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ABOUT ECONOMIC
BRIDGE COALITION

The recently organized and growing coalition was formed to support legislation that will secure financial assistance for the small businesses affected by the pandemic.

ABOUT.

Representing approximately $1.2 trillion in total economic activity, the Economic Bridge Coalition (EBC) is a group of seventeen trade associations with members that do business across a broad spectrum of the U.S. economy. While these businesses are diverse, they have one thing in common: the ability of people to gather is a key requirement of their business model. In addition, EBC-member companies are predominantly small businesses with fewer than 500 employees that have been especially hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the necessary gathering restrictions that went along with it. 

 

Businesses represented by the EBC have been unable to generate significant revenues for almost a year and a half. The vast majority of these businesses lost 50-100% of their revenues beginning with the second quarter 2020 and continuing through the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019 and 2020. Most of these businesses are not likely to see revenues return to pre-pandemic levels until late third quarter or early fourth quarter of 2021. That time of the year signals the end of peak season for many EBC-member businesses, which means they will be looking to 2022 before they are able to have a full season of normal economic activity.  The continuing spread of the delta variant only adds additional uncertainty about the future for these businesses.

 

The goal of the coalition is to secure additional financial assistance that will allow businesses represented by EBC members to revitalize and reinvest operations following the prolonged disruption caused by government-mandated lockdowns and the lingering reluctance of people to attend large gatherings. Currently, programs such as SVOG and RRF, which offer grant assistance for businesses that were similarly impacted, do not apply to EBC-represented entities. With balance sheets destroyed by the pandemic, and shouldered with mountains of new debt, EBC-member companies have little access to capital from banks or other lending institutions. That is why Congress must establish and maintain a stable, long-term, industry-neutral capital fund within the U.S. Small Business Administration that will provide EBC-member companies access to capital in order to help and otherwise support these businesses as they rebuild and reemploy their workers using an objective revenue-loss test.

 

MEMBER
CHALLENGES.

PARTNERS.

The Coalition started in May 2021 with 13 trade association members, and has since grown to 17. Click the icons to learn more about each association and the members they serve.

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THE TEAM.

As representatives of each association in the Coalition, we work with members of Congress on legislative proposals. Additional associations of affected industries are welcome to join this initiative. For more information, please contact one or more of the representatives below.

Julie Broadway

American Horse Council

Eben Peck

American Society of Travel Advisors

Tracy Taylor

International Associations of Amusement Parks and Attractions

Dwayne Thomas

Live Events Coalition

David Byrd

National Ski Areas Association

Dr. Jamie Meyer

Performance Racing Industry

John McClelland

American Rental Association

Hillary Jochmans

Custom Tailors and Designers Association

Marla J. Calico

International Association of Fairs and Expositions

Sean Fitzgerald

North American Nature Photography Association

Greg Chiecko

Outdoor Amusement Business Association

Thomas Maddrey

American Society of Media 

Photographers

Rebecca Blake

Graphic Artists Guild

John Cudahy

International Council

of Airshows

Alicia Calzada

National Press Photographers Association

Luc Boulet

Professional Photographers of America

Daniel Ingber

Specialty Equipment 

Market Association

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