[MainstreetManagers] FW: Main Street Advocacy Update

[Vicki Davis]

Good morning,

The following email and attachment are updates and opportunities regarding Main Street's advocacy efforts for dedicated funding to support Main Street programming and communities to be included in the next COVID-19 Relief funds.
I encourage you to reach out to your legislators.  Depending on how the next few weeks pan out, they may be in OK for a brief period of time.  Get your invitation to visit your community to them ASAP, as they will likely get several.

I will be happy to provide a script outline specific to Main Street's proposal.    This is the perfect opportunity to host a community visit to demonstrate examples of how your Main Street program and OMSC supports our local, small businesses.  One of our challenges is to help them understand the need to provide support beyond that provided by the various Cares Act funding.

I will continue to send on any updates.

Have a great weekend!
Vicki

From: Kelly Humrichouser [mailto:KHumrichouser at savingplaces.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 5:05 PM
To: Patrice Frey; Renee Kuhlman; Shaw Sprague; Rathburn, Kolo
Subject: Main Street Advocacy Update

Dear Main Street Advocates -

We hope everyone is safe and well. With a fast-evolving news cycle, we wanted to provide you with an update from Washington and share our perspective about where things stand with COVID-relief legislation and the Main Street funding proposal.  Over the past week, the possibility of a fifth COVID-relief package coming together seemed within reach as Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Speaker Pelosi continued their negotiations.  However, the announcement that the President has suspended negotiations<https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/06/trump-ends-coronavirus-relief-talks-amid-stalemate-with-pelosi-426819> with Speaker Pelosi has made it unlikely that legislation will advance in the Senate before the November elections.

Last week, the House passed a revised $2.2 trillion HEROES Act, aiming to narrow the gap between House and Senate proposals, but several key provisions remain unresolved.  These include business liability protections and the amount of funding for states and localities.  Support for Main Street funding depends largely on how the broader issue of state and local funding is resolved.

At this point, the lame duck session of the 116th Congress presents the next, best opportunity for the House and Senate to reach an agreement on a COVID-relief package. It's likely that once an agreement is reached on the overall size of the next COVID-relief package, Main Street advocates will have a relatively short amount of time to re-engage with their legislators to support Main Street funding.  Continue to check-in with Main Street America for advocacy alerts over the next few weeks and particularly after the election to make sure our message is delivered at the right time.  And, if a deal begins to come together prior to November 3, we will be sure to let you know!

In the meantime, an important way for Main Street advocates to take action is to reach out to member offices and request a site visit to your community.  Persistence is key and there is never an inopportune time to host a member of Congress.  Whether that happens before the election, after the election, or at the start of the next legislative session in January - it is always helpful for Members to understand the important role Main Street programs have in supporting our nation's economic recovery.  Please see the attached "how-to" sheet and be in contact with any questions.

Please also take time to read the Main Street article<https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-main-street-revival-goes-into-reverse-cutting-a-small-town-lifeline-11601833783> featured in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend about the role Main Street Emporia has played both before and during the pandemic to create and maintain a vibrant downtown in Emporia, Kansas.  While focused on Emporia, the story reflects the important role all Main Street programs play in so many of our communities.  We encourage you to share this article especially with Congressional offices that you have already spoken to about the continuing need for support to Main Street communities.

Finally, we again want to thank you - specifically this smaller list of dedicated advocates - for the work you have done throughout the summer and fall in support of the Main Street Community Recovery and Revitalization proposal.  Your engagement is critical to our success and has been invaluable for expanding the reach of Main Street and creating wide-spread interest for our proposal.

Best,

The Main Street Advocacy Team



[https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NMSC/390e0055-2395-4d3b-af60-81b53974430d/UploadedImages/About_Us/nmsclogo1.jpg]
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