FINANCE By Andrew Asch | Thursday, January 21, 2021
Before becoming the 46th United States president, Joe Biden unveiled the American Rescue Plan on Jan. 14, a proposed $1.9-trillion program that his incoming administration said will put the U.S. economy back on its feet after 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan was announced shortly after the U.S. Congress approved a second round of Payment Protection Plan loans, which will provide further aid to small businesses navigating the pandemic’s economic slowdown.
The American Rescue Plan proposes increasing unemployment insurance, giving stimulus payments of $1,400 to qualifying individuals, and offering aid to state and local governments, schools, renters, child-care providers, as well as a speed-up for COVID-19 vaccination programs.
Vital Vittles started as a flour mill in 1976, then became a bakery in 1979, working out of Virginia Bakery on Shattuck Avenue. It later moved to its own facility on Heinz Street, and finally opened a bakery on San Pablo Avenue in West Berkeley, where it still stands today. Photo: Amalya Dubrovsky
2810 San Pablo Ave. (near Grayson Street), Berkeley
Owners Binh and Huong Tran, along with three other employees, get up in the early morning hours to go to Vital Vittles, a West Berkeley bakery on San Pablo Avenue, where they prepare the organic, whole wheat bread, muffins and cakes that have fortified countless meals at Berkeley cafes, school cafeterias and homes for decades.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal today at 9 am ET. SBA is continuing
From dives to Broadway, US arts aid offers ‘lifeline’ to devastated venues
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CHICAGO, Jan 1, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The Stone Pony in New Jersey’s Asbury Park has hosted dozens of musicians on their ascent to stardom including none other than Bruce Springsteen but for months it’s sat dark due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And like hundreds of other cultural institutions across the United States its owners are hopeful relief is finally on the way: the latest COVID-19 bill recently signed into law by President Donald Trump includes $15 billion for beleaguered arts venues to survive the ongoing crisis.
The funds part of a $900 billion coronavirus relief package aim to support institutions from dives to Broadway, and come after months of efforts as part of the “Save Our Stages” campaign.