By Christian M. Wade Statehouse Reporter  Â
Jan 28, 2021
Jan 28, 2021
BOSTON â President Joe Biden has pledged to provide more support for small businesses hammered by the financial impact of coronavirus pandemic, and while the stateâs business leaders say theyâre optimistic that more aid will be coming, theyâre also worried some of the new administrationâs policies may hurt them.
Biden, who was sworn into office Jan. 20, is proposing a $1.9 trillion relief package that would provide $440 billion for businesses, including a $15 billion grant program to help the hardest hit businesses and $175 billion for small business lending and investment programs.
But the Democrat also wants to double the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, expand mandates for paid leave for workers and implement other policies that business leaders say could drag on the countryâs economic recovery.