Senate passes bill funding $180 million for Ohio Small Business Pandemic Relief

State Sens. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and Michael Rulli, R-Salem, announced March 17 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 novel coronavirus pandemic-related expenses.

The $300 million allocation will be directed for:

• $20 million for indoor entertainment businesses that lost revenue due to canceled events and closures

• $10 million for new businesses that opened their doors after Jan. 1, 2020

• $150 million for small businesses that already were approved for aid but have yet to receive funding due to lack of program funding

• $120 million 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; and $112.2 million to reimburse child care providers for pandemic-related expenses.

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 be sent to the House for further consideration.