Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Retail and Grocers Association presented Representative Peter Welch with a Hero of Main Street award October 5 at Bailey Road in Montpelier. The Hero of Main Street award was created by the National Retail Federation in 2013 to recognize legislators that have taken key votes and sponsored bills that advance retailer’s priorities.
Congressman Welch is a longtime advocate of and champion for Vermont retailers. On September 19th Welch introduced the House companion bill to the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act of 2022, which will bring competition and choice to the Visa-Mastercard dominated credit card network market.
During the pandemic Welch penned the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, a grant that provided $28.6 million to 65 Vermont live music venues, movie theaters and performing arts organizations, which helped to sustain our vibrant downtowns and the surrounding businesses.
He also co-sponsored a bill to overhaul the Paycheck Protection Program to give small businesses greater flexibility in how to use Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds.
After the award presentation Welch and other officials are taking a walking tour of downtown Montpelier and visiting retailers that received federal pandemic relief grants, such as Shuttered Venue Operator Grants (SVOG), PPP and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
Vermont Retail & Grocers Association | Vermont Specialty Food Association. Berlin 10.5.2022
