Hassan, Sununu, Donchess attend Primary Bank ribbon cutting

Mar. 26—NASHUA — U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, Gov. Chris Sununu and Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this week for Primary Bank's newest branch in Nashua.

Hassan applauded Primary Bank for its work to support small businesses and highlighted the importance of local banking for communities.

"The energy and the flexibility that you all demonstrated (over the last two years), stepping forward and taking on a whole new volume in a time of great stress for so many of your customers, really made a huge difference, not only to each of your customers — these small businesses where people had just sunk their entire life savings and investments and energy — but for their employees and for the people they served," Hassan said.

Hassan continued, "Congratulations on everything that you've done to grow this wonderful bank and this organization — it's great to be here with all of you."

The senator is working across the aisle to support small businesses. Hassan successfully worked with Sen. Richard Burr, R-NC, to include bipartisan legislation in the funding bill that passed into law in 2020 to allow eligible small employers to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit.

In addition, thanks to efforts by Hassan, the American Rescue Plan provided payroll assistance through the Employee Retention Tax Credit to new small businesses started during the pandemic, which at the time could not access this tax relief. The American Rescue Plan also expanded the Employee Retention Tax Credit in order to further support businesses hardest hit by the pandemic following bipartisan calls led by Hassan.