Senator David Perdue Highlights PPP Success Story In Valdosta
Monday, August 17th, 2020
U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) today visited Friends Grille & Bar in Valdosta, Georgia, to hear how the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped the restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senator Perdue met with Friends Grille owners Chris Manwell and Randy DeCoudres, who also own two other restaurants in Valdosta. When the economy shut down, about 75% of their staff was laid off across the three restaurants. Because of PPP, Manwell and DeCoudres were able to offer all employees their jobs back.
“Without a doubt, COVID-19 has caused unprecedented challenges in the restaurant industry,” said Senator Perdue. “Even in these tough times, Chris and Randy used their time and resources to provide free meals for restaurant workers and their families. Helping small businesses like Friends Grille bridge the gap is exactly what the Paycheck Protection Program was designed to do. Thanks to PPP, Friends was able to offer all its employees their jobs back. As we slowly reopen the economy, I encourage everyone to continue supporting small businesses and local restaurants, which are the lifeblood of our communities.”
“When times get tough, it’s more important than ever to look after your neighbor. I think that’s what makes South Georgia so special,” said Randy DeCoudres. “We’re grateful for the work Senator Perdue has done at the federal level to help provide timely relief for small businesses like ours.”
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), 1.5 million Georgia jobs have been saved by the PPP and over $14.7 billion in loans were provided as a life-line to Georgia small businesses.
