
| Fax: +1 (202)-973-3961 |
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