FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2020
Kuster Visits Keene Businesses To Discuss COVID-19 Operations
**Photos from the visit are available HERE**
(Keene, NH) - Today, Congresswoman Kuster hosted a Main Street business walk through Keene, NH to speak with local businesses and store owners. Joining Kuster were former state senator Molly Kelly and activist JoAnn Fenton.
The walk included:
Luca’s Mediterranean Cafe, with owner Luca Paris
Synergy clothing store, with owner Gary Tateocian
Brewbakers cafe, with owner Jeff Murphy
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy here in the Granite State," said Annie Kuster. "But the COVID-19 crisis has put new stresses on local businesses, and it is so important that we provide them support as we build back from this pandemic. It was great to meet with such incredible business owners and community leaders today to learn about their innovative work to stay open and take care of their employees. I want to thank Luca's Mediterranean Cafe, Synergy clothing, and Brewbakers cafe for meeting with me today and talking with me about their COVID-19 operations. Whether it meant ramping up online sales or re-opening in uncertain circumstances, these businesses embody the New Hampshire spirit of resilience and compassion. I look forward to continuing to work with them and supporting these businesses in Congress."
"COVID-19 was a huge challenge for our business," said Luca Paris, owner of Luca's Mediterranean Cafe. "But thanks to the strength and leadership of our local community and elected officials, as well as the support of the Paycheck Protection Program, we were able to keep on all of our staff, stay open and keep our customers safe. It was great to talk to Congresswoman Kuster about our COVID-19 operations and about her work supporting small businesses like mine in Washington."
"Our business was able to really take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program loans and to adapt to the new COVID-19 environment," said Synergy clothing store owner Gary Tateocian. "We have re-launched our website, and have seen great results. Because we were able to stay open through the support of relief loans, our business has become more tech savvy and we have propelled forward. I am so appreciative of Annie Kuster's support of small businesses in New Hampshire and I am thankful for what she is doing to secure the future of the young people in this country."
"The week before the COVID-19 pandemic really hit home, we had just started and finalized our plans for renovations and closed our doors at our old location of 26 years," said Jeff Murphy, owner of Brewbakers cafe. "We started seven months of construction in uncertainty, but thanks to support from the stimulus package, EIDL, and the PPP program, we were able to maintain our staff and come out on the other side. Now, we have reopened, hired our employees back full-time, and have even increased our staffing. We took a leap of faith, and because of the support of the government and our community, we have kept going and found room to grow and breathe. But the COVID-19 crisis is not over yet, and we are looking forward to electing more leadership like Annie Kuster this November to support New Hampshire small businesses."
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